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Alpha Sigma Tau

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Alpha Sigma Tau
ΑΣΤ
FoundedNovember 4, 1899; 125 years ago (1899-11-04)
Michigan State Normal College, (Ypsilanti, Michigan)
TypeSocial
AffiliationNPC
ScopeNational
MottoActive, Self-Reliant, Trustworthy
Colors  Emerald Green   Gold
SymbolAnchor
FlowerYellow Rose
JewelPearl
PublicationThe Anchor
PhilanthropyWomen's Wellness Initiative
Chapters78
Members65,000+ lifetime
Headquarters3334 Founders Road
Indianapolis, IN 46268
USA
WebsiteAlpha Sigma Tau homepage
[1]

Alpha Sigma Tau (known as ΑΣΤ or Alpha Tau) is a national sorority founded on November 4, 1899, at Eastern Michigan University (formerly Michigan State Normal College). A member of the National Panhellenic Conference, the sorority has 78 active collegiate chapters at colleges and universities around the U.S. and over 65,000+ lifetime members.

History

On November 4, 1899,[2] eight women founded Alpha Sigma Tau's first chapter at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University).[3] Founders were:

  • Helene M. Rice
  • Adriance Rice
  • Mayene Tracy
  • Eva O’Keefe
  • May Gephart
  • Mabel Chase
  • Ruth Dutcher
  • Harriet Marx.[4]

The name "Alpha Sigma Tau" was chosen, and emerald green and gold were chosen for the colors. Alpha Sigma Tau was initially founded as an educational sorority. There were three other sororities at Michigan State Normal College at the time: Pi Kappa Sigma (merged into Sigma Kappa), Sigma Nu Phi (local),[5] and Zeta Phi (local, inactive).

Effie E. Polyhamus Lyman was chosen as patroness. During the first year of its existence, the sorority did not display marked activity. The charter was received the following year, as Edith Silk, Myrtle Oram, Zoe Waldron, Grace Townley, Marie Gedding, Louise Agrell, and Mable Pitts had joined the organization and were the charter members. By suggestion of Mrs. Effie E. Polyhamus Lyman, Ms. Abigail Pearce, and Ms. Ada A. Norton was asked to be patronesses.[6]

The Beta chapter was founded in 1905[7] at Central Michigan University (formerly Central Michigan Normal College) in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.[3]

Now at more than one institution, Alpha Sigma Tau leaders desired to grow the sorority and become recognized as a national group. To be recognized as a national organization by the Association of Education Sororities (AES), a national organization for sororities at teachers' colleges; Alpha Sigma Tau had to meet certain requirements:

  1. Hold a national convention
  2. Have five active chapters
  3. Publish a magazine

These requirements were met in 1925: Alpha Sigma Tau held its inaugural Convention in Detroit, Michigan; the first issue of the Sorority's magazine, The Anchor, was published; five active chapters were fulfilled the Sigma chapter at Buffalo State College was installed. In 1926, Alpha Sigma Tau became an initiated member of the Association of Education Sororities (AES).

In December 1951, AES merged with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC). This merger permitted Alpha Sigma Tau to begin establishing chapters at any accredited school and admit members regardless of major.

  • Cynthia Peckhart McCrory is the only Alpha Sigma Tau member to have served as Chair of the National Panhellenic Conference. McCrory served as NPC Chair from 1983 to 1985.

Collegiate Membership Experience

Invitation

Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority is a private membership organization. For membership selection purposes, only women who meet and maintain the requirements and obligations as set forth by the Sorority shall be eligible for membership invitation.[8]

Legacy

During the structured recruitment process, any woman who is related to a member of Alpha Sigma Tau is known as a Legacy. Alpha Sigma Tau defines a Legacy as someone who has a blood or step-relative in the Sorority. Potential new members will indicate this special status during the recruitment process and notify the chapter. In addition to notifying the chapter, it is encouraged to have a written recommendation from the relative.

Academics

Invitations to new members are extended based partially on academic success. Each potential new member must have a minimum 2.5 GPA before a chapter can consider her for membership. Current members are expected to maintain at least a 2.5 GPA, though ΑΣΤ chapters are encouraged to have a higher minimum requirement to maintain the average national GPA. The average national GPA is above 3.0.GPA

Each collegiate chapter has a Director of Academic Success whose primary responsibility is to ensure members are reaching their fullest potential in their coursework. Additionally, members are encouraged to support one another academically. Upperclassmen members offer advice and guidance to freshmen and sophomores, while the built-in social network of sorority life also provides study partners.

Annually, members are eligible to apply for $65,000 in scholarship support. These scholarships are exclusive to members of ΑΣΤ and made possible by donors to the Alpha Sigma Tau Foundation.

Philanthropy

The National Philanthropy of Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority is the Women's Wellness Initiative.[9] As a Sisterhood, Alpha Sigma Tau contributes to helping all women become the best versions of themselves. Alpha Sigma Tau believes that women who achieve and maintain wellness are more likely to reach their fullest potential.

Women's Wellness Initiative

The Women’s Wellness Initiative is grounded in the Six Dimensions of Wellness of the National Wellness Institute – a nationally recognized leader in promoting optimal health and wellness in individuals and communities. These dimensions are the result of decades of research, which shows that individuals who achieve and maintain wellness are considerably more likely to lead successful, fulfilling lives. The Six Dimensions of Wellness are:

  1. Occupational
  2. Physical
  3. Spiritual
  4. Emotional
  5. Intellectual
  6. Social

Through the Women's Wellness Initiative, Alpha Sigma Tau has established relationships with National Service Partners who believe in empowering women and girls in the communities throughout the U.S. Currently, Sorority partners include Dress for Success and Girls Who Code.

Dress for Success

Dress for Success is an international nonprofit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and life.

Girls Who Code

Girls Who Code is an international nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology. Girls Who Code programs inspire, educate, and equip girls with the computing skills they will need to pursue 21st-century opportunities.

The National Foundation

The Alpha Sigma Tau Foundation was created in 1982 to give members a way to directly support the charitable and educational initiatives of the Sorority. The Foundation is solely funded by donor support and benefits members through grant funding and scholarship support. In February 2021, Alpha Sigma Tau Foundation distributed approximately $65,000 in scholarships to support members' educational pursuits. Additionally, grants from the Foundation to the Sorority support education and initiatives for members[10] on:

  • financial literacy
  • leadership development
  • safe decisions related to alcohol
  • prescription drug abuse prevention
  • sexual assault and relationship violence

Chapters

Collegiate chapters

Main article: List of Alpha Sigma Tau chapters

Alumnae chapters and associations

Alpha Sigma Tau alumnae members can establish or join alumnae clubs known as alumnae chapters or alumnae associations. As of 2021, Alpha Sigma Tau has 32 established alumnae chapters or associations. The purpose of these groups is to provide women with a network of support. Alumnae chapters and associations host events, foster friendships, and support collegiate members.[11]

Publications

  • The Anchor is the sorority's print magazine, published twice annually. Its articles pertain to Alpha Sigma Tau, fraternity/sorority life, and issues affecting women today.[12] The Anchor was first published in 1925.
  • Alpha Signal is a weekly electronic newsletter informing collegiate chapter officers and advisors of important Sorority news, programs, and updates.
  • The Crest is a monthly e-newsletter featuring Sorority news and events sent to alumnae members.
  • Connections is a monthly e-newsletter featuring Sorority news and events sent to collegiate members.
  • The Foundation Circle is an e-newsletter delivered monthly to supporters of the Alpha Sigma Tau Foundation.[12]

Notable Members

National Headquarters

The Headquarters building located in Indianapolis, Indiana, serves as an office for many Alpha Sigma Tau employees (known as Headquarters Staff) and archives for historical publications, photographs, documents, and keepsakes.

The original location of the National Headquarters was St. Louis, Missouri, adopted in 1949 by National President Dorothy Robinson. National Headquarters was relocated to Birmingham, Alabama, in 1994 for 16 years.[17] In 2009, Alpha Sigma Tau[18] moved its National Headquarters to Indianapolis, Indiana, the home of over 30 other fraternal organization headquarters.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mission statement, vision statement and other symbolism are noted on the national website, accessed 27 Apr 2021.
  2. ^ LaRon Torbenson, Craig; Parks, Gregory, eds. (2009). Brothers and Sisters: Diversity in College Fraternities and Sororities. Associated University Presse. p. 179. ISBN 978-0-8386-4194-1.
  3. ^ a b William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), showing Alpha Sigma Tau chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 30 December 2021. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  4. ^ "Alpha Sigma Tau Celebrates 100th Anniversary". Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 105th Congress, Second Session. Vol. 144 Part 9. United States Government Printing Office. 1998-06-23. pp. 13418–13419. Retrieved 2018-06-17.
  5. ^ Not to be confused with the professional law fraternity of the same name, Sigma Nu Phi.
  6. ^ "Who We Are – History", AlphaSigmaTau.org.
  7. ^ "History". Alpha Sigma Tau. 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  8. ^ "Membership Eligibility". Alpha Sigma Tau. 2017-01-13. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  9. ^ "Women's Wellness Initiative". Alpha Sigma Tau. 2016-06-17. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  10. ^ "Foundation Grants to the Sorority". alphasigmatau.org. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-06-04. Retrieved 2021-02-02.
  11. ^ "Alumnae". Alpha Sigma Tau. 2015-11-30. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  12. ^ a b "Publications". Alpha Sigma Tau. Retrieved 2008-07-17. [dead link‍]
  13. ^ Becque, Fran; Ph.D. (2016-03-14). "#WHM - Mildred Doran, Alpha Sigma Tau Aviator, #notablesororitywomen". Fraternity History & More. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  14. ^ James, Sheryl (March 1, 1999). "Gwen Frostic: Michigan artist crafts nature into a rich life". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on 2001-05-06. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  15. ^ "Jessica Furrer". In.com. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  16. ^ Alpha Sigma Tau (1982). "1982 Fall ANCHOR". Issuu. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
  17. ^ "National Headquarters". Alpha Sigma Tau. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  18. ^ "History". Alpha Sigma Tau. 2015-12-02. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
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