Mortar Board
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mortar Board is a national honors society whose membership is composed of outstanding students dedicated to the values of scholarship, leadership, and service. The Cornell University Der Hexenkreis chapter is the oldest, and was founded in 1892[1]. This chapter predates the national society's founding in 1918. Other charter chapters include University of Pennsylvania, Swarthmore College, the Ohio State University, and the University of Michigan.
While it is an honor to be selected for membership in Mortar Board, it is the commitment to serve which differentiates an honor society from an honorary. Accepting membership means accepting the responsibility and obligation to be an active participant in chapter activities. This commitment is an agreement to actively engage in the community in the name of Mortar Board's mission.
Though many of the traditions within the society are secret, the membership of each chapter is public. This differentiates Mortar Board from many of the Secret Societies that were formed at the same time in the late 19th century.
Mortar Board chapters across the nation are challenged to provide thoughtful leadership to the campus and community, to create an environment of effective communication, to move toward a meaningful goal, and to maintain the ideals of the society. Each chapter has the autonomy to determine its own implementation of the goals, National Project, and resolutions and recommendations set forth by delegates to the National Conference.
Mortar Board has 225 chapters nationwide and 50 alumni chapters. Since 1892, over 226,000 college seniors have been initiated into the group.
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[edit] Mortar Board and Women
Mortar Board was the first all-female honor society, and continues to promote women's interests today. The organization became co-ed in 1975 following Title IX, at which point a clause was added in the Preamble to the Constitution to include a "commitment to the advancement of the status of women."
[edit] National Structure
Mortar Board, Inc. is a student-governed organization with national officers coming from the ranks of its alumni. Each year, student delegates meet at the national conference to set policies for the organization to be carried out by the national officers. The National Office's staff includes an Executive Director, Assistant Executive Director, Communications Coordinator, and Program Assistant.
(See the diagram to the right for more information about the structural breakdown.)
[edit] Affiliations
The Association of College Honor Societies: Mortar Board has been a member of the Association of College Honor Societies since 1937. ACHS is a national organization that provides resources and fosters communication between over sixty honor societies across the country.
The Ohio State University: In 1970, the Mortar Board National Office was established on the campus of the Ohio State University. The Ohio State Chapter of Mortar Board was one of the five founding chapters of the national organization in 1918.
[edit] The Mortar Board Foundation
The Mortar Board National Foundation, the fundraising arm of Mortar Board, was established in 1955 to serve the educational aims of Mortar Board, Inc. Its primary goals are to:
Provide fellowships to Mortar Board alumni pursuing graduate and professional degrees;
Grant funds to active chapters for special projects that will enhance their contributions to their campus and community; and
Raise funds to support Mortar Board programs that further the ideals of scholarship, leadership and service.
The Foundation is governed by six trustees, who are volunteers and coordinate the fund-raising efforts, oversee the investments of the funds, and administer the fellowship, chapter project grant and other programs. Fund-raising sources include a contribution from Mortar Board members through their dues (currently 6 percent), donations from individuals and chapters, merchandise sales, and a Mortar Board credit card.
