Chartering a New Chapter – FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Collaborative planning and strategy are needed to ensure the sustainability of Alpha Sigma Nu chapters at universities. Alpha Sigma Nu’s aim is to be in consistent conversation as the honor is more than awarding the top students annually, rather an important mechanism to cultivate lifelong transformational partnerships with students who are most committed to the Catholic, Jesuit mission, the mission of the university, and the mission of Alpha Sigma Nu.
The questions below were submitted by international universities in the process of establishing chapters. If you do not see an answer to your question below, please contact Clara Dwyer, Executive Director, directly at clara.dwyer@marquette.edu.
There is no monetary cost with Alpha Sigma Nu for the University to establish a chapter. The initial cost is the resource of time and energy identifying how the institution may select a dedicated Faculty Chapter Adviser and a Chapter Coordinator to assist the Adviser who will annually carry out the selection and induction process as well as the cultivation of new leaders annually.
Once a chapter is established, there may be annual cost to host the induction celebration as some chapters host a reception inviting families and other distinguished guests. Chapters may build these additional expenses into the cost of membership.
Currently, the base due of a lifetime membership is a one-time fee of $70. This comes with a certificate and pin that is manufactured in the United States. (Examples of the products can viewed at the online store.) For ecological and cost-effective reasons, the organizational preference is that the international chapters support and patronize regional vendors. If the international chapter vends through the United States manufacturer, duties and customs expenses for both shipping and receiving should be anticipated and the chapter will be invoiced accordingly.
The cost of the lifetime membership is reviewed by the Alpha Sigma Nu Board of Directors annually.
There is a limited number of students and/or honorary members who can be nominated, invited, and inducted according to Alpha Sigma Nu’s by-laws (Article 3: Qualifications). Please find the Alpha Sigma Nu by-laws on the Mission, Vision, and By-laws webpage here.
Student membership fee varies by university chapter. While the national organization invoices a standard $70 lifetime membership fee per student, including honorary members, individual chapters may add additional costs to cover local programming and events.
Some chapters have financial or endowed resources that allow them to cover these extra costs for students. Others may charge above the $70 base fee to support specific chapter activities. For example:
- $90 total to include a graduation medallion
- $100 total to cover a graduation medallion and/or post-induction reception or other programs
All chapters are responsible for covering the cost of honorary memberships.
In summary, each chapter determines its own additional fees for programming, induction ceremonies, and materials, which are added on top of the standard $70 lifetime membership due.
Alumni do not lose their membership status if a university decides to discontinue its chapter. However, we strongly encourage universities to reconsider such decisions, especially if sustaining a chapter long-term is feasible.
Why is it important to maintain a chapter’s indefinitely? As a 110-year-old organization, Alpha Sigma Nu is proud to include generations of families who have attended Jesuit universities and aspired to join this honor society. For many, being inducted is more than an academic achievement—it’s a legacy. It’s a moment of pride to follow in the footsteps of grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings who were also members.
Many alumni members of all generations have described their induction as a “crowning moment” of their university experience—recognition not only of their academic excellence, but also of their service and faith. Sustaining chapters ensures that future generations can share in this meaningful tradition and continue building a legacy rooted in Jesuit values and the Society of Jesus.
