Membership
STTI membership provides valuable resources throughout your entire nursing career. STTI membership enhances your resume - it is recognized by employers and graduate programs as an indicator of excellence.
As a student, your membership is recognized at the School of Nursing Commencement through honor cords and in the commencement program. For students and professional nurse members, your membership provides:
- Access to chapter-sponsored conferences
- Access to chapter grants to support your scholarly projects
- Opportunities for career assistance, connections with other nurse scholars, and STTI publications
Even if you move, you can take your membership with you—to local chapters in the U.S. and across the world!
For questions about renewing a lapsed membership, transferring your current membership to the Rho Chapter, or arranging a dual membership, please call STTI Member Services at 1-888-634-7575. Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for additional membership information.
Information For Prospective Members
Individuals interested in joining Sigma Theta Tau should read membership information below and contact the Rho chapter Faculty Counselor with any questions.
Undergraduate Student Membership
Guidelines
Rho Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau is looking for students who have demonstrated the qualities of scholarship, leadership and service, integrity, and commitment to nursing. Invitations to apply for membership are usually extended by Rho Chapter in September to students who have met our academic criteria (see below). However, any student who feels that they have met the criteria for membership is welcome to request a membership application by contacting the Rho Chapter Faculty Counselor.
The criteria for membership for undergraduate students are:
- GPA of 3.5 or higher
- Completion of one half of the required nursing curriculum (courses whose numbers begin with the letter designation of "N"); RN students must have completed 18 credit hours at the University of Michigan
- Academic integrity
Students who meet these criteria will be offered membership via email from the Rho Chapter Faculty Counselor in the Fall term of their senior year. For second career students, membership will be offered in September following graduation. Students must provide approval for release of information to Sigma Theta Tau International after which STTI will contact the student and request completion of an online application.
Students who do not have a GPA of 3.5 or higher may be considered for membership if they meet the following criteria:
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Completion of 1/2 of the required nursing curriculum (courses whose numbers begin with the letter designation of "N"); RN students must have completed 18 credit hours at the University of Michigan
- Evidence of involvement in nursing-related service and leadership activities (e.g. student government, school committees, membership in professional or student groups such as MNA or MNSA, health-related community or church activities such as health teaching or health screening, volunteer activities, research activities other than those done for course credit, professional nursing awards, professional activities in a nursing unit or hospital such as quality assurance committee)
- Academic integrity
Students who do not have a 3.5 GPA must contact the Faculty Counselor to request consideration for membership. They must also submit evidence of service and leadership activities (see Activities form below) as well as two endorsements from members of Sigma Theta Tau, of which one must be from a faculty member (see Endorsement form below). After completed applications are returned to the Faculty Counselor, the Sigma Theta Tau Membership Committee reviews them in consideration for membership.
The ceremony for induction into membership is usually held in late October or early November.
Graduate Student Membership
Guidelines
Rho Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau seeks students who have demonstrated the qualities of scholarship, leadership and service, integrity, and commitment to nursing. Rho Chapter typically extends offers of membership to graduate students in September based on the following criteria. That said, any student who has met the criteria below is welcome to request a membership application by contacting the Rho Chapter Faculty Counselor.
The criteria for membership for masters and doctoral students are:
- Completion of 1/4 of the required graduate curriculum
- GPA of 6.5 or higher for master students; 7.0 or higher for doctoral students (using the Rackham scale)
- Academic integrity and professional goals
Upon receiving a membership invitation via email during the Fall term, students must reply to indicate interest and provide approval for release of information to Sigma Theta Tau International. STTI will then contact the student and request completion of an online application.
The ceremony for induction into membership is usually held in late October or early November.
Community Leader Membership
Guidelines
Nurses with a minimum of a bachelor's degree who have demonstrated achievement in nursing are encouraged to apply for membership as Nurse Leaders in Sigma Theta Tau International. This membership category recognizes nurses who have demonstrated leadership, creative work, support for professional standards, and commitment to scholarly nursing.
Nurse Leader candidates must:
- Be legally recognized to practice nursing in his/her country
- Have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent in any field
- Demonstrate achievement in nursing
- Have practiced two years as a RN (Rho chapter requirement)
Examples of achievement in nursing:
- Demonstrated creativity and/or innovation in clinical practice
- Leadership qualities contributing to improved health care
- Teaching
- Administration
- Curriculum development
- Improvement of the status of nursing organizations
- Implementation of student-focused learning approaches
- Research development
- Utilization of entrepreneurial skills
- Staff development
- Mentoring of colleagues
Application Process
Using the nomination form (see below), Nurse Leader candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by their colleagues. After a Rho Chapter Faculty Counselor receives the nomination, the applicant will be contacted for additional information and for endorsements. The application is reviewed by the Membership committee for acceptance into Rho chapter. Nurse leaders are formally inducted into Rho chapter at the annual induction ceremony held in late October.
Download the nomination form and the endorsement form.
Sigma Theta Tau International - Honor Society of Nursing, www.nursingsociety.org
Sigma Theta Tau - Rho Chapter: Nursing Scholarship - Leadership - Excellence
University of Michigan School of Nursing 400 North Ingalls Ann Arbor MI 48109-5482
