Tri-Alpha Honor Society

Katherine.Lawlor@nau.edu

928-523-1115

Advisors
Katherine Lawlor, M.Ed.
Program Coordinator
Office of First-Generation Programs

T. Mark Montoya, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Ethnic Studies
College of Social & Behavioral Sciences

National Website
www.1stgenhonors.org

Tri-Alpha Honor Society

Eligibility & Application

Undergraduate Students

Registered full-time in a degree-seeking program (Bachelor’s degree)
3.2 out of 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA)
Neither parent(s) nor guardian(s) earned a bachelor’s degree prior to the student beginning their program
Earned at least 30 credit hours towards a baccalaureate degree. Meaning, sophomores are eligible to apply due to the Spring induction ceremony. Chapter advisors will review final grades and credit hours after the Fall semester.
- Transfer students will need at least one semester (12 credit hours) completed at NAU.
Lifetime national membership dues are affordable, with a $10 fee for students going to the national office, plus local chapter fees. Currently, NAU will not be charging local chapter fees for the 2020-21 academic year (2020-2021 fee structure, subject to change).
- Although it is expected for students to cover the $10 induction fee, we do not want there to be a financial barrier for applicants. Please contact, Katherine Lawlor, Tri-Alpha Advisor at katherine.lawlor@nau.edu if you need financial assistance.

Graduate Students

Full-time and part-time graduate students who have earned 9 credit hours or more. This allows for first-semester students to apply if they will be earning 9 credit hours by the end of the Fall semester due to the Spring induction ceremony.
3.5 out of 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA).
Neither parents nor guardians earned a bachelor’s degree prior to the student beginning their undergraduate program
Lifetime national membership dues are affordable, with a $10 fee for students going to the national office, plus local chapter fees. Currently, NAU will not be charging local chapter fees for the 2020-21 academic year (2020-2021 fee structure, subject to change).
- Although it is expected for students to cover the $10 induction fee, we do not want there to be a financial barrier for applicants. Please contact, Katherine Lawlor, Tri-Alpha Advisor at katherine.lawlor@nau.edu if you need financial assistance.

Faculty/Staff, Alumni, and Honorary Inductees

Faculty, staff, alumni, and honorary members may be inducted by the local chapter if they completed a baccalaureate degree, they were a first-generation college student at the time they graduated, and they continue to have a connection to Northern Arizona University. Lifetime national membership fees are currently $20 for faculty, staff, alumni, and honorary inductees.

Application

Tri-Alpha Application

Name * Required
First Last
NAU email * Required
Mailing address * Required
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
Are you a first-generation college student? * Required
Tri-Alpha considers first-generation college student to mean neither of the student’s parents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor’s degree.
Which of the following roles best describes you? * Required
Undergraduate Students
By the end of the Fall 2020 semester, will you have earned at least 30 credit hours towards a bachelor’s degree? * Required
Please self-report your current GPA, meaning prior to the Fall 2020 semester. * Required
An undergraduate GPA of 3.2 out of 4.0 is required. Those who have a 3.15-3.19 GPA can still be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Are you enrolled full-time at a NAU campus? * Required
Full-time enrollment status is considered at least 12 credit hours each semester.
Which NAU campus location are you currently enrolled as a student? * Required
Are you enrolled in a bachelor’s degree? * Required
Only those who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree or higher are eligible for Tri-Alpha Honor Society at NAU.
Are you a member of another Honor Society? * Required
If yes, then which honor society?
If selected to join the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, are you willing to commit to the following each academic year? * Required
a. Personal growth activity - One informational interview with a graduate student, faculty, or staff member at NAU (approximately 30 minutes) b. 8 hours of community service during the year (this can be done virtually or in your local home/university region) c. One leadership development workshop, which can be fulfilled at a Student Affairs or College/School workshop if it is relevant. d. 2 Tri-Alpha meetings each semester, which will include one of the following focuses on planning for community service, fundraising, or a social event. Each meeting will be 1-hour.All activities will be reported in the Suitable app where Tri-Alpha advisor, Katherine Lawlor, can track participation. Total hour commitment is approximately 14 hours during an academic year.
Graduate Students
By the end of the Fall 2020 semester, will you have earned at least 9 credit hours towards a graduate degree? * Required
If you have not earned 9 credits hours by the Fall 2020 semester you are not eligible for Tri-Alpha at this time.
Please self-report your current GPA, meaning prior to the Fall 2020 semester. * Required
A graduate GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 is required.
Are you enrolled half-time as a graduate student? * Required
Half-time enrollment status is considered at least 6 credit hours each semester.
Please select from the following. Which NAU campus location are you currently enrolled as a student? * Required
Are you a member of another Honor Society? * Required
If yes, then which honor society?
If selected to join the Tri-Alpha Honor Society, are you willing to commit to the following each academic year? * Required
a. Personal growth activity - One informational interview with a faculty, or staff member at NAU (approximately 30 minutes) b. 8 hours of community service during the year (this can be done virtually or in your local home/university region). Volunteering your time to undergraduate students who need to complete the informational interview requirement will count as community service hours. c. One leadership development workshop, which can be fulfilled at a Student Affairs or College/School workshop if it is relevant. Workshop should be at least 30-60 minutes in length. d. 2 Tri-Alpha meetings each semester, which will include one of the following focuses on planning for community service, fundraising, or a social event. Each meeting will be 1-hour. All activities will be reported in the Suitable app where Tri-Alpha advisor, Katherine Lawlor, can track participation. Total hour commitment is approximately 14 hours during an academic year.
NAU Alumni
When did you complete a bachelor's degree at NAU? * Required
Which NAU campus location did you attend? Please select from the following. * Required
What is the undergraduate GPA listed on your official transcript when your degree was conferred? * Required
Please explain, how were you involved with First-Generation events or programs as an undergraduate student or how have you helped advance First-Generation initiatives at NAU as an alumnus? * Required
Will you commit to at least one information interview (approximately a 30-minute meeting) each Spring and Fall semester with an undergraduate or graduate student? * Required
NAU Faculty
What is your current campus location? Select all that apply. * Required
How have you helped advance first-generation initiatives at Northern Arizona University? * Required
Will you commit to at least one informational interview (approximately a 30-minute meeting) each semester with an undergraduate student, graduate student, or an alumnus interested in graduate school? * Required
NAU Staff
What is your current campus location? Select all that apply. * Required
How have you helped advance first-generation initiatives at Northern Arizona University? * Required
Will you commit to at least one informational interview (approximately a 30-minute meeting) each semester with an undergraduate student, graduate student, or an alumnus interested in graduate school? * Required

Want to stay connected with the Office of First-Generation Programs?

Faculty, staff, alumni, and honorary members can support Tri-Alpha and additional programming through mentorship and financial gifts. If you are willing to give a financial gift towards helping an undergraduate or graduate student cover their membership fee ($10) or graduation cord ($14), please contact Katherine Lawlor, Tri-Alpha Advisor, at katherine.lawlor@nau.edu.