Chapter Has Fun While Supporting Fellow Students
Sigma Rho at Texas
Woman’s University, Denton TX
Established 1998, revived 2002
In 2002, Texas Woman’s University was worried about slipping retention among its adult students. Anyah Martinez of TWU did some research and thought that Alpha Sigma Lambda would help turn retention around. Further digging revealed that TWU actually had a chapter, Sigma Rho, that had lapsed for a few years.
That fall Anyah held an informational meeting for eligible students. She was looking for officers who would work at reactivating the chapter. Janice Fowler stepped in as president in January 2003. She contacted some chapter alumnae and put them together with some people who had expressed interest at the informational meeting to form an executive board. Its goal was to reconstruct Sigma Rho as a strong chapter that would create new traditions to enrich students’ experience at TWU. They also wanted Sigma Rho to be active and organized enough to prevent it falling into disuse again.
The
first induction was in June 2003. Around 200 new members joined
the chapter and a slate of officers, including a public affairs
secretary, was elected. Sitting in the audience at the induction
was Terri Klements, a National Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics.
She is a friend of one of the members and had heard about Sigma
Rho’s interest in fundraising. She was so impressed by the
induction that she approached Janice Fowler about how she could
support the chapter.
Out
of their conversation came Stress Busters, held by Terri at TWU
on the second Tuesday of every month. On the principle that if you
look good, you feel good, Terri offers complimentary facials and
makeovers to any student. She also gave away a trip to the Bahamas.
20% of what she sells at Stress Busters goes to Sigma Rho. Her contribution
amounts to $200 per month, powerful testimony to the popularity
of this program and break it gives from the routine of school and
work.
The chapter has another funding source: the “A” team
pledge. The board recruits students who each line up ten people
who give a dollar for every Athe student earns. The maximum earned
per student would be $40, as TWU is based on twelve hour/four course
terms. The chapter keeps half the money and awards half to a local
children’s charity. The chapter expects an average of 25 participants
per semester, or $600 per semester. Their long term goal is to raise
$1000 per semester.
Through these fundraisers, the chapter hopes to have $5000 for the fall 2004 semester. If the chapter reaches this goal, the board will offer five $100 book scholarships, five $250 financial need scholarships, and three $100 transportation scholarships. The financial need scholarships will target students who don’t qualify for financial aid but who are squeezed financially nevertheless. The chapter currently administers a scholarship from the local chapter of the American Association of University Women. Sigma Rho recruits applicants and selects a new adult student to receive the $250 award.
Currently the chapter runs a fun program to help students. Since 60% of the population are commuters, the officers purchase gas cards which they hide all over campus for students to find and use. They also do the same thing with book cards.
Sigma
Rho also encourages students’ community leadership. This fall
it organized an informational fair where students could connect
with campus and community organizations that need volunteers. Chapter
members also went to summer orientations to recruit first year students
to pair up with seniors. The mentoring, Janice Fowler says, works
both ways. The younger students help older students master technology,
and the older students help with coursework.
The chapter is planning Academic Casino, a carnival day featuring games and fun with an academic theme: ‘liberal arts’ face painting, pin the tail on the class, a bingo math game, and an ASL video game, plus more.
Plans are underway for June’s induction. Around 230 students qualify for membership. Jan has emailed them inviting them to join and has arranged a meeting in January to get them excited and involved. The day before the ceremony the chapter intends to have reception for alumnae, current members, and inductees.
Sigma Rho, with the support of the administration, has fashioned a chapter emphasizes that even busy lifelong learners can have fun at school and create a community while having it.