Chapter News
Chapter News/Activities/Inductions - Spring 2005
As we honor the important contributors to the success of the ASL National Office in this issue, it seems fitting that we also take the time to highlight several of our many local chapters who have flourished from similar dedication and generosity of their own members and National Councilors. These chapters exemplify a true spirit of giving and creativity. They utilize their time and talent in many worthwhile ways, from charities to cookbooks to cyberspace. By “doing good anyway”, they enrich not only their campus communities, but also the wider world beyond.
Stonehill College
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 Oklahoma City University (OCU)Oklahoma City University (OCU) is the first Oklahoma higher-education institution to have an ASL chapter, Omicron Chi. The chapter holds inductions twice a year. Besides the domestic program, administered through PLUS (Prior Learning & University Studies), there is a program in Singapore where non-traditional learners take classes with OCU faculty who travel there to teach. This past Fall 2004, OCU proudly inducted 12 men and women into ASL before their graduation from the university. The new members were presented with ASL honor cords and lapel pins at the Ritz-Carlton Millennia in Singapore. Denise Short, National Councilor for Omicron Chi, was able to coordinate and attend this milestone event. |
 Assumption College in MassachusettsAssumption College in Massachusetts has inducted almost 400 adult students into its Delta Theta chapter since its inception in 1984. Each year, a number of these honor students have taken to heart the aims and ideals of ASL by giving back to their fellow students through leadership and service. Officers and members of Delta Theta have spoken at open-house and orientation events, sharing their own experiences and assuring incoming students that they, too, can succeed as adult learners. They also act as campus guides and mentors. An important part of the chapter’s involvement is each semester’s phone outreach to first-time students. Thus, through hospitality and personalized support, ASL members serve an important function in helping to ease the transition to college life. Delta Theta also has its own website which proudly lists its newest members after each induction. Charlene Martin, the National Councilor, and her assistant, Brian Bercier, continue to use the resources of their ASL scholars in creative and valuable ways. Click here to visit the Assumption College ASL site! |
 Georgian Court University in New JerseyGeorgian Court University in New Jersey supports its adult students through major fundraising campaigns. Recent success resulted in two $1000 scholarships for two students for two semesters. In addition, there was enough money in the chapter’s funds to alleviate the educational expenses of an ASL inductee who was accepted into a program of study in Australia. Besides helping their peers, the members of Kappa Zeta chapter also engage in volunteer programs for the wider community, such as soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and Habitat for Humanity. Sister Dorothy Lazarick is the National Councilor and strong supporter of this productive and generous group of ASL students. |
 Texas Woman’s University (TWU)Texas Woman’s University (TWU) actively promotes membership in its Sigma Rho chapter through articles in the university’s campus-wide newspaper. According to Amy Parsons-O’Keefe, the National Councilor, “we are trying to promote a buddy system for those non-traditional students who are trying to excel and for those who may need help … and, at the same time, recognize them for their academic accomplishments.” The chapter helps organize a weeklong celebration of adult students which includes brown-bag lunches, “graffiti” boards to network with other “non trads”, and GO NUTS badges which proudly announce that the wearer is “Not your Usual Traditional Student”! ASL members are also feted at a special luncheon during this Non-Traditional Student Week at which they receive their honor cords for graduation. Most recently, Sigma Rho was instrumental in the success of a campus garage sale which raised $3,000 for Tsunami disaster relief. |
Chapter Activities - Spring 2005 EditionAssumption College: ASL honor students serve as speakers and tour guides; college also does phone outreach to new students (possibly the ASL students do the phone outreach) College of Notre Dame of Maryland: Annually, provides adult scholarships and holds Fall-Dinner meetings Columbia College: Fund-raising activities to raise money for "alternative school program at Christmas" and the Community Appreciation Day picnic Concordia College: community-service projects sponsored and developed by ASL; chapter collected donations (both cash and material) for local domestic-abuse shelter in 2004 Georgian Court University: Fundraising through working at the concession stands at Summer Concerts at the PNC Garden Arts Center - their earnings provided two $1000 scholarship for two students for two semesters; donated towards an ASL student's expenses in an education program in Australia; actively engaged in local volunteer programs such as soup kitchens, Habitat for Humanity, homeless shelters Kean University: give two three-credit scholarships; recognize a "teacher of the year" Lebanon Valley College: run a "no-hassle" fund raiser Murray State University: award a plaque annually to the highest GPA among the ASL inductees Oklahoma City University: inducting new members involved in international studies - sending photo and report of ASL induction in Singapore, October 2004. See photo in Chapter News. Randolph-Macon Women's College: hold bake sales to raise funds for purchase of ASL gift items Stonehill College: very active and innovative; peer advisors and steering-committe members; collections for poor, homeless, abuse shelters, including eyeglasses for the needy; established an online voting system and a chat room for ASL members (!); participated in a Walk for Peace after 9/11 for scholarship money to an affected student SUNY - Cortland: creating its own ASL webpage Texas Woman's University: have included a copy of their newsletter article about ASL on campus University College of Syracuse: ASL summer picnic Wayne State University: ASL participates in "most campus student activities put on by Student Affairs" |
New ASL Chapters since last issue:Each year, Alpha Sigma Lambda establishes a goal for the number of chapters it hopes to add. We are proud to announce that 2004 saw the second largest growth in chapters since 1995. We applaud each of these new chapters and their representatives for their dedication to the adult students on their campuses. Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL |
Beta Xi at Stonehill College, Massachusetts, has an active and thriving community of ASL scholars and alumni. With strong support from the college administration and advisors, Beta Xi has contributed towards both campus activities and community service. Some of their innovative and rewarding functions include: new-student orientation along with peer advising and mentoring through a Phonathon conducted each semester; steering committee of ASL students who meet monthly and become the “eyes and ears” of the part-time adult-student body, advocating for e-mail access, parking privileges, and safety issues on campus. Beta Xi also sponsors clothing drives held in the Spring and “Make a Difference Day” during which discarded eyeglasses are collected and distributed to the needy. Chapter officers can be elected electronically through the chapter’s very own voting and chat room which also serves to link its members informally throughout the school year. The ASL Chat Room can post important messages, such as collection points on campus for the clothing and eyeglass collections, thus finding a way to reach busy adult students online. One of Beta Xi’s more creative endeavors has been a cookbook entitled Evening Meals in which recipes are contributed by the adult students and faculty and then sold to the larger campus community. The money collected is used towards a scholarship fund for adult learners. Pat Brinegar is the able and enthusiastic National Councilor for this chapter. 
SUNY at Cortland, New York