About Us

Nu Mu

Alpha Phi Sigma, the national criminal Justice honor society, recognizes academic excellence in undergraduate and graduate criminal justice students, as well as Juris Doctor (JD) students, inducting new members twice yearly. The goals of Alpha Phi Sigma are to honor and promote academic excellence, community service, and educational leadership and unity. The society was originally founded in 1942 at Washington State University. The Nu Mu chapter was chartered May 2012 at Boston University. Alpha Phi Sigma is the only criminal justice honor society certified as a member of the Association of College Honor Societies and affiliated with the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences.

Mission/Goals/Purpose/Oath

The Mission of Alpha Phi Sigma is to promote analytical thinking, rigorous scholarship and life long learning; to keep abreast of the advances in scientific research; to elevate the ethical standards of the criminal justice professions and to sustain in the public mind the benefit and necessity of education and professional training.

The Goals of Alpha Phi Sigma shall be to honor and promote academic excellence; service; leadership and unity.

The purpose of the Nu Mu chapter is to recognize University scholars, foster community relations and partnerships, and advance the field of social sciences, especially as it relates to crime and justice.

Oath of Membership

In the presence of the Alpha Phi Sigma members here assembled, I do hereby solemnly promise to uphold the ideals and traditions, maintain high moral character and commit myself to be governed by the Bylaws of the Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society and the local and national officers.

History

In September, 1941, Dr. Vivian Anderson Leonard was asked by the president of Washington State University if he would accept the directorship of a Police Science Academic Program at Washington State. Dr. Leonard accepted the offer and became responsible for developing a four year curriculum which would lead to a Bachelor’s Degree in Police Administration.

Upon his arrival at Washington State, Dr. Leonard began to realize how important it was that a Police Science Honorary be established. The purpose of this honorary would be to promote excellence in scholarship and performance. In January, 1942, Dr. Leonard met with seventeen Police Science majors at Washington state and Alpha Phi Sigma was established. Glenn Hill was elected as the first president and appointed a committee to draft the first Constitution and By-laws.

During its initial years Alpha Phi Sigma experienced only limited growth, but on March 24, 1976 in Dallas, Texas, the Executive Board of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences voted unanimously to designate Alpha Phi Sigma as the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. At this time, Alpha Phi Sigma had only fourteen chapters; however, since then, Alpha Phi Sigma has continued to grow and prosper at a very rapid rate and there are now over three hundred and sixty Chapters.

Over the years the National Officers have been located at Universities across the country, such as, Washington State University, Midwestern State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Texas Woman’s University, Fairmont State College, Marshall University, Tarleton State University,  Florida International University, Boise State University, University of Houston ~ Downtown.

Academy of Criminal Justice Science Affiliation

At the 1976 meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Science in Dallas, Texas, the Academy recognized Alpha Phi Sigma as the Criminal Justice Honor Society. Since 1978, Alpha Phi Sigma has held its national conference in conjunction with the annual ACJS meeting. The Academy’s continued support of Alpha Phi Sigma serves to enhance Alpha Phi Sigma’s purpose – the recognition of scholarly achievement in the field criminal justice.

Member of the Association of College Honor Societies

The Association of College Honor Societies was organized October 2, 1925, by a group of college and university teachers, administrators, and representatives of a few well-established honor societies. Its object was then and is now to consider problems of mutual interest such as those arising from the confusion prevailing on college campuses concerning the character, function, standards of membership, multiplicity, and undesirable duplication of honor societies; to recommend action leading to appropriate classification or elimination; and to promote the highest interest of honor societies. Alpha Phi Sigma  was granted membership by the Association of College Honor Societies in 1980.

Chapter By-Laws

By-Laws are rules adopted by an organization in order to regulate its own affairs and the behavior of its members. As a member you must adhere to these by-laws in order to maintain your membership and become a successful and intricate part of the organization. View the By-Laws for the Nu Mu Chapter.