Societies A-C

Alpha Epsilon Lambda

Alpha Epsilon Lambda is an interdisciplinary honor society for graduate students who have at least a 3.85 or higher and 12 graduate hours. This international honorary was established in 1990 by a University of Florida graduate student, John Capece, who provided the concept, structure, and resources for the society. AEL’s purpose is to promote ethics, intellectual achievement, and leadership among graduate students.

Membership in AEL is a competitive national honor, which recognized graduate students who excel in both leadership and scholarly endeavors. Candidate selected for membership consideration must demonstrate campus and community leadership, as well as a record of excellent scholarship. Specifically, members must have:

• Completed at least 12 graduate credit hours at The University of Alabama
• Hold a GPA of a 3.85 or higher ranking you in the top 35% of the graduate class
• Demonstrate a record of leadership and service to graduate students, organizations, professional affiliations, and/or the community.

Alpha Lambda Delta

Alpha Lambda Delta is a national society that honors academic excellence during a student’s first year at an institution of higher learning. Students must earn a 3.5 GPA while carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Selection Criteria

• Class Standing: Freshman
• GPA: 3.5/4.0
• Percentage in class: Top 20%
• Selection Timeline: Spring

Officers:

Additional Information

You can learn more about Alpha Lambda Delta by emailing Advisor Jeremy Reid at jeremy.reid@ua.edu.

The Anderson Society

As one of The University of Alabama’s most respected and lauded honor societies, the Anderson Society is not simply about recognition – it is about giving back.

The Anderson Society is a leadership honorary that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to The University of Alabama. While these contributions often take many forms, there are certain qualities of members of the Anderson Society that are prominently and ubiquitously found – an immersion into some sort of community service, passion for improving the University community through both explicit and implicit means, and persistent effort to attain excellence in some sphere of University life. Once an Anderson initiates, members are expected to continue to devote themselves to various forms of service, some directly under the auspices of the Anderson Society, but much more individually.

Selection Criteria

• Class standing: Current juniors in good judicial standing
• GPA: 3.33
• Timeline: Spring

In order to be considered for active membership in the Anderson Society, candidates must fill out an application in the spring of their junior year. Applicants must have a 3.33 overall GPA, outstanding leadership qualities, and be active on campus and in the community. No interview is required for membership. Twenty-four active members are selected.

Another category of membership is honorary membership. Honorary membership consists of those students, graduate and undergraduate, that are selected for membership but who will not be returning to the University in the fall due to graduation. Faculty members who are chosen are also considered to have honorary membership. Seven honorary members are chosen. Applicants who are selected for both types of memberships are tapped on the Mound during Honors Day in the spring.

If you have any questions about the activities or membership requirements of the Anderson Society, email theandersonsociety@gmail.com or contact UA’s Coordinating Council for Honor Societies.

Blue Key Honor Fraternity

Blue Key Honor Society is a premier honor society that recognizes college students for balanced and all-around excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service.

Selection Criteria

• Class standing: Rising seniors in the top 35% of their class
• GPA: 3.25
• Timeline: Spring

For more information, please visit the Blue Key National website. To contact the Alabama Chapter of the Blue Key National Honor Society, please email us at bluekeyua@gmail.com.

Cardinal Key Honor Society

Cardinal Key is an honor society composed of selected students with a 3.0 GPA and an admirable record of scholarship, leadership, and community service.

Cardinal Key National Honor Society, Inc. is an organization for students of at least junior status in American colleges and universities who are leaders in the college community and who are deemed potential leaders in the future. The Society aims to honor these, inspire leadership in others, and utilize leadership capabilities in an active program of service to the school, community, and country. The purposes of Cardinal Key are to recognize achievement in scholarship and extracurricular activities; to advance personal growth, patriotism, and service by affording training for leadership in the college community; and to develop worthy character by application of the cardinal virtues of living.

Selection Criteria

Class standing: Current Sophomores (rising juniors)
GPA: 3.0
Selection timeline: Spring

Additional Information

Please visit the Cardinal Key website.

The Carl A. Elliott Society

The Elliott Society is a community service-based, university-wide honorary dedicated to social justice. Membership into this society is one of the highest honors at The University of Alabama.

The Elliott Society is named in honor of the late Carl Atwood Elliott, a former University of Alabama SGA President, who later became an Alabama congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. He based his political principles on assistance to the needy, racial tolerance, and better educational opportunities to all. His works in Congress especially focused on education. Two very notable acts Elliott co-authored include The Library Services Act of 1956 and the National Defense Education Act of 1958.

For more information on the life and work of Carl Elliott, please visit Carl Elliott’s Congressional History.

The University of Alabama Carl A. Elliott Society recognizes students, faculty, and alumni who have made significant leadership contributions to the campus, community, state, and nation in areas of social and cultural progress and who portray a spirit of the ideals held by Congressman Elliott. The group works together to help better society through group and individual efforts in community service and much more!

Selection Criteria

• Class standing: Undergraduate and graduate students
• GPA: 3.0
• Selection timeline: Spring

Additional Information

Please contact uaelliottsociety@gmail.com for assistance.