The National Honor Society is a nationwide organization that recognizes exceptional secondary-school honor students. Members of the Nu Delta Aristoi Chapter at Notre Dame have and continue to demonstrate good character, strong leadership, excellent scholarship and generous service. In the words of the ND motto, each National Honor Society member is, indeed, an “imitator of Christ.”
In the fall of each academic year, candidates are evaluated in the light of these four criteria. To be eligible for consideration, a student must be a member of the junior or senior class and have attended Notre Dame for at least one semester. Juniors must have achieved a cumulative unweighted Grade Point Average of at least 3.7 for the previous 4 semesters; candidates in their senior year must have achieved a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 3.7 for the previous 6 semesters.
Students are chosen by a majority vote of a five-member faculty selection committee. In considering candidates, the following criteria are examined:
Character: a responsible school attendance record, a positive disciplinary record, a record of academic honesty and integrity, a record of exemplary behavior and cooperation with both faculty and students.
Leadership: a record of active participation in clubs/organizations in the school/community, a record of leadership in an organization, sport or club, a commitment to serve as a role model within the school community. Sustained participation in 2 or more school or community activities is required (membership alone does not guarantee acceptance into the NHS).
Service: a record of sustained service in the Notre Dame community and/or that of the neighboring area through Campus Ministry, the Care Club, other school-sponsored organizations or local community outreach programs. Students are obliged to participate in 3 or more service projects.
Scholarship: a cumulative unweighted GPA of at least 3.7 as described above.
Membership in the National Honor Society is both an honor and a responsibility. Members are expected to continue to demonstrate the qualities of Character, Leadership, Service and Scholarship; they will be held to the highest of standards with regard to honor, discipline, academics and all membership duties and activities. Once inducted into the NHS, students must maintain their standing in the organization and fulfill the following requirements:
• Demonstrate a commitment to Scholarship and Service
• Demonstrate Leadership and positive involvement in the Notre Dame community
• Have no record of academic dishonesty
• Have no pattern of truancy, excessive absences or tardies
• Have no disciplinary record of frequent detention, suspension or inappropriate behavior
Deficiency in any or all of the above can disqualify a student from membership in the NHS, resulting in dismissal. In such cases, the student’s record will be reviewed by the NHS Faculty Council.