HOPE (Honors Organization for Promoting Equity) leaders and faculty discuss the work of artist Wilay Méndez Paez as part of the 2023 Celebrating Black History month event.
As an honors student, your opportunities do not stop at the borders of the Ball State campus. Numerous councils, associations, and societies offer valuable resources and activities for you. Some promote leadership, others scholarship, while others will connect you with internships, job opportunities, scholarships, and awards. Explore the many organizations below.
On Campus
The Student Honors Council (SHC) advances the honors community at Ball State through service and social activities and is the liaison between honors students and the Honors College governing body. Learn more
HOPE (Honors Organization for Promoting Equity)
HOPE provides a voice for underrepresented students in honors and beyond and helps to make the Honors College a more diverse, inclusive, and just place to learn. Learn more
HACE (Honors Association for Community Engagement)
HACE creates opportunities for one-time and regular volunteering events, fosters spaces for discussion between Ball State Honors College students and the Muncie community, and encourages engagement between students and the Muncie community in order to share services, ideas, and experiences. Learn more.
Since its founding, Phi Kappa Phi has initiated more than 1.5 million members into its ranks; all of these members have received emblems and certificates of membership. However, Phi Kappa Phi is much more than an emblem and a line on résumé. It is a global network composed of the best and brightest from all academic disciplines — a community of scholars and professionals building an enduring legacy for future generations. Learn more.
Regional & National
Ball State's Honors College is an active participant in the regional and national honors organizations.
NCHC serves honors professionals and students while advancing undergraduate education. Learn more.
A regional association, MEHA fosters a sense of community and promotes knowledge sharing among honors programs or honors colleges. Learn more.
The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is the nation's only certifying agency for college and university honor societies. ACHS offers links and information about top national and international honor societies. Learn more.
How to Judge an Honor Society
Honors College students often receive many invitations to join honor societies. With so many invitations, how do you decide which organizations to join and determine which are credible?
The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) certifies college and university honor societies. To gain certification, honor societies must meet certain standards of excellence. If an honor society is a member of ACHS, you can be sure that it has met the high standards of ACHS and is worth your consideration for membership. Check out the list of member societies on the ACHS site.
Not all honor societies seek certification from ACHS. To determine if a society that is not a member of ACHS is credible, you'll need to look at the criteria for membership and how the society is organized. ACHS offers guidelines to help you judge the credibility of an honor society.
If you still have doubts about whether to join an honor society, contact the Ball State campus representative of the organization to find out more about the benefits of membership. The representative’s name should be on your letter of invitation.