Become a member
Prospective student members:
Please fill out the permission form to allow the School of Nursing to release your information to Sigma for membership invitations. More information for prospective student members can be found below.
Membership
Sigma membership provides valuable resources throughout your entire nursing career. Sigma membership enhances your resume; it is recognized by employers and graduate programs as an indicator of excellence.
As a student, your membership is recognized at the School of Nursing Commencement through honor cords and in the commencement program. For students and professional nurse members, your membership provides:
Access to chapter-sponsored conferences
Access to chapter grants to support your scholarly projects
Opportunities for career assistance, connections with other nurse scholars, and Sigma publications
Even if you move, you can take your membership with you—to local chapters in the U.S. and across the world!
For questions about renewing a lapsed membership, transferring your current membership to the Rho Chapter, or arranging a dual membership, please call Sigma Member Services at 1-888-634-7575. Read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for additional membership information.
Information for prospective members
Individuals interested in joining Sigma should read membership information below and contact the Rho chapter Faculty Counselor Beth Russel at bethcrus@umich.edu with any questions.
Undergraduate student membership
Guidelines
Rho Chapter of Sigma is looking for students who have demonstrated the qualities of scholarship, leadership and service, integrity, and commitment to nursing. Invitations to apply for membership are usually extended by Rho Chapter in the Fall term to students who have met our academic criteria (see below). However, any student who feels that they have met the criteria for membership is welcome to request a membership application by contacting the Rho Chapter Beth Faculty Counselor Beth Russell at bethcrus@umich.edu.
The criteria for membership for undergraduate students are:
- Rank in the upper 35% of your cohort (junior, senior, and 2nd career are considered separate cohorts). Typically, students in the upper 35% have a GPA of 3.6 or higher, although this varies each year.
- Completion of one half of the required nursing curriculum (courses whose numbers begin with the letter designation of "N")
- Academic integrity
Students who meet these criteria will be offered membership via email in the Fall term. Students must provide approval for release of information to Sigma after which Sigma will contact the student and request completion of an online application.
Students who do not rank in the upper 35% of their cohort may be considered for membership if they meet the following criteria:
- GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Completion of 1/2 of the required nursing curriculum (courses whose numbers begin with the letter designation of "N")
- Evidence of involvement in nursing-related service and leadership activities (e.g. student government, school committees, membership in professional or student groups such as MNA or MNSA, health-related community or church activities such as health teaching or health screening, volunteer activities, research activities other than those done for course credit, professional nursing awards, professional activities in a nursing unit or hospital such as quality assurance committee)
- Academic integrity
Students who do not rank in the upper 35% of their cohort may contact the Faculty Counselor to request consideration for membership. They must also submit their resume showing evidence of service and leadership activities. After completed applications are returned to the Faculty Counselor, the Sigma Membership Committee reviews them in consideration for membership.
The ceremony for induction into membership is usually held in April.
Graduate student membership
Guidelines
Rho Chapter of Sigma seeks students who have demonstrated the qualities of scholarship, leadership and service, integrity, and commitment to nursing. Rho Chapter typically extends offers of membership to graduate students in September based on the following criteria. That said, any student who has met the criteria below is welcome to request a membership application by contacting the Rho Chapter Faculty Counselor Beth Russel at bethcrus@umich.edu.
The criteria for membership for master's and doctoral students are:
- Completion of 1/4 of the required graduate curriculum
- Achieve academic excellence. (The equivalent GPA of a 3.5 or higher.)
- Meet the expectation of academic integrity. Students who are, legally recognized to practice in their country and have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree in any field, are also eligible to be considered as a Nurse Leader member at any point in the program.
Upon receiving a membership invitation via email during the Fall term, students must reply to indicate interest and provide approval for release of information to Sigma. Sigma will then contact the student and request completion of an online application.
The ceremony for induction into membership is usually held in April.
Nurse Leader membership
Guidelines
Nurses with a minimum of a bachelor's degree who have demonstrated achievement in nursing are encouraged to apply for membership as Nurse Leaders in Sigma. This membership category recognizes nurses who have demonstrated leadership, creative work, support for professional standards, and commitment to scholarly nursing.
Nurse Leader candidates must:
- Be legally recognized to practice nursing in his/her country
- Have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent in any field
- Demonstrate achievement in nursing in any of the following categories: Administration, Education, Global Health, Practice, Publication, Research
Application process
The application is reviewed by the membership committee for acceptance into Rho chapter. Submit the Nurse Leader Application to the Rho Chapter Faculty Counselor Beth Russell at bethcrus@umich.edu. The application is reviewed by the Rho Chapter Membership committee for acceptance into Rho chapter. Nurse leaders are formally inducted into Rho chapter at the annual induction ceremony held in April.
