Sigma Theta Tau International
Xi Alpha Chapter

Middle Tennessee State University
School of Nursing

Approximately 60 percent of Sigma Theta Tau's scholars have graduate degrees, and most of these scholars work in the direct care of patients and/or in advanced clinical practices in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia. The majority of the doctorally prepared registered nurses have concentrated more heavily in education and research. The name, Sigma Theta Tau, means "love," "courage," and "honor."

The purposes of Sigma Theta Tau International include the following: 1)recognize superior achievement, 2)recognize the development of leadership qualities, 3)foster high profesional standards, 4)encourage creative work, and 5)strengthen commitment to the ideals and purposes of the profession of nursing.

Undergraduate nursing students may qualify for membership if he/she meets the following requirements: 1)completion of one-half of his/her nursing curriculum, 2)achievement of at least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, 3)achievement of rank in the upper 35% of his/her graduating class, and 4)meeting the expectation of academic integrity. Sigma Theta Tau International chapters may also induct students who are enrolled in graduate school and nurses who are coleaders. A community nurse leader is a nurse with a minimum of a baccalaureate degree who has demonstrated marked achievements in nursing education, practice, research, or publication.

The history leading up to the chartering of Middle Tennessee State University's Chapter, Xi Alpha really began in the Spring of 1990 when the Department of Nursing was planning to graduate its last Associate degree students and its first students having earned the Baccalaureate degree in Nursing. In the hope that the first graduating class earning the BSN degree could participate in an honor society, Dr. Ella Kick, professor and Chairholder of the National health Corporation's Chair of Excellence in Nursing, Dr. Judith Wakim, Chair of the Department of Nursing, and Jean Hastings, Assistant Professor and faculty advisor to the Student Nurse Association worked to begin the Middle Tennessee State University Nursing Honor Society. The first induction was held on May 6, 1990 in the James Union Building on the MTSU campus; there were 19 students, 7 community nurses, and 18 faculty from the Department of Nursing. Dr. Ella Kick gave the Keynote address, entitled "Excellence in Nursing." Each inductee received a nurse stamp and a certificate since there was no time to make pins with the Honor Society inscription.

The time between 1990 and 1994 was very active as the officers of the Nursing Honor Society worked to establish bylaws according to the guidelines from Sigma Theta Tau International, to organize fund raising events, and to sponsor Research/Scholarly Works presentations. At least five research days were conducted with several students, faculty, and community members presenting research data and posters. During the fall, 1990, the National League for Nursing self-study was completed by the Department of Nursing, and NLN visitors came to MTSU campus; NLN officially notified the Department of Nursing of its accreditation in March, 1991. On April 29, 1991 Dr. Ella Kick wrote a letter to Sigma Theta Tau International regarding MTSU Nursing Honor Society's application to be chartered as a chapter. Betty Thomas was appointed to serve as an evaluator. She visited the MTSU campus April 15-16, 1993, where she met with MTSU President James Walker, Earl Keese, Dean of Basic and Applied Sciences, and Judith Wakim, chair of the Department of Nursing. She also met with nursing leaders, alumni, students, and faculty. In December, 1993, at the Biennial Convention, Sigma Theta Tau approved Xi Alpha Chapter. Iota Chapter of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing was named as mentor to the MTSU Nursing Honor Society to assist the officers in accomplishing the goal of becoming a chartered chapter.

Middle Tennessee State University's Chapter, Xi Alpha, was officially chartered during Spring, 1994, with 102 "charter" members, including 18 dual and transfer members, most being faculty at MTSU, and 84 new members. The chartering ceremony was held at Alumni Center at MTSU where Dr. Carolyn Williams, Dean of the University of Kentucky Medical Center College of Nursing and representative for Sigma Theta Tau International conducted the ceremony. The program consisted of the presentation of the charter and coat-of-arms, induction of charter members, and installation of chapter officers. The fist officers included Jean Hastings, President; Judy Campbell, Vice President; Frances Carson, Treasurer; and Mary Goldsack, Secretary. The charter that currently hangs in the MTSU School of Nursing authorized "those members whose names are listed below to establish a chapter at MTSU Department of Nursing." Each of the 102 original members is listed by name. The Tennessee House of Representatives adopted two separate House Joint Resolutions in April 1994 to recognize MTSU's Nursing Honor Society and the Chartering of Xi Alpha. This legislative body recognizes "those organizations whose stellar achievements qualify them as worthy recipients of such commendation."