Frequently Asked Questions | Omicron Delta Chapter

How can I become a member of Omicron Delta?

There are two ways that you can become a member of Omicron Delta – either as a student or community leader. The community leader process is described later in this FAQ document.

To join as a student you have to meet the following basic requirements to be invited

must be admitted to the University
must be in good standing with the University
be recommended by University faculty (handled by each campus)

Additionally, each program has specific criteria related to the academic requirements of that program. Criteria for each program is listed on the Prospective Member information page.

Omicron Delta, in conjunction with the University of Phoenix, looks at each UOP nursing student as of December 31st of each year. This is done automatically – in other words students do not need to express interest – it is done for all students. After faculty review the student lists, and determine who is eligible an invitation of interest to join is sent in March of each year. It is then up to each invited student to respond and indicate his/her interest to be accepted into the chapter. Membership criteria is described further on the Prospective Member page of this site.

I looked on the STTI web site and it says that my GPA needs to be a 3.0 but the Omicron Delta requirements are higher. Why is that?

This can be confusing to many students. The International STTI page states the criteria for an undergraduate student is:

Membership Criteria:

Undergraduate students must:

have completed ½ of the nursing curriculum;
have at least a GPA of 3.0 (based on a 4.0 grading scale);
rank in the upper 35 percentile of the graduating class;
meet the expectation of academic integrity.

When Omicron Delta implements these guidelines it means that our students must have at least a 3.0 GPA AND be in the upper 35% of their class. The 3.0 is the minimum that a chapter could have but the key is the upper 35%. For example if we were a small school and the upper 35% cut off for students was a 2.5 - the STTI guidelines are saying that even though the student is in the upper 35% - they would not be admissible because their GPA is too low. In our case, our school is so big that the upper 35% is quite high...but we aren't imposing our own rules...we are simply following the STTI guidelines that students must have a minimum of a 3.0 AND be in the upper 35% of their class.

I am a new member of Omicron Delta member and I want to wear my honor cord at graduation. Do I have to order one?

Yes; you will need to order one directly from STTI to wear at your graduation and/or induction ceremony. Click here to order the honor cord directly from STTI.

I was invited for membership and returned the application and dues but haven’t heard anything. How will I become a member?

After the application due date – Omicron Delta sends the membership information to STTI. They will then create packets and mail them out to us in June. New members are sent information after April 15th that includes information on how to attend a local induction ceremony. At the induction ceremony the new members will receive their membership packets (card and certificate).

What if I am unable to attend a local induction or there isn’t one in my area?

If you are unable to attend a local induction ceremony – your campus 2nd VP will mail your membership materials to you by the end of June. You will still be inducted by absencia.

I am a member of another STTI chapter but I would like to be a member of Omicron Delta as well. How can I apply for dual membership?

You can arrange for dual membership or even a transfer of membership through STTI. Members can complete this process through the STTI web site at: http://www.nursingsociety.org/ by using their Membership link. Otherwise you can contact their Customer Service number at: 888-634-7575

How can I join Omicron Delta as a Community Leader?

(originally published in the February 2005 issue of Chapter Leader Emphasis).

Nurse leaders must: 1) be registered nurses, legally recognized to practice in their countries; 2) have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree or equivalent in any field; and 3) have demonstrated achievement in nursing.

Common myths about nurse leader candidates include:

Myth: Nurse leader candidates must have a degree in nursing. Fact: Candidates must hold at least the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree; it can be in any field of study.

Myth: Nurse leader candidates must wait until the chapter's next regularly scheduled induction to become a member. Fact: Chapters should review nurse leader candidates for membership as soon as they express interest. If approved, these individuals could be inducted immediately, rather than waiting for the next regular induction.

Myth: If someone did not qualify for membership as a student, she or he is not suitable for honor society membership as a nurse leader. Fact: There could be valid reasons for not joining as a student. Perhaps the school did not have a chapter when the individual was a student (80 percent of the honor society's chapters were chartered in 1980 or later). Circumstances such as tight finances and inability to attend the induction ceremony may be prevented the individual from accepting the invitation. Leadership may have blossomed on the job, rather than in the classroom. Health problems during school might have resulted in a lower grade point average, which disqualified them from membership.

Myth: Nurse leader candidates must have achievements like Florence Nightingale to qualify for membership. Fact: Not quite . . . achievements should have contributed in some way to the advancement of nursing. That advancement can be at an academic institution or in a community, regional, state/province, national or international level. Examples of achievements include:

mentoring or developing nurse colleagues
being published in relevant publications
conducting research
developing and/or implementing techniques to improve patient care
contributing to an innovative nursing team in a clinical setting

If you feel you may qualify for membership as a nurse leader please go to the following links on our web site: Membership/Community Leader or contact STTI Member Services at: memserv@stti.iupui.edu or 888.634.7575

How do I change my address with Omicron Delta and STTI?

Due to the fact that Omicron Delta receives membership mailing lists from STTI on a quarterly basis – we don’t keep our own member database. The most effective way a member can change their address is to do so with STTI directly. This can be done through their web site at: http://www.nursingsociety.org/Membership/FAQ/Pages/faqs.aspx

Or you may contact them through: memserv@stti.iupui.edu or 888.634.7575

I am a member of Omicron Delta and I want to be more involved with the chapter…how can I do that?

We love that question! As a virtual chapter that covers the entire country we found it challenging to stay united and organized as a chapter. As a result of this challenge – Omicron Delta has created Message Boards. The message boards have forums for all members – depending on their locations – to become aware of what is going on in their region and become involved! Also, it is recommended to watch our web site closely for announcement regarding open positions on the Board as well as activities that are looking for member volunteers!