Organizations & Services
SPEA Student Organizations
- Alpha Phi Sigma
- Pi Alpha Alpha
- SPEA Student Council
- American Criminal Justice Association
- SPEA Ambassadors
- Public Affairs Student Association (PASA)
Alpha Phi Sigma is the national criminal justice honor society, with chapters established on the Northwest, Fort Wayne, South Bend, Kokomo, and Indianapolis campuses of Indiana University. The society recognizes scholastic excellence by students in the field of criminal justice. It was founded in 1942 and was admitted to the Association of College Honor Societies in l980. To be eligible, undergraduate students must have earned an overall grade point average of at least 3.2 for at least 40 credit hours of course work, including at least four criminal justice courses with a minimum 3.2 grade point average. To remain in good standing, students must maintain an overall grade point average of at least 3.2 and a grade point average of at least 3.2 in all criminal justice courses completed. Membership of graduate students is limited to those who have a bachelor's degree in criminal justice or who are currently doing graduate work in this field. A minimum grade point average of 3.4 is required of graduate students seeking membership in Alpha Phi Sigma.
Pi Alpha Alpha is the national honorary society for schools of public affairs and administration. The society acknowledges outstanding scholarship and contributions to these fields. It was founded in 1972 by the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) to honor those whose performance in public affairs has been distinguished. The Indiana chapter of Pi Alpha Alpha is a charter chapter. Membership in Pi Alpha Alpha may be compared to membership in Phi Beta Kappa for liberal arts graduates. A person evaluating credentials in the various fields of public service should recognize the professional quality such a membership represents.
Undergraduate students are eligible for Pi Alpha Alpha membership when they are in the top 10 percent of their graduating class with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in at least 15 credit hours of SPEA courses, when they are in the last semester of the junior year or in the senior year, and when they have earned a grade point average of at least 3.0 in all course work.
Graduate students can qualify for membership by being in the top 20 percent of their M.H.A. or M.P.A. class, with a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5, a 3.7 in at least 50 percent of all required courses, and by having completed 50 percent of the required course work (i.e., 24-30 credit hours).
Alumni are eligible for membership if they meet all the requirements of student membership, even if they graduated before induction by the Indiana chapter.
Honorary membership is available to any person who has achieved distinction in public administration and who has the distinguished qualities that Pi Alpha Alpha fosters.
SPEA Student Council is a great way for students to get involved and effect positive change in the school. The purposes of the SPEA Student Council are to: assist students in the resolution of issues relating to the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA), assist and promote SPEA student organizations, allocate undergraduate Student Activity Fees (SAF) according to university and state guidelines, represent SPEA students' interests at faculty committee meetings, represent SPEA students' interests to the IUPUI Undergraduate Student Government (USG), and represent SPEA students' interests to the associate dean.
American Criminal Justice Association
Join the IUPUI chapter (Alpha Eta Omega) of the American Criminal Justice Association. Open to all criminal justice and public safety management majors, take part in hands-on activities (such as demonstrations and tours) related to all aspects of the criminal justice system, attend informational sessions designed to prepare you for entrance into various criminal justice and public safety careers, and participate in meaningful service projects that allow you to make a difference while you are still in college.
The SPEA Ambassadors serve as representatives for SPEA during recruitment events with SPEA faculty and staff. Ambassadors speak about their experiences in SPEA both academically and socially.
Public Affairs Student Association (PASA)
Public Affairs Student Association is a social organization that will provide networking and volunteer opportunities for all public affairs undergraduate and graduate students.
