What is Lambda Pi Eta?
Lambda Pi Eta (LPH) is the honor society of the National Communication Association for four-year institutions of higher education. Lambda Pi Eta represents the first letters of what Aristotle described in Rhetoric as the three modes of persuasion: logos, pathos, and ethos. The official colors of Lambda Pi Eta are crimson to represent the Communication discipline and silver in recognition of speech and oratory skills. The purpose of the honor society is to promote outstanding academic achievement in the Communication discipline.
Chapter Membership
How to start and maintain a chapter
Chapters may be established at colleges and universities that have the following characteristics:
- grants baccalaureate or higher degrees
- accredited by the appropriate regional association
- has an academic school, division, or department in the field of Communication Studies
- offers a minimum of 30 academic hours in Communication and Communication-related courses
Applications for new chapters can be submitted online. A new chapter fee of $100 is required, which includes a charter suitable for framing and the first year of chapter dues.
To maintain active chapter status, chapters must pay annual chapter dues of $35 no later than January 2 of each year. Chapters are required to complete the online annual report form.
Chapters will be reviewed periodically for compliance with LPH requirements, and non-compliance may result in charter revocation.
Student Membership
How to join your local chapter
To be eligible for admission, undergraduate students must meet the following criteria:
- Complete 60 semester credit-hours (90 quarter credit-hours)
- Have a minimum overall cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Complete the equivalent of 12 semester credit-hours (18 quarter credit-hours) in Communication Studies
- Have a minimum GPA of 3.25 for all Communication Studies courses
- Currently be enrolled as a student in good standing, as determined by the institution's policies
To be eligible for admission, master’s students must meet the following criteria:
- Complete 12 hours of graduate credit-hours (18 quarter hours) in Communication
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5
- Currently be enrolled as a student in good standing, as determined by the institution’s policies.
Students meeting the national requirements, as outlined, may apply for Lambda Pi Eta membership. The membership application procedure shall be devised by individual local chapters and students should apply for membership with their local chapter. No chapter shall engage in rushing, hazing, or other forms of social pressure. While local chapters can require students to complete additional requirements, these requirements do not supersede the national requirements, and local chapters should devise a system that accounts for that. For example, a student who meets the national requirements cannot be denied membership in Lambda Pi Eta; however, if the local chapter wishes to require additional disciplinary-related service, projects, etc., it is possible to acknowledge this additional work by awarding extra cords or certificates, labels of “with distinction,” etc. Students who are members of Lambda Pi Eta are lifetime members. If a student transfers to another institution with a Lambda Pi Eta chapter, the student’s membership will automatically transfer to the new local chapter.
The membership fee is $35. Chapter advisors should process student membership orders online.
Local chapters of Lambda Pi Eta may, by majority vote, confer honorary member status upon Communication faculty members or individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the goals of the Society or make outstanding contributions to the academic goals of the chapter. To nominate an individual for official honorary member of Lambda Pi Eta status, submit the member's name along with a brief nomination statement to the Academic and Professional Affairs Associate for review. If approved, a certificate can be purchased through the Award Concepts LPH Online Store per usual.
Selection for membership shall be made without regard to race, religion, gender, sexual identity, nationality, physical disabilities, physical qualities, or age.
Benefits of Membership
Student members shall be eligible to:
- Vote at all chapter meetings of the Society
- Be elected to chapter offices
- Attend scholarly presentations and colloquia of the sponsoring academic department
- Represent the local chapter at state, regional, and national conventions
- Submit to the LPH research paper sessions at NCA’s Annual Convention (undergraduates only)
- Participate in LPH social media efforts via Linked-In, Facebook and Twitter
- Participate in periodic teleconferences on topics ranging from career development to chapter management
- Compete for various LPH national awards.
Honorary members may not vote or hold office in the Society or the chapter, or represent the chapter at the LPH business meeting held annually during the NCA Convention.
National Student Representatives
- The LPH Student Advisory Board shall consist of three students (no more than one graduate student) elected by the honor society members at the annual business meeting of LPH held at NCA’s Annual Convention. Nominations will be taken from the floor at the annual business meeting and students must be present to be elected. Each chapter delegation represented at the meeting will be eligible to vote for three nominees. The top three vote getters will constitute the advisory board, unless more than one of the top three vote getters is a graduate student. In that case, the student advisory board will consist of the top graduate student vote getter and the top two undergraduate vote getters.
- Advisory board members serve one-year terms and may be re-elected and serve more than one term on the advisory board.
- In conjunction with the National Faculty Advisory Board and National Office staff, the LPH student representatives shall plan the annual business meeting and awards ceremony.
- Vacancies shall be filled with an appointment by NCA in consultation with the other student officers and the Faculty Advisory Board.
National Faculty Advisory Board
- The Faculty Advisory Board, consisting of five members, shall be elected by the chapter advisors of Lambda Pi Eta who are in attendance at the annual business meeting which is held in conjunction with NCA’s Annual Convention. Nominations will be taken on the floor of the meeting. Advisors must be present to be elected.
- The election of the Faculty Advisory Board shall be by plurality vote, with the top vote-getting candidates, equal to the number of open positions, elected to the board.
- Members will serve terms of two years, alternating two board members one year and three board members the next.
- Vacancies will be filled with an appointment by NCA in consultation with the rest of the Faculty Advisory Board members.
Local Chapter Responsibilities
Chapters must elect officers. Recommended offices include the traditional leadership structure of President, Vice-President, Scholarship Officer, Treasurer, and Secretary. Each chapter, however, may elect to install a differing leadership structure by majority decision of the chapter. No more than one graduate student may serve as a local chapter officer at the same time.
Chapters must appoint a Communication faculty member to serve as advisor.
Local chapters may determine their own policies and procedures that comport with those of NCA.
Local officers are responsible for the following items, among others:
- Actively promote the purposes of LPH in the college or university community
- Organize chapter meetings
- Encourage academic excellence and stimulate intellectual inquiry among members through activities such as inviting guest speakers, informing members of opportunities for research and involvement in professional associations, and presenting awards for outstanding contributions
- Keep meeting minutes and a record of chapter activities
LPH Name and Logo
Chapters may use the LPH logo to support local chapter activities. Please contact the National Office for details.