Epsilon Zeta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International

Membership Criteria

What does the "Upper 35%" Really Mean?

There has been some confusion and many questions from chapters and potential members regarding how the 35% requirement can be applied. Following are the ways the 35% rule can be applied. Keep in mind the other undergraduate requirements of having at least a 3.0 GPA and completing at least one-half of the nursing curriculum must also have been met.

Satellite campuses and at-large chapters are allowed to invite students in the upper 35% of their class from each campus.

RN students in baccalaureate programs may be considered as a separate class when a generic program has an RN track. Therefore, you may invite the upper 35% of the RN class and the upper 35% of the generic class. Prospects from both groups must still meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement and have completed one-half of the nursing curriculum. If your RN class is particularly small, you may find it better to include them with the generic BSN class.

LPN students in baccalaureate programs may be considered as a separate class when a generic program has an RN track. Therefore, you may invite the upper 35% of the RN class and the upper 35% of the generic class. Prospects from both groups must still meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement and have completed one-half of the nursing curriculum. If your RN class is particularly small, you may find it better to include them with the generic BSN class.

Transfer students in baccalaureate programs may be considered as a separate class when a generic program has an RN track. Therefore, you may invite the upper 35% of the RN class and the upper 35% of the generic class. Prospects from both groups must still meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement and have completed one-half of the nursing curriculum. If your RN class is particularly small, you may find it better to include them with the generic BSN class.

Second Degree students in baccalaureate programs may be considered as a separate class when a generic program has an RN track. Therefore, you may invite the upper 35% of the RN class and the upper 35% of the generic class. Prospects from both groups must still meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement and have completed one-half of the nursing curriculum. If your RN class is particularly small, you may find it better to include them with the generic BSN class.

Students from Saudi Arabia in baccalaureate programs may be considered as a separate class when a generic program has an RN track. Therefore, you may invite the upper 35% of the RN class and the upper 35% of the generic class. Prospects from both groups must still meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement and have completed one-half of the nursing curriculum. If your RN class is particularly small, you may find it better to include them with the generic BSN class.

Generic students in baccalaureate programs may be considered as a separate class when a generic program has an RN track. Therefore, you may invite the upper 35% of the RN class and the upper 35% of the generic class. Prospects from both groups must still meet the minimum 3.0 GPA requirement and have completed one-half of the nursing curriculum. If your RN class is particularly small, you may find it better to include them with the generic BSN class.

A class is interpreted to mean the group that is anticipated to graduate together at that same time. (i.e. at completion of fall semester, spring semester, summer classes, etc.)

If the lowest GPA in the upper 35% of the class is 3.8, for example, only those with GPAs of 3.8 and higher would be eligible.

If the lowest GPA of the upper 35% of the class falls below 3.0, only those with 3.0 and higher can be invited to join.

Chapters cannot go back and invite other students who did not fall into the upper 35% of their class if some prospects within the upper 35% of the class decline the membership invitation.

Students who attain the same GPA should not be counted as "one" when determining the top 35% of the class. (i.e., if ten students have a 4.0 GPA, each student should be counted as part of the top 35%). However, if there are multiple students holding the "cutoff" GPA, each student should be considered for membership. (i.e. if 3.20 is the cutoff GPA, and three students have attained this, each should be invited to membership).

Sigma Requirements for membership; International requirements as of 2/8/08

Registered Nurse Students must

have completed 12 credit hours at current school;

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 graduating class;

meet the expectation of academic integrity.

Nurse Leader Candidates must

legally recognized to practice nursing in his/her country;

minimum of a baccalaureate degree or the equivalent in any field;

demonstrated achievement in nursing

Sigma Theta Tau International
Epsilon Zeta Chapter
Honor Society for Nursing
College of Health and Human Services
George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030

Membership Criteria

Sigma Requirements for membership; International requirements as of 2/8/08

Undergraduate Students must

Graduate Students (Master's and Doctorate) must

Registered Nurse Students must

Nurse Leader Candidates must