Scholarship: Students who have a cumulative grade point average of 92% for National Honor Society and 92% for National Junior Honor Society, set by the local school's Faculty Council meet the scholarship requirement for membership. These students are then eligible for consideration on the basis of service, leadership, and character.
Service: This quality is defined through the voluntary contributions made by a student to the school or community, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit.
Leadership: Student leaders are those who are resourceful, good problem solvers, promoters of school activities, idea-contributors, dependable, and persons who exemplify positive attitudes about life. Leadership experiences can be drawn from school or community activity while working with or for others.
Character: The student of good character upholds principles of morality and ethics, is cooperative, demonstrates high standards of honesty and reliability, shows courtesy, concern and respect for others and generally maintains a good and clean lifestyle.
Citizenship (NJHS only): The student understands the importance of civic involvement, has a high regard for freedom, justice, and respect of the American form of government. Student demonstrates mature participation and responsibility through involvement with such activities as scouting, community organizations, and school clubs.
Selection Procedures for Selection into NHS and NJHS
For many students, selection as a member of NHS and NJHS is the pinnacle of their achievement in school. This honor, recognized throughout the nation, is both the public recognition of accomplishment and the private commitment to continued excellence on the part of the new member. Because of the importance placed upon this aspect of secondary school life local chapter are charged with creating a selection process that conforms to national guidelines, is applied fairly and consistently to all candidates, and provides a meaningful recognition of deserving students.
Selection to NHS and NJHS is a privilege, not a right. Students do not apply for membership in NHS and NJHS; instead, they provide information to be used by the local selection committee to support their candidacy for membership. Membership is granted only to those students selected by the Faculty Council. This is not an election, nor is membership automatically conveyed simply because a student has achieved a specified level of academic performance. NHS and NJHS are more than just an honor roll and the extent to which the local chapter emphasized the other components of the selection process are carefully included in the selection process guidelines. (NHS Handbook, 15th edition)
The following selection process
is used at
Section 1: To be eligible for
membership the candidate must be a member of those classes (sophomore, junior,
senior) designated as eligible in the chapter bylaws. (Freshmen [ninth
graders] are not eligible.) Candidates must have been in attendance at the
school the equivalent of one semester. As the first step in the process,
students’ academic records are reviewed to determine students
who are scholastically eligible for membership, i.e., students who meet the
required 92% cumulative percentage. The percentage will be calculated by school
administration. The GPA used at the
local level cannot fall below the national minimum standard outlined in the
national constitution, and, once set, must be applied fairly and consistently
to all candidates.
Section 2: Students who are eligible
scholastically (i.e.,“candidates”)
should be notified and informed that for further consideration for selection to
the chapter, they must complete the Student
Activity Information Form. This form should not be referred to as an
application. This form outlines the candidate’s accomplishments in the areas of
Service and Leadership. Care will be taken to follow the established guidelines
and time schedule for completing and submitting the forms in a reasonable
amount of time. It is further recommended that both students and parents sign
these forms when submitting them, indicating that the content is both complete
and accurate.
Section 3: Because additional faculty
input would be beneficial, all faculty members will be invited to make comments
on candidates, most often done on a faculty
evaluation form. It is important to note that the actual selection
of members must be made by the five appointed members of the Faculty Council.
Consequently, point totals or averages of the faculty ratings are not to be
considered as votes or the sole determinants of membership, but should instead
be reported to the Faculty Council to add to their information when considering
selections. Faculty members should consider this input in the most professional
manner and consequently be able to substantiate claims, in particular those low
ratings provided, with professional actions. All input from the faculty should
be signed, but will remain confidential as per commentary in the handbook
unless dictated to the contrary by local or state policies or laws.
Section 4: The Student Activity
Information Form should be reviewed by the Faculty Council, along with any
other verifiable information about the candidates relevant to their candidacy.
Some Faculty Councils may wish to interview candidates personally. The
leadership, service, and character of all candidates should be reviewed
carefully. Faculty Council members are encouraged to deliberate in order to
guarantee that their decisions are based on accurate and complete
understandings of all information presented for review.With
the vote on each candidate, those candidates receiving a majority vote of the
Faculty Council should be invited to be inducted into the chapter. All nonselected candidates (i.e., those who do not receive the
majority vote of the Faculty Council) should be listed and have those criteria
not met by the individual candidate next to their name to assist the adviser
and principal in handling inquiries regarding nonselection.
Section 5: After careful consideration and review of the
Student Activity Information Sheet, each member of the faculty council will
rate the student in four categories: service, leadership, character, and
citizenship. Once the student’s GPA is
shown to be sufficient for candidacy, the issue of scholarship should be put
aside. The Faculty Council
will rate the forms using the scale of: 4 for outstanding, 3
for excellent, 2 for good, 1 for fair, and 0 for not recommended. In the event of a low rating on one of the
evaluations, it is always important to verify the reason for such a rating,
avoiding the speculation and rumor. A
rating of less than 2 is considered a low rating and should be explained by the
evaluator.
Section 6: Each evaluation will be
totaled. All evaluation scores will be
averaged to determine if the candidate’s score makes the cutoff point. All tabulations will be rechecked for
accuracy. The cutoff score will be
determined by the Faculty Council and will
not serve as the absolute determinant of membership. When determining the cutoff point, the
Faculty Council will not have the names and scores of the candidates while
making that decision. If a candidate falls below the cutoff point, the Faculty
Council should review their information forms again in order to make a sound
professional judgment regarding selection and non-selection.
Section 7: To avoid questionable entries on faculty
evaluations, all evaluations must be signed and each evaluator must be prepared
to support any below-average rating with substantiating data based on sound
professional judgment and action.
Anonymous faculty evaluation forms should not be used. The local adviser serves as the link between
the Faculty Council and the evaluators, and may conduct informal interviews
with those teachers who provide the below-average ratings. As with the Student Activity Information
Forms, faculty evaluations are considered working documents to assist the
Faculty Council in making sound decisions regarding membership. Such evaluations are expected to be used only
by the Faculty Council, the advisor,
and the principal and should be considered confidential.
Section 8: The actual selection of new members must be
made by a majority vote of the five
appointed members of the Faculty Council. Consequently, point totals or
averages of the faculty ratings are not to be considered as 'votes' or the sole
determinants of membership. With the vote on each candidate, those candidates
receiving a majority vote of the faculty council should be
invited for induction into the chapter. All candidates identified and listed as
"not selected" (i.e., those who do not receive the majority vote of
the faculty council) should have
criteria not met listed next to their name to assist the adviser and principal
in handling inquiries regarding non-selection.
Section
9: Prior to notification of any
candidates, the chapter adviser should report to the principal
the results of the faculty council's deliberations for approval. Lists of
selected and non-selected students, as well as reasons for non-selection may be
incorporated into this meeting. This will assure the support of the
administration prior to any notification.
Section
10: Formal notification of all selected
and non-selected candidates and their parents will be done with a letter by the
chapter advisor to inform them about selection and the timing of the induction
ceremony.
Section 11: A description of the
selection procedure shall be published in an official school publication that
is widely available in a timely fashion to all students and parents of the
school. The selection procedure shall be determined by the Faculty Council and
shall be consistent with the rules and regulations of NHS.
During the second marking period, student records are reviewed, Faculty Council meets and selection is determined. Students who still maintain the required 92% for NHS and 89% for NJHS cumulative at the end of the second marking period will be inducted during the beginning of the third marking period.