Lambda Alpha Specific Membership Policy

The following specific membership policy is drawn from the Lambda Alpha National Constitution. 

Any person who is or was an officer, member of the teaching staff, graduate student, junior or senior in college, university or other institution of higher learning where there is a chapter of Lambda Alpha, may be elected to membership  by the chapter faculty sponsor. The chapter faculty sponsor insures that the membership applicant meets the requirements for membership.  No person may be denied membership in Lambda Alpha by reason of race, religion, sexual orientation or national origin.

Minimum requirements for active student membership shall be:

Undergraduates must be currently enrolled and have completed not less than twelve (12) semester hours or the equivalent in academic Anthropology. Undergraduates must have an average grade in these courses of not less than “B” or 3.0 and a cumulative GPA average of not less than 2.5.  Graduate students must be in good departmental standing with a 3.25 cumulative GPA average.

Faculty members in good standing in the institution, who are connected with the disciplines of Anthropology and/or Sociology are automatically eligible for membership. In those institutions with a joint Sociology/Anthropology department, Sociology courses not to exceed six (6) semester hours may be included for membership qualifications. Alumni of any qualified institution may become members of any such chapter within five (5) years of graduation provided the same qualifications for undergraduate or graduate students, whichever applied, are met. A person so elected shall become a member upon receipt by the National Office of his/her written acceptance, payment of the national fees, and issuance by the National Executive Secretary of the prescribed credentials and not before such action. A chapter may admit to active status anyone who has been a member of any chapter at any time.

Special exemption from the application of any of the above principles of eligibility may be granted only by the National Executive Council on the request of a collegiate chapter showing special circumstances and good reasons for such exemption.

The National Executive Council may, from time to time, recognize distinguished service in Anthropology by-election to honorary membership and granting official credentials to persons who, by their outstanding contributions and achievements in Anthropology, have merited such distinction. These persons shall pay no dues or fees of any kind. Each chapter shall review prospective members to determine their eligibility at least twice during each academic year.  Chapter faculty sponsors may submit membership application materials at any time during the year.  Application materials for an individual can be submitted by a faculty sponsor or a group of applications can also be sent to the Lambda Alpha National Office.

All persons eligible for initiation shall pay a $25 initiation fee to the National Office. This fee shall constitute a lifetime membership fee and no national dues, fees or other assessments shall hereafter be imposed. The national membership fee shall entitle each member to a certificate of membership.