Communication Honor Society Begins at UIS

By Melanie Cain

Thanks to the collaboration between a professor and a student, UIS’ Communication program is proud to announce it has opened its first chapter of Lambda Pi Eta -- LPH for short. LPH is the National Communication Association’s official honor society for college students.

When Michael Searcy, assistant professor of communication, arrived at UIS in the fall of 2004, he was surprised to discover the campus didn’t already have a link to this prestigious organization. He knew all the benefits it could provide to the department, the students, and the university as a whole, so he set out to fill the void.

Coincidentally, as Searcy was inquiring about LPH, Morgan Meade, a senior in the Communication program, was also asking the very same thing. Meade had been involved with LPH at her previous school, and wanted to develop a chapter here. Finally, with the help of Professor Hank Nicholson, Searcy and Meade met and began to work on this exciting project.

With a full semester now under their belts, the founders are very pleased with the organization’s progress so far. The group has participated in several volunteer activities in the community and is planning various speakers and outings that will help students to explore the different fields of communication and gain as much “real world” experience as they can.

Meade feels that it’s very beneficial for students to get involved with organizations like LPH because “potential employers and higher bodies of education look at not only your grades but how much you used the knowledge you worked so hard for.”

When asked about collaborating with a student on this project, Searcy had nothing but wonderful things to say. “There is no greater experience for a teacher than to be involved on a continual basis with students who either can get excited or simply are excited about what they are doing with the topic and disciplines being taught.”

To be eligible for membership in LPH, students must be Communication majors with 60 total credit hours, 12 of those in Communication. Students must also maintain a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.25 GPA in the Communication department.

Induction ceremonies for the 15 charter members are set for Sunday, February 27.

Interested in finding out more? You can contact Professor Michael Searcy for more information.