Establishing the Chapter Faculty Selection Committee

Each chapter needs a Faculty Selection Committee that is responsible for selecting new members, and removing members if warranted. The Faculty Selection Committee shall consist of the chapter advisor and other faculty members within the school.

Enrolling New Members

Membership in Junior Rho Kappa is an honor bestowed upon students for their accomplishments in the field of social studies and overall academic achievement. Each local chapter assembles a faculty selection committee in the school where the chapter resides to select the memberships.

Selecting Members

The following is a list of criteria that all Rho Kappa members must meet:

• Have been in attendance at the school for at least one semester;
• Have completed two semesters of social studies courses and be prepared to complete a third;
• Have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00 or the numerical equivalent;
• Have participated in activities that demonstrate civic engagement in their school or community;
• Provide a letter of recommendation; and
• Desire to be a member of Junior Rho Kappa.

The chapter advisor, faculty selection committee, and the high school administration shall determine selection of eligible students and their election to the organization. Candidates must meet the GPA, social studies course completion requirements and the application requirements listed above. Other criteria can be implemented and created at the discretion of chapter advisors.

The Rho Kappa National Advisory Council will not review anything regarding the selection of individual members to local chapters.

Inducting New Members

Each local chapter may design and execute an appropriate ceremony for the induction of new members.

Newly inducted members shall receive their membership certificates and any other appropriate Junior Rho Kappa materials when their membership has been affirmed.

In the event that a particular individual qualifies for membership after the date of the induction ceremony, he or she may be inducted at a regular chapter meeting provided the membership forms and fees are submitted to NCSS.

Chapters are forbidden to initiate, haze, blackball, or do anything similar, as any part of the Junior Rho Kappa process. Any chapter found engaged in any of these shall lose its charter. 

New Chapter Advisors can follow a Sample Induction Ceremony to induct new members.

Induction Fees and Form

Each chapter pays a fee of $5.00 to NCSS per student inducted into Junior Rho Kappa. Please use the Membership List Template to complete an induction list and send it to rhokappa@ncss.org before the end of the school year. You may submit more than one induction class. 

Click here to place student names on certificates: Member Certificate Type-In Template