Pi Sigma Alpha is the national political science honorary. UNL boasts one of the nation's most vibrant chapters, Tau Chapter. It has over 45 active members, about 10% of the department’s majors.
Membership Benefits
Membership to this elite organization is exclusive: students must have high GPAs and excellent performance in their political science courses in order to be invited to join.
Because Pi Sigma Alpha is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, the United States Office of Personnel Management guarantees a higher entry-level grade for Pi Sigma Alpha members entering government service.
All Pi Sigma Alpha members, regular and honorary, receive a certificate of membership and permanent enrollment in the society's membership rolls, maintained by the National Office. Upon request, the National Office will provide letters verifying membership to prospective employers or graduate schools.
Members in UNL’s chapter receive PSA graduation cords to wear in commencement ceremonies.
Members are also eligible to compete for the Pi Sigma Alpha Graduate Scholarship, and the Graduate and Undergraduate Best Paper Awards.
Events and Meetings
In addition to holding regular meetings, PSA organizes events about issues of campus, local, state, and national importance each year. In 2008, after Professor William Ayers' scheduled talk at UNL was canceled in the wake security concerns, PSA hosted a special forum with then-Chancellor Harvey Perlman to discuss the cancellation of the speech, issues of academic freedom, the realities of campus security, and the role of politics at the university.
In 2009, PSA organized a forum on the death penalty in Nebraska; representatives of pro-and-anti-death penalty groups presented their positions about proposed state legislation related to capital punishment. The participants also answered questions moderated by NET reporter Bill Kelly.
That same year, PSA hosted presidential aide David Axelrod, who delivered the inaugural Peter J. Hoagland Integrity in Public Service lecture. Members of PSA had a private breakfast with Mr. Axelrod and all group members participated in hosting the speech.
PSA also holds “members only” meetings. In 2010, PSA welcomed State Senator and UNL alum Amanda McGill to talk about careers in public service. In 2008, 2009, and 2010, PSA organized sessions on applying for graduate school, law school, and jobs out of college.