Sociology Student Association
Sociology is one of the most diverse areas of study. We want to encourage the exploration of this field in its many facets. As a student group we have the power to drive that quest wherever we want to go. This year it might be looking into family violence and what the IPFW community can actively do to promote and support established organizations. Next year we could focus on homelessness in rural America. Maybe we decide to go to a Sociology Chapter Conference and see what that is all about. The possibilities are endless for your education and for the Sociology Student Association.
The Sociology Student Association (S.S.A.) is not your typical IPFW student organization. As Sociology is a great base for all things, we seek to explore them all. We are in the unique position to support other organizations on campus, based solely on the nature of Sociology. S.S.A. strives to support all students and encourage personal development through the understanding of what Sociology can accomplish. S.S.A. allows you to balance your desires to be an active and contributing member of your community while achieving your academic pursuits.
The Executive Committee is made of the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer. Our goal is to make the organization something you will see as a tool to your educational career at IPFW.
- Encourage all students to meet their career goals and objectives
- Providing support for students in their scholarly endeavors
- Pledge active student participation in all governance decisions that affect the academic environment of the Sociology Department
- Provide a forum for the representation of innovative ideas to the benefit of faculty, staff and Sociology undergraduate students
- Cooperate with other departments, colleges, universities, and/or national organizations to facilitate the obtainment of members’ common goals and objectives
- Seek out opportunities to educate and raise awareness of the many social issues facing the IPFW community and the greater Fort Wayne area
Sociology Student Association Web site:
Current Officers
- President:
- Vice-President:
- Treasurer:
Alpha Kappa Delta
Alpha Kappa Delta was founded as an honors society for sociology majors in 1920. The goal and purpose of Alpha Kappa Delta is "to investigate humanity for the purpose of service." To qualify for membership, a student needs to be a sociology major, have achieved junior or senior standing, and have a 3.0 or higher GPA.
University of Southern California sociologist Dr. Emory S. Bogardus founded Alpha Kappa Delta for the purposes of stimulating scholarship and promoting the scientific study of society. Bogardus’ impetus in establishing this organization was to provide a forum for student and faculty interchange. His endeavor paved the way for what has become an international organization dedicated to promoting, facilitating, and recognizing academic scholarship. As we enter the 21st century, Alpha Kappa Delta is an integral part of many Sociology programs and is proud to acknowledge that in the past eight decades, over 80,000 scholars have been initiated into the Society. More than 490 chapters have been chartered in the United States, Canada, China, Finland, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Alpha Kappa Delta 2012 Inductees
Front left-right: Elizabeth Linsky, Stephanie Woodson, Elaina Johns-Wolfe
Back left-right: Daniel Gutierrez, Taras Fossett, André Patterson, Dr. Peter Iadicola.
Alpha Kappa Delta Honors Society
Alpha Kappa Delta was founded as an honors society for sociology majors in 1920. The goal and purpose of Alpha Kappa Delta is "to investigate humanity for the purpose of service." To qualify, a student needs to be a sociology major, have achieved junior or senior standing, and have a 3.0 GPA
2007 Alpha Kappa Delta Inductees
Front row (left to right): Abigayle Bickel, Khalilah Hanan. Back row (left to right): Dr. Diane Taub, Stephanie O'Shaughnessy, Julia Gorrell, Rachael Berry, Mark Colchin, Dr. Christopher Bradley.
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Arnold O. Olson Award for Excellence in Sociology
To a junior or senior with a GPA of 3.5 or above, demonstrating excellence in academic achievement in sociology. In honor of the late associate professor emeritus and chair who developed the sociology internship program.
Mark Colchin is the 2007 Arnold O. Olson Award winner.
Left to Right: Dr. Diane Taub, Mark Colchin, Dr. Christopher Bradley.
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The C. Wright Mills Award for Sociological Research
Award annually to a Junior or Senior sociology major who meets the following requirements:
- Must produce an original piece of empirical work that is based on the analysis of either primary or secondary data;
- Must have taken 18 or more credit hours in sociology from our program on the IPFW campus.
Students will be nominated for this award by a tenure-track faculty member in the department of sociology. The faculty member making the nomination will need to write a letter in support of the student and state why his/her original piece of empirical work merits the award. The original piece of empirical work produced by the student and the letter of nomination written by the faculty member will be forwarded to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, who will disseminate these materials to all tenure-track faculty members. The faculty will then decide whether the work is of sufficient scholarly quality to merit the award. Afterwards, a simple majority vote among the tenure-track faculty will determine which nominee will win the award. Typically only one award per academic year will be made. The award will be conferred in the spring semester.
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The Jane Addams Award for Sociological Practice
Award annually to a Junior or Senior sociology major who meets the following requirements:
- Must engage in a significant and meaningful applied sociological activity that is not associated with regular class work (except that it may be done as part of an independent study);
- Must have taken 18 or more credit hours in sociology from our program on the IPFW campus.
Students will be nominated for this award by a tenure-track faculty member in the department of sociology. The faculty member making the nomination will need to write a letter in support of the student and why his/her applied sociological activity merits the award. The letter of nomination written by the faculty member will be forwarded to the Director of Undergraduate Studies, who will disseminate the nomination letters to all tenure-track faculty members. The faculty will then decide whether the applied sociological activity is of sufficient quality to merit the award. Afterwards, a simple majority vote among the tenure-track faculty will determine which nominee will win the award. Typically only one award per academic year will be made. The award will be conferred in the spring semester.
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The Wen-Hui and Sarah Tsai Award
Awarded annually for the best student term paper on cross-cultural studies that include works on China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Singapore. Term papers written by either sociology or anthropology majors will be eligible for the award.
A $250 award will be made for the best student paper each year for students from sociology and anthropology. The paper must be either:
- on comparative studies from sociology or anthropology on East Asia (including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and Singapore);
- any sociological work that takes a functionalist approach in theory or research.
Two finalist papers will be recommended by the two departments to Wen-Hui and Sarah Tsai, as they will select the final winner.
Graduate Awards
Lester Frank Ward Award
To be awarded annually to a sociology graduate student, or group of graduate students, who meet(s) the following requirements:
- Must be an original piece of empirical work that is based on the analysis of either primary or secondary data, including replication.
- Empirical research must have been undertaken in our sociology graduate courses.
- Award will only be given if merited.
Process for nomination and award:
- Students will be nominated by a tenure-track faculty member of the Sociology Department.
- Award may be given to a project completed by a group.
- Nominating faculty member must write a letter to the Director of Graduate Studies:
- Letter must be in support of the student(s) and
- State why the original student work merits the award.
- Submitted letter must be accompanied by the original empirical work submitted by the student(s).
- The Director of Graduate Studies will review the materials and then disseminate them to all tenure-track faculty members.
- Faculty will determine whether the work is of sufficient scholarly quality to merit the award.
- A simple majority vote among the tenure-track faculty will determine which nominee will win the award.
Typically, only one award per academic year will be made, and it will be conferred in the spring semester.
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