WRD’s Pete Vandenberg is president of an honors society in writing, Pi Epsilon Pi (PEP). We interviewed Pete about his role, DePaul’s chapter, and professional societies in general.
Pete told us that PEP was founded by the Loyola University Maryland Writing Department in 2006. The organization is pending recognition by and membership in the greater governing body of honors societies, the Association of College Honor Societies.
He described the purpose of PEP as an honor and professional society for only undergraduate students pursuing studies in writing. The organization celebrates scholarly work in writing studies, fosters appreciation and recognition of the craft of writing and acknowledges the critical role of literate activities in contemporary society. Pete claims that the society’s spell-out, “petens eloquentiam perfectam” represents the “seeking of eloquence in written expression.” We cannot confirm or deny this translation, but we like it!
The society’s national headquarters are housed at an established chapter location, which happens to be DePaul. DePaul’s chapter maintains the society’s budget and distributes certificates and honor cords. The Faculty Sponsor of the chapter, Pete, serves as the organization’s president. Faculty sponsors of individual chapters make up a Board of Governors who oversee the society’s budget and ensure its continuous operation.
After this general overview of the society, I asked Pete a few follow up questions:
Q: What are the benefits of being in a professional or academic society?
A: Induction is typically by invitation, which follows high academic accomplishment and suggests membership itself is the benefit. Honor society membership looks great on a resume whether one is pursuing graduate school or employment.
Q: Are all professional/academic societies “pay to play”?
A: I’m not aware of a college honor society that does not charge a membership fee. Sometimes chapters offset the costs for new members through bake sales or car washes or that sort of thing. PEP is a true honor society though, with no obligation to contribute further effort or time after paying the modest, one-time costs associated with induction. No one associated with the organization at the national or chapter levels profit from membership fees, and all of the labor that supports PEP at each level is totally a “labor of love.”
Q: When and why was PEP established at DePaul?
A: WRD established DePaul’s Alpha Chapter of PEP in 2011. It is another way—in addition to faculty involvement in the discipline’s conferences, professional organizations, and publication venues—to be connected with the larger academic enterprise that grounds our major and minor programs.
Q: Can you describe the role of DePaul University in the greater PEP organization?
A: DePaul/WRD does not have a different role within the organization than any of the other chapters, each of which are based at a university. The chapters are like franchises, in a way, united by strict eligibility requirements but independent in holding their own induction ceremonies. DePaul might seem to have an outsize role in the organization right now, however, because I’m the current president. The organization’s “address” for the time being is at DePaul.
Q: Can you describe the process of being inducted into PEP?
A: One becomes eligible for PEP by meeting criteria established by the organization. One must be nominated by a recognized chapter and be a student at a school offering significant coursework in writing beyond general education requirements. There are minimum GPA and class rank expectations, and one must have achieved at least late sophomore status. Anyone meeting expectations is eligible for induction—there are no subjective considerations. Students who complete the membership application and pay the $25 induction fee—which ensures lifetime membership—receive a certificate, lapel pin, and honor cord. By approval at each school where a chapter is registered, the honor cord may be worn at convocation, commencement, or any other event calling for academic regalia. In addition, students inducted into DePaul’s chapter have their names engraved on the perpetual plaque that hangs in the department’s reception area.
Q: How would you encourage students to consider joining PEP once recommended?
A: College honor societies are generally, but not exclusively, connected to one’s major. Unless one is double-majoring, an invitation to PEP may be a WRD major’s only opportunity to be inducted into a college honor society and earn national recognition for the effort put into their college years. The exchange of a small induction fee for exchange of the certificate, pin, and cord is reasonable and reflective of mutual support for the organization and its value to all other students dedicated to the study and practice of rhetoric and writing.
Lots of students relate to the experience of receiving emails from “pay-to-play” honors societies, so it was nice to hear from Pete about what distinguishes and legitimizes an honors society like PEP.