THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND ADMINISTRATION

Pi Alpha Alpha shares offices and staff with the National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration. NASPAA is a professional education association dedicated to the advancement of education, training, and research in public policy and administration. The Association's membership consists of the undergraduate and graduate education programs in public affairs and administration of more than 250 academic institutions in the United States. Affiliated with NASPAA are many federal, state, and local government agencies, university public affairs and administration programs in other nations, and national public interest groups all of whom share a concern for improving the quality of public management.

Collegiate programs in public affairs and administration are represented in NASPAA through the programs dean or director, called the program's "principal representative" to NASPAA. The principal representative may serve as the local Pi Alpha Alpha chapter faculty advisor or another member of the program's faculty may be designated to serve as the advisor. Communications between local chapters and the national office typically flow between the chapter advisor and the national staff.

The national organization of Pi Alpha Alpha is directed by a national president, vice-president, and national council comprised of twelve members elected to four year overlapping terms. The president and vice-president each serve two year terms; the vice-president also serves as president elect and succeeds to the office of president. Officers are elected at the society's biennial meeting, held in the fall of each odd numbered year in conjunction with the Annual Conference of NASPAA. In addition, a national director, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the national council, provides the society with staff support.

Each local chapter is notified of the biennial meeting at least 90 days in advance and urged to send at least one delegate, who can be a student, alumni, faculty, or honorary member, to attend and vote in the session.

MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA

Membership in PAA is limited to persons who demonstrate academic achievement in public affairs and administration program in NASPAA member schools and/or outstanding public service, and who fall within the following classes: student, alumni, faculty and honorary. All memberships are national memberships with a local chapter affiliation. All categories of membership enjoy the same rights and privileges.

Masters Degree Student Memberships – Students may be inducted from among the master’s degree students in the department, institute, or school wherever the Pi Alpha Alpha chapter membership is based provided:

1. They have maintained a GPA of at least 3.7. A chapter may set higher GPA requirements if it chooses.
   
   
2. Master degree students must have completed at least fifty percent (50%) of the required course work (a minimum of 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours). A chapter may set a higher percent of completion if it chooses.

PI ALPHA ALPHA OATH ( Approved October 19, 1991, Baltimore, Maryland)

I pledge my support for the intellectual and professional advancement of the art and science of public administration and public affairs. I shall honor and respect the virtues and values of public service and those who serve.

I shall uphold the eternal need for education that imbues public administrators with traditions of democratic governance.

Moreover, as a member of Pi Alpha Alpha, I shall uphold the highest ethical standards applying to public service and will endeavor to encourage and engage in meaningful interaction with other members.

Note: The use of this oath is at the discretion of individual chapters. It is recommended that chapters be sensitive to those individuals who for personal or religious reasons might find such an oath difficult to accept.

Please see http://www.naspaa.org/initiatives/honor.asp for additional information.