2023-2024 OFFICERS:

• President: Tommy Treacy
• Vice President: Jean Blakeman
• Treasurer: Jack Michaud
• Recruitment Chair: Sarah Kuhns
• Social Media Chair: Jane Blossom

ABOUT: With 183 chapters around the world, Sigma Iota Rho works to recognize the academic achievements of those pursuing coursework, and contributing to the field, of international affairs. “The purpose of Sigma Iota Rho shall be to promote and reward scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, international affairs, and global studies and to foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs.” SIR members are competitive candidates for the many fellowships and internships that the national SIR office promotes on its webpage and LinkedIn page. Honorary Inductees into SIR include such distinguished individuals as former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

 

THE JOURNAL: The Sigma Iota Rho Journal of International Relations has a circulation of 3,000 copies, which are distributed to over 190 undergraduate international relations programs and APSIA graduate international relations schools. Each edition includes a featured article by a leading voice in international relations; previous headliners include: 44th President of the United States, President Barack Obama; former Vice President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden; 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush; former Secretary of State of the United States of America, Dr. Henry A. Kissinger; former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright & former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley; former Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Pascal Lamy; former Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan; President of the Council on Foreign Relations, Richard Haass; and former President of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick.

 

MEMBERSHIP LEVELS & CRITERIA:

Adjunct Membership (no membership fee yet)

• Adjunct membership is now available in response to the need to recognize the outstanding contribution and interest of some sophomore students in our chapters. Unlike other types of memberships that are lifetime, adjunct membership is limited to sophomores only and expires at the end of their sophomore year. Adjunct members do not qualify to run for an office. In order to be considered for adjunct membership, students must meet the following criteria:
• Completed course work in international studies including courses in relevant subject areas of anthropology, economics, foreign languages, geography, history, political science, and other related disciplines.
• Attained a sophomore standing and completed at least twelve (12) hours of course work towards International Relations major or minor.
• Demonstrated interest in Sigma Iota Rho through active participation in the Chapter activities.
• Plan to attain full membership upon qualification.

Undergraduate Membership ($55 membership fee)

• Undergraduate members are the driving force behind the success of the chapter. It is their energy and commitment combined with the experience of the faculty advisor that help fulfill the mission of Sigma Iota Rho. In order to qualify for undergraduate membership, students must meet the following criteria:
• Completed course work in international studies including courses in relevant subject areas of anthropology, economics, foreign languages, geography, history, political science, and other related disciplines;
• Attained a junior standing and completed at least twenty-one (21) hours of course work toward the International Relations major or minor, including at least two courses at the 300 or 400 levels;
• Attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in all courses, and a grade point average of at least 3.4 in international relations courses;
• Must maintain full-time student status of at least twelve (12) hours to be a voting member or hold an office.

Graduate Membership ($55 membership fee)

• With their experience and undergraduate work completed, graduate student members are a much added benefit to Sigma Iota Rho Chapters. In order to qualify for graduate membership, students must meet the following criteria:
• In a graduate program which focuses on international studies including courses in relevant subject areas of anthropology, economics, foreign languages, geography, history, political science, and other related disciplines.
• Completed one semester of graduate level work in the aforementioned area.
• Attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher in all courses, and a grade point average of at least 3.4 in international relations courses;
• Must maintain full-time student status to be a voting member or hold an office.

Faculty Membership ($55 membership fee)

Faculty membership is an important guiding and directional force in the life of the SIR chapter.  Any interested member of the faculty involved in the teaching of courses giving credit in International Relations may be elected to faculty membership by the local chapter, subject to approval by the national office. Faculty members shall possess all the privileges of membership except for voting and holding office in local chapter.

Honorary Induction (no fee)

Any person of recognized ability and achievement in the field of international relations, or who made an outstanding contribution to Sigma Iota Rho may be elected to become an honorary member. No more than two such members may be elected in any one academic year. Honorary members shall possess all the privileges of active membership except that of being an officer or council member of the corporation.

 

RECRUITMENT AND INDUCTION CEREMONY:

• SIR recruits once each fall and once each spring.  A joint induction ceremony of Sigma Iota Rho and Pi Sigma Alpha (Honor Society of Political Science) inductees is held in the spring semester.   

APPLYING TO SIGMA IOTA RHO:  

•  Eligible undergraduates, grad students and faculty interested in joining Sigma Iota Rho should e-mail a completed SIR application to Vice President Jean Blakeman Trujillo (jean.blakeman@marquett.edu).  At that point the INIA Program Coordinator will confirm the eligibility in the event the applicant is a student (i.e., referencing coursework, cumulative GPA, and in-major GPA) through the college offices.  Once confirmed, the Vice President will notify new members.  Membership dues do not need to be paid until this confirmation.  

DUES:

• Membership dues are $55 and are processed by Sigma Iota Rho Treasurer Jack Michaud (jack.michaud@marquette.edu). 
• SIR dues cover graduation regalia, membership materials, and the honor societie's published journal.
• Dues are not required by adjunct members until they are eligible for (and applying for) Undergraduate, Graduate or Faculty Membership.
• Upon being accepted into SIR, dues can be paid to Sigma Iota Rho Treasurer, Jack Michaud, via venmo (@JFMichaud) with the message “SIR Dues [Last Name]”. If applicants do not have Venmo, they should e-mail him directly for an alternative form of payment.