Student organizations provide important service, social and networking opportunities for SPEA students:
Alpha Phi Sigma is the National Criminal Justice Honor Society for criminal justice majors. The society recognizes academic excellence among undergraduate and graduate students of criminal justice.
The honor society is open to those with a declared criminal justice major or minor. Membership is by invitation only. Undergraduate students must maintain a 3.2 overall GPA and a 3.2 GPA in criminal justice courses. Students must also rank in the top 35% of their classes and have completed a minimum of four courses within IUPUI’s criminal justice curriculum. Graduate students are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.4 GPA in both criminal justice courses and overall courses and must have completed a minimum of four courses within IUPUI’s criminal justice curriculum.
Since 1988, Alpha Phi Sigma has sponsored IUPUI’s annual Criminal Justice Career Information Day, bringing a variety of agencies and organizations to campus, including the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, the F.B.I., the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, local probation departments and private security companies.
Advisor: Sam Nunn
National website: http://www.alphaphisigma.org
Phi Alpha Delta is an international law fraternity and the only law fraternity with a pre-law division designed to help undergraduate students acclimate into law school. As a student organization, Phi Alpha Delta is very involved with the community, the university and the local law community.
Advisors: Sheila Kennedy (shekenne@iupui.edu) and Bill Blomquist (blomquis@iupui.edu)
National website: http://www.pad.org/
Pi Alpha Alpha, is the National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration. The society recognizes outstanding undergraduate and graduate students in public administration, public policy and public affairs. Created in 2011, the chapter at IUPUI is very engaged in the community and is a sponsor of the Heat and Meat Drive for Homeless Vets.
Undergraduate students are eligible for Pi Alpha Alpha membership when they have earned a minimum 3.0 overall GPA and a minimum 3.5 GPA in at least 15 credit hours of SPEA courses. Students must also be in their last semester of their junior year or in their senior year and must be in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. Graduate students are required to have a minimum 3.5 overall GPA and a minimum 3.7 GPA in at least 50 percent of all required courses. Graduate students must also have completed 50 percent of the required course work (i.e., 24-30 credit hours) and must be in the top 20 percent of their MPA class. Alumni may become members if they meet all the requirements of student membership, even if they graduated before induction by the Indiana chapter.
Advisor: Sheila Kennedy (shekenne@iupui.edu)
National website: http://www.naspaa.org/initiatives/honor.asp
PASA is for all public affairs master's and certificate students, and every public affairs graduate student is automatically a member. Through social events, professional networking events and community service events, the group seeks to enhance the academic, professional and social lives of students. PASA events have included service events, socials and opportunities to network with alumni.
Advisor: Laura Littlepage (llittlep@iupui.edu)
publicINreview is a student-run, online journal published by SPEA at IUPUI. The journal focuses on regional issues in the broad area of public affairs, discusses realistic application of emerging theory, and shares best practices with local practitioners and professionals. publicINreview is a forum where students can connect with practitioners in the Midwest area. In addition to student-written articles, the journal periodically includes interviews with local public figures and job postings, and it serves as a resource for networking opportunities, local events, presentations, and trainings in SPEA’s areas of interest, including public affairs, criminal justice and public safety. www.spea.iupui.edu/publicINreview
Advisor: Suzann Lupton (slupton@iupui.edu)
The SPEA Ambassadors serve as representatives for SPEA during recruitment events with SPEA faculty and staff. Ambassadors speak about their academic and social experiences in SPEA.
Advisor: James Eckerty
The SPEA Student Council serves as an umbrella organization for all SPEA student organizations. The council serves as a student voice and advocate for student needs with SPEA faculty and administrative staff.
Advisor: Kathy Hursh
In addition to SPEA student groups, IUPUI has a number of campus organizations: Office of Student Involvement.
