Selection
Membership in Omicron Delta Kappa is as much an obligation and responsibility in leadership as it is a mark of highest distinction and honor. Membership is awarded to undergraduate junior and senior students; to graduate students; to faculty, staff, administration and alumni; and to persons qualifying for membership "honoris causa." Student membership candidates must rank in the upper 35 percent in scholarship of their school or college and must show leadership in at least one of five phases of campus life: scholarship; athletics; campus or community service, social and religious activities, and campus government; journalism, speech, and the mass media; and the creative and performing arts.
The Samford University Circle, however, is a Circle of Distinction. As part of our commitment to excellence, we require that our candidates demonstrate leadership in not only one area of campus life, but two. Another difference in the Samford Circle's selection process is that we separate religious involvement from the original five phases of campus life, creating a sixth.
The selection process is bi-annual, with initiations during both semesters. The timeline for the Samford University OΔK selection is as follows:
Nomination: Faculty and student members of the Circle have one week to submit nominations.
Application: Nominees are sent applications for entrance into the Society. They generally have one week to complete and submit their applications.
Screening: The Circle's Selection committee meets and conducts a primary "screen" of applications to ensure that all applicants meet the Circle's standards.
Selection: All student members of the Circle meet and discuss the merits of each application. Usually 10-12 inductees are chosen each semester from the pool of over 80 nominees.
Tapping: New members are recognized, publicly, in a special Leadership and Service Convocation.
Induction: New members are formally inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa through the Society's induction ritual. Pins and certificates are presented at this event.
