Argosy University Online Programs welcomes its students to join several honorary societies and professional organizations.

National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Recently, 285 students were inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) at Argosy University Online Programs. NSCS recognizes scholarship, leadership, and service.

The Argosy University Online Programs chapter began in September, 2010. Now with more than 400 members, this chapter has won the Gold Star of Outstanding Achievement in its inaugural year. With community service projects, an E-Scholar Award winner, an Integrity Contest Winner, keynote speakers, debates, and outstanding members and alumni, this award-winning chapter has distinguished itself from the beginning among the best of campus honor organizations, providing life-time opportunities for success.

Undergraduate candidates must successfully complete credits equivalent to a minimum of one term of full time study, but no more than half the number required for completion of the bachelor's degree requirements. Students must be in their first or second year of study when they apply. In addition, students must achieve at least a 3.4 GPA and be in the top 20% of their class. Students can join by being invited through the mail or use a self-nomination form that is located in the group on Connections.

Sigma Beta Delta
Founded in 1986, Sigma Beta Delta encourages and recognizes scholarship and achievement among students of business, management, and administration. It encourages and promotes personal and professional improvement. Sigma Beta Delta is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.

Candidates for bachelor's and master's degrees may be inducted into membership following completion of at least one-half of the degree program in which they are enrolled. Students must also have a minimum GPA of 3.2. Applications are located on Connections and will be accepted until October 14, 2011. The next application period will be in January.

Society for Human Resource Management
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world’s largest association devoted to human resource management. Founded in 1948, SHRM serves the needs of HR professionals and advances the interests of the HR profession.

Candidates must be enrolled in the equivalent of at least six (6) credit hours per term in a degree-seeking program. Students’ course work, taken or planned, must support an interest in Human Resource Management. Students can join on SHRM’s website at any time.

Student Veterans of America
Student Veterans of America (SVA) member chapters are student groups that have formed on college and university campuses to provide peer-to-peer networks for veterans who are attending those schools. These groups coordinate campus activities, provide pre-professional networking, and generally provide a touchstone for student veterans in higher education. Each local group plays a critical role in ensuring that every veteran is successful after their service. Students may join the group on Connections at any time. Scholarship opportunities are available this fall – the deadline is October 15th.

As an online student at Argosy University Online Programs, you will often try to sneak in a study break whenever you have a free moment, particularly on your lunch hour. As “A Field Guide to Obnoxious Eating,” an article from The Wall Street Journal remarks, more than half of the modern workforce eats lunch at their desk at least once day per week. This seems sensible for your situation. Eating lunch at your desk can allow you to make sure you’re keeping up with your school assignments while taking a break from your normal workday.

While many choose to eat their lunch at their desks, few seem to consider what they’re eating or how it might impact their co-workers. Imagine that you’re sitting in your cubicle minding your own business when you catch a whiff of something that smells like a cross between a wet gym sock and a dead fish. To your neighbor, it might be a culinary masterpiece, but you’re likely to think otherwise.

Alternatively, what if you were to bring something a bit messier for lunch one day such as your leftover Taco Soup? You’re deeply engrossed in your assignment as you slowly ladle the hot soup into your mouth when…Oops! Your soup has spilled all over your keyboard. What you had planned to be a productive (and nourishing) lunch hour has now turned into a time to clean up the giant mess you’ve just made. This seems a bit counterproductive, no?

From smelly food to some of the messier types, maybe eating lunch at your desk doesn’t sound like the best idea now. It doesn’t have to be a total disaster though, if you keep the following tips in mind:

• Leave the odorous foods at home. Put yourself in the shoes of those sitting around you. Sure, an egg salad sandwich has always been your favorite, but would you like to smell it if you weren’t the one eating it?
• Keep a safe distance between your hardware and your food. It’s fine to complete schoolwork from your desk (unless, of course, your boss frowns upon such practices), but don’t put yourself in a situation where you might accidentally spill.
• Stay focused, but not too focused. Decide that morning or the night before which assignments you want to make some progress on during your lunch hour. Make sure you’ll be able to provide adequate attention to your schoolwork without comprising your regular on-the-job tasks.

The Office of Student Community recently hosted “Student Activities Week” at Argosy University Online Programs with the goal of engaging students in activities outside of the classroom.

On Wednesday, August 24th, Aileen Dillon, Argosy University Online Programs’ Assistant Director of Student Affairs – Student Community, hosted the “Student Activities Night” webinar featuring a variety of clubs, organizations and honor societies that students may join. The list of organizations included The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Future Business Leaders of America, Student Veterans of America, and American Criminal Justice Association.

Students who missed out on the event can view the recording here!

Argosy University Online Programs periodically holds contests to help students interact and to participate in their exclusive social network, Connections. From Wednesday, August 10 through Sunday, August 14, students were invited to participate in “Summer Escape.” Each day, students were presented with a task, with a chance to win Amazon.com gift cards if their response to the task was chosen.

The five tasks were as follows:

• Task One: Post a photo of your favorite relaxation destination with a brief description.
• Task Two: Look through Connections to find an event you attended or one that you would have liked to attend and write why you chose it. Alternatively, students could come up with their own idea for a future event.
• Task Three: List your summer reading recommendations.
• Task Four: Find an article related to something that you find particularly interesting (related to your major), and post the article in Connections.
• Task Five: What are you most proud of this summer? Did you pass a class? Did you accomplish something that you’ve been waiting to do?

The winners of “Summer Escape” were announced shortly after the contest’s end. If you’re an Argosy University Online Programs student who missed out on this contest, be sure to keep an eye on Connections in the Campus Common for the latest fun activities!

For the traditional student, college is usually about much more than heading to class and completing assignments. There’s also the social aspect: the clubs and organizations one participates in throughout their matriculation.

Of course, this phenomenon is not specific to campus-based schools - Argosy University - Online Programs offers its students the opportunity to interact with their peers and faculty outside the online classroom with Connections, Argosy University - Online Programs' exclusive social network.

Connections is a great place for students to interact with faculty and each other. It includes three specific areas for interaction:

• A department area where faculty and students from specific programs can interact and read about the latest news and events pertinent to them.
• An Organizations area that includes student chapters of professional organizations, as well as groups organized by the Student Affairs department at Argosy University - Online Programs.
• A lounge area where users can create their own groups based on anything from their location to specific interests they may have outside of school.

For students who may not have a chance to check out Connections on a regular basis, Student Affairs also publishes a quarterly newsletter called Connections Corner, which highlights some of the most recent events and organizations discussed in Connections. The newsletter is e-mailed to students and is also posted on the Campus Common.