Kappa Alpha Omicron
Kappa Alpha Omicron (KAO), the student chapters and honor society in Interdisciplinary Environmental
Studies/Science for the Interdisciplinary Environmental Association (IEA), is a
new honor society called for in the IEA constitution. The Greek letters of
the organization stand for the perspectives that can be used to address
environmental issues: kosmos (the universe), anthropos
(humanity), and oikos (household [“ekos”]). An active chapter of KAO may be chartered and
established in any regularly incorporated and properly accredited four-year
college or university granting the Bachelor's or higher degree (subject to such
restrictions as may hereinafter be set forth in the By-Laws of the
Association), whereas high schools and two-year colleges may apply for an
affiliated membership. KAO would give high school and college/university students (and
faculty) working on interdisciplinary environmental issues around the world an
academic home and support, a hub for networking across disciplines and countries,
and some much-needed recognition for the outstanding interdisciplinary work being
performed around the world. An honor society in interdisciplinary environmental science and
environmental studies would also help promote and encourage new students to
enter environmental fields while providing a foundation to support the
expansion of environmental research and contacts both here and abroad.
ΚΑΟ is
presently under organization, and we hope to have the first chapters
organized within the next year. By vote of the IEA, the Alpha chapter
of ΚΑΟ will be assigned to Assumption College, the
home college of the initial founders of the IEA. Other assigned
chapters:
Beta: Bethune-Cookman University (home university of the first elected President)
Gamma: University of the Witwatersrand (home university of the first elected VP and current President)
Delta: Marietta College (home college of the second elected VP/President-elect)
All other Single Letter
chapters will be assigned to home institutions of the members of the
original Advisory Council in order of application.
The IEA welcomes
inquiries concerning ΚΑΟ, notifications of
interest, and suggestions for organization and initiation.
For inquiries or information, contact Dr. Eric Fitch (Vice-President and Director of ΚΑΟ) at fitche@marietta.edu.
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