History of Mu Kappa Chapter
Efforts to establish a local chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing began in 1985 between Armstrong Atlantic State University (AASU) and Georgia Southern University (GSU). Since AASU and GSU had newly developed Baccalaureate Nursing Programs and both were located approximately 50 miles apart from each other, the decision to form a chapter-at-large was made. The first Induction Ceremony for the AASU--GSU local Honor Society Chapter was held November 6, 1986. The official chartering ceremony for Sigma Theta Tau Mu Kappa chapter-at-large was held on May 3, 1990. Since the chartering of the Mu Kappa Chapter-at-Large, elections, meetings, and programs had been planned by members on both campuses. Numerous strategies were used to facilitate communication between the two campuses. The strategies included alternating the drive between the cities for board meetings, using videoconferencing, teleconferencing, e-mail, and fax. As the undergraduate and graduate nursing programs at AASU and GSU increased, the Mu Kappa membership flourished. Since the initial Mu Kappa chapter-at-large formation, both universities developed graduate nursing programs which significantly expanded the number of nursing students on each campus. With the increased complex time commitments for faculty and students. it became increasingly difficult to schedule events at times and locations that were best for the Board of Directors and membership. The sequence of events led to the discussion involving both universities, that membership was independently large enough to support individual STT chapters. Additionally, it was believed that a stand-alone chapter at each university would allow for an increase in the number of annual events held locally and member involvement.
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