Organizations

Mennonite Graduate Student Organization

MGSO is composed of all master's degree and certificate students enrolled in the Mennonite College of Nursing graduate program. The organization provides a vehicle for coordination and communication among graduate students at the College and provides an avenue for access to information and activities that contribute to graduate students' professional development.

Student Nurses' Association

Early Admission, RN to BSN, Accelerated, and Prelicensure students are eligible for participation in the Student Nurses' Association. This organization has a strong emphasis on community service.

The purposes of the Student Nurses' Association:

• To provide the opportunity for participation in meetings and activities that contribute to personal and professional development and networking.
• To promote good citizenship of the individual by providing opportunities that encourage responsibility, leadership and community service.
• To develop a closer bond and unified spirit among students, staff and faculty on all levels through open communication lines.
• To provide a vehicle for input into the development, implementation and evaluation of all aspects of the college program.

Sigma Theta Tau

Sigma Theta Tau International, Xi Pi Chapter Web site
The mission is global and involves the following dimensions: knowledge utilization, knowledge dissemination and resource development.

Undergraduate students must have completed half of the nursing curriculum, have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and be ranked in the upper 35 percent of their graduating class. Graduate students are required to have completed a quarter of the nursing program and have a GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Graduates of master's programs may be considered under the master's student criteria up to one year following graduation providing they have a minimum 3.5 GPA; this last criterion applies only to those students who were unaware of their eligibility and did not apply while a student.

There are no scholarship criteria for community leaders; rather the emphasis is on significant clinical leadership and community service. The minimum education requirement is the baccalaureate degree, which may be in nursing or another field. Typically they must be five years post the BS degree. Graduate students may also be elected as community leaders if they meet the community leader criteria, but it is preferable that they be elected under this category post graduation from the master's program.

Membership Costs:

$85 per year, which includes a $30 local chapter fee and a $55 international fee.

Membership Benefits:

Members are mentored in leadership development and exposed to scholarly events and programs. A research scholarship opportunity is available to those members holding the BSN. The Board of Directors offers a general scholarship that can be applied to school tuition or a variety of other scholarly activities. The international organization sponsors a variety of scholarship opportunities such as dissertation awards, technology awards, research utilization awards and research dissemination awards, among others.

Advisor Contact Information:

Dr. Nancy Ridenour

Additional Information:

The Board of Directors typically meets six times per year. There are generally two general membership meetings per year. Also, there are programs sponsored or co-sponsored by the local chapter--usually two to three yearly. The international organization also sponsors a major conference each year. During even years they hold regional leadership conferences and during odd years the biennial convention is held. All members may attend any of these. International also sponsors a variety of other programs. The time involvement for chapter meetings is about two hours per meeting. Conference attendance, of course, requires more of a time commitment.