Alpha Gamma Sigma - West Hills College Lemoore Student Organizations

Alpha stands for "Arete" meaning "Excellence" (The quality of which constitute the best)

Gamma stands for "Gnosis" meaning "Knowledge" (The ability to understand with depth and penetration)

Sigma stands for "Sophrosyne" meaning "Wisdom" (Temperance, self-awareness, love of truth, beauty, goodness, and respect for others)

Alpha Gamma Sigma is a California community college honor society. Its purpose is to foster, promote, maintain, and recognize academic excellence through scholarships.

In 1925, Dr. William T Boyce conceived the idea of promoting a statewide community college honor society. He saw in it an intellectual stimulus comparable to Phi Beta Kappa in the 4-year colleges.

As head administrator of Fullerton Community College, Dr. Boyce was chiefly responsible for the formation of the California community college honor society that eventually became the Alpha Gamma Sigma we know today.

Types of Memberships

1. Initial Membership: A person may attain initial membership by completing 12 semester units of college work in a maximum of 2 semesters at any recognized institution of higher education with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. * No units acquired more than two years prior to application for initial membership shall be used prohibitively.

2. Temporary Membership: All life members of the California Scholarship Federation and those who graduated with a minimum GPA of 3.5 at the high school level shall be invited to become temporary members during their first semester at a community college and shall have, upon payment of dues, all the privileges of membership except that of holding offices.

3. Continuing Membership: An initial or temporary member may attain continuing membership by achieving for the previous semester not less than a 3.0 GPA in courses recognized in college standing, or maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in courses of recognized college standings. * Continuing members will receive one semester grace period to recuperate a drop below 3.0 of GPA. There shall be no two consecutive grace periods.

4. Permanent Membership: A member may apply for permanent membership by having maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and by having been a member of AGS for at least one term. Or a continuing member who has maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and has been member of AGS for at least two terms may also apply. All applicants have to have completed a minimum of 60 semester units of recognized college courses, with a minimum of 30 units completed at a community college. * Any courses completed two years or more prior to application for permanent membership, whether at a community college or other institution, shall not be used to prohibit any person from becoming a permanent member, provided that these units have not been used to meet the minimum requirement of 60 semester units.

Members Benefits

Mission Statement

The mission of the chapter and organization shall be to foster, maintain, and recognize scholarship among members of Alpha Gamma Sigma; to develop programs offering cultural, social, and community service activities as part of the total college experience; and to encourage the members of Alpha Gamma Sigma to develop leadership skills, good character, and sound judgment.