Alpha Sigma Nu

Alpha Sigma Nu (ΑΣΝ) is the honor society of Jesuit colleges and universities. ΑΣΝ is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies. Founded in 1915 at Marquette University as Alpha Sigma Tau, it adopted the current name in 1930. The society is open to both men and women of every academic discipline in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities and other Jesuit higher education institutions worldwide. It is present in 32 Jesuit institutions of higher education, 27 of which are in the United States. Alpha Sigma Nu currently has over 90,000 lifetime members and admits around 2,000 new members each year.

History
In 1915, the original society, Alpha Sigma Tau was founded by John Danihy, S.J. He was the dean of journalism at Marquette University, in Wisconsin, United States. He sought to emulate the various honor societies present in the country. Furthermore, Catholic higher education institutes found their students being overlooked in other honor societies at the time.

In 1921, a second chapter was founded in Creighton University in Nebraska, United States. In 1925, a women-only society, Gamma Pi Epsilon, was founded. It had the same purpose as Alpha Sigma Nu, but the two societies remained independent. In 1930, Alpha Sigma Tau became Alpha Sigma Nu. On March 30, 1973, the two, Alpha Sigma Nu and Gamma Pi Epsilon merged.

Alpha Sigma Nu joined the Association of College Honor Societies in 1975.

Symbols
The Key of the Society bears the three Greek letters (ΑΣΝ) together with the eye of wisdom. Its colors are maroon and gold.

Mission
"Alpha Sigma Nu, the honor society of Jesuit institutions of higher education, recognizes those students who distinguish themselves in scholarship, loyalty and service."

Awards
In 1979, Alpha Sigma Nu created the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Book Awards. The awards recognize publishing achievements at Jesuit colleges and universities in the categories of the humanities, the sciences, and professional studies.

Chapters
As of 2016, the society has 32 chapters: 27 at Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States, two in Canada, and one in South Korea, Spain, and Peru. These chapters were given charters as follows: