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your turn The Ethical Society by Robert Reid ALTHOUGH ACADEMIC honor societies have been in existence for centuries, in recent years many school officials have lost their enthusiasm for them. I've heard faculty—even deans—express the idea that honor soci- eties are of limited value; that they are outdated orga- nizations whose time has passed. And yet, I maintain that these societies still deserve a prominent place on university campuses, partly because of that very con- cept of honor. In recent years, as business schools have come under fire for the misbehavior of prominent CEOs, adminis- trators have considered the best way to introduce eth- ics into the curriculum. Some schools have instituted mandatory oaths of honor, through which graduates pledge that they will act with honesty, loyalty, and integrity in all their business dealings. I believe that honor societies already address this very important issue. While they are created to recognize and reward students for academic achievement, they have the effect of encouraging members to behave ethically over a lifetime—and of inspiring nonmembers to meet high standards as well. Consider these points: n Membership in an honor society offers the very best students recogni- tion over and above their diplomas, which reinforces a deeper relation- ship between the school and its top graduates. And because membership in honor societies is usually lifelong, graduates are constantly reminded of the ideals and behaviors they are expected to uphold. n Many honor society chapters do a great service to individual members, the faculty, and the school itself. For instance, students serve as ambas- sadors for the school, engaging with important stakeholders such as corpo- rate leaders and alumni. Honor societies have the effect of encouraging members to behave ethically over a lifetime. 74 May/June 2012 BizEd n The best honor societies challenge their students to make the most of their intelligence and their education. For instance, Beta Gamma Sigma is composed of the top business students, alumni, and faculty from AACSB- accredited schools. This is what BGS tells its members: "You are the best based on your academic career. Now go out and do great things in your professional life." They know they can never rest on their laurels; they must always push themselves to do more and be better. n Honor societies provide inspiration for other stu- dents on campus. When I was dean at James Madison University, we staged many induction ceremonies for Beta Gamma Sigma, and we always invited nonmem- ber friends, family members, and faculty to attend the events. I believe such recognition ceremonies encourage all students—and faculty and staff—to step up their own efforts in all their endeavors. I also believe that when others are introduced to the activities and phi- losophies of honor societies, it raises the level of ethical awareness among the whole community. Beta Gamma Sigma recognizes students who have excelled in business overall, but many fine new societies recognize students who have shown outstanding talent in specific fields such as management, accounting, finance, decision sciences, and marketing. Other societies honor success at certain class levels, success across several disciplines, or—like the Golden Key Society—gen- eral academic excellence. Finally, the world's oldest honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, has been a treasure trove for those in the liberal arts and sciences since it was established in 1776. Its motto, "Love of learning is the guide of life," is something all of us in the aca- demic world can appreciate. Because there are a number of societies operating today, students with particularly strong skills may be mem- bers of several organizations. At James Madison, for instance, some students might be invited to join BGS as well as Mu Kappa Tau, which is dedicated to students majoring in marketing. This