Clarkson University students in the Engineering & Management program now have an opportunity to be inducted into a nationally recognized honor society.
Assistant Professor of Engineering & Management and Director of Assurance of Learning at David D. Reh School of Business Amir Mousavian said Clarkson’s petition to establish a chapter of Alpha Pi Mu was successfully approved in late October.
Alpha Pi Mu was originally founded for the field of Industrial Engineering
but accepts programs in closely related fields, such as Engineering & Management. The Engineering & Management program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET as well as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Previously, Clarkson Engineering and Management students were only recognized by the local honor society of Sigma Tau Iota. Mousavian said joining Alpha Pi Mu will help students with many opportunities nationwide, future employment in particular.
“Most of the disciplines in the school of engineering have their own honor societies where they recognize and induct the top students,” Mousavian said. “When they go find a job elsewhere or apply for graduate programs, they will be recognized with that membership as a top quality student in that particular program.”
Mousavian said having Alpha Pi Mu chapter at Clarkson helps level the playing field for Clarkson Engineering and Management students when it comes to academic accolades.
“We pursued this direction because we have excellent quality students. We wanted them to be recognized the same way that the other students across the country would be recognized,” he said.
The Alpha Pi Mu chapter at Clarkson will recognize the top 20 percent of juniors and seniors in the Engineering & Management program, which Mousavian sees as an extra incentive for students to challenge themselves in the classroom.
“The nationally recognized honor society of Alpha Pi Mu motivates our students as well because they know if they are in the top 20% they can earn such recognition,” Mousavian said. “That helps them find better jobs nationally.”
Mousavian said the first ceremony for Clarkson students will likely be held in December so those who graduate at the end of the Fall 2018 semester have an opportunity to be part of the honor society.
The President and Vice President of the Sigma Tau Iota honor society, Kate McKinley and Justin Wood, assisted Mousavian throughout the petition process and facilitating the establishment of the new chapter.