Skip to content

tri-alpha honor society logo

Tri-Alpha Honor Society


  About

Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) Honor Society’s mission is to encourage and reward academic excellence among first-generation college students pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degree at the University of Utah. This chapter promotes academic excellence and provides opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and campus and community service for first-generation college students. Induction into Tri-Alpha is earned by outstanding academic achievement and lasts for a lifetime.

Faculty, staff, and alumni members may be inducted by the local chapter if they completed a baccalaureate degree, they were a first-generation college student at the time they graduated, and they continue to have a connection to the institution as a faculty member or staff member.

 

Qualification Requirements

Undergraduate Students

  • Be a first-generation college student: Neither of the student's parents, nor step-parents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor's degree
  • Earned at least 30 credit hours
  • Have an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2

Graduate Students

  • Graduate students who are first-generation students can be admitted if they have completed the equivalent of at least one term of study (9 or more graduate credits)
  • Have a GPA in their graduate program of at least 3.5.

 

  Benefits of Membership

  • Membership is for life
  • Receive Tri-Alpha certificate, pin and graduation chord
  • Build a community with fellow first gen students,staff/faculty, and alumni
  • Collectively promote academic excellence

 

Membership Costs

$25

Student Membership

$40

Faculty/Staff Membership

 

  How to Apply

Invitations to join Tri-Alpha will be sent to first gen students who meet the GPA requirements every October via email. If you are a first generation student who meets the GPA requirements and have not received an invitation to join please email our program advisors to get the application link, Linda Paternina (linda.paternina.serrano@utah.edu) and Jimena Prieto (jimena.prieto@utah.edu).

Once students are invited they will fill out a short application and receive a follow up email with the link to pay their dues. Once completed, all new members will be inducted at our annual Induction Ceremony hosted in early November.

  Upcoming Events

Tri-Alpha Induction Ceremony will take place on Thursday, November 7th from 3 pm to 5 pm for students who applied and met the eligibility requirements. It is happening in the Marriot Library at the Gould Auditorium. 

Last Updated: 11/4/24