First-Gen Events and Involvement

Students, faculty, and staff who qualify will receive an invitation to apply for Tri-Alpha membership. Once their applications are accepted, they will be invited to an induction ceremony, where they will become official members of the society. Our Tri-Alpha chapter holds induction ceremonies each fall and spring.

Undergraduate students qualify for Tri-Alpha membership if they meet the following criteria:

• The student has earned at least 30 credit hours toward a baccalaureate degree.
• The student has achieved an overall GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
• Neither of the student’s parents, nor stepparents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor’s degree.

Graduate and professional students qualify for Tri-Alpha membership if they meet the following criteria:

• The student has completed at least one semester at Purdue University Northwest and earned nine or more graduate credits.
• The student has achieved a GPA of 3.5 or higher (if your school/college uses a high pass/pass system, your average is high pass).
• Neither of the student’s parents, nor stepparents, nor legal guardians completed a bachelor’s degree.

Faculty and staff may be inducted as well. To qualify, they must have met the definition of a first-generation student listed above at the time they completed their bachelor’s degree. Faculty and staff must be willing to serve as mentors for first-gen students.

A small number of alumni and honorary inductees may also be initiated each year.

After qualifying for membership and paying a small initiation fee, Tri-Alpha members receive the following benefits:

• A certificate and pin signifying their lifetime membership in the society.
• Tri-Alpha silver and dark blue double honor cords to wear with their cap and gown at Commencement.
• An outward recognition of personal accomplishment and an incentive for continued high scholarship.
• The opportunity to meet other first-generation scholars from all academic disciplines and to join them in promoting academic excellence and creating a supportive environment for first-gen college students.
• Recognition by employers, professionals, and graduate schools of their superior academic ability and commitment.
• The ability to mentor younger first-gen students.
• The ability to receive mentoring from more senior first-gen students, as well as faculty, staff, and alumni who were first-gen students.
• Local chapter leadership opportunities.