Purpose of Academic Societies

Student academic societies at BYU-Idaho exist to:

• Extend and enhance the learning experience
• Improve professional opportunities
• Provide a forum for dialogue and interaction among faculty members, students, and professionals in the discipline
• Provide leadership opportunities
• Create bonds of friendship among students with similar professional or academic interest

Student academic societies are not primarily organized for recreational activities, parties, community service, or student support and well being. These may be an incidental part of what a student academic society might do, but not their primary focus. Student organizations whose primary purpose is recreational or social should be organized under the auspices of the BYU-Idaho Activities Program. Student organizations whose primary purpose is community service should be organized under the auspices of the BYU-Idaho Leadership and Service Institute. Student organizations whose primary purpose is student well-being and support should be organized under the auspices of the BYU-Idaho Dean of Students.

It is recommended that student academic societies affiliate with some national or regional professional society associated with the discipline. In many cases, these national or regional professional societies will have a mechanism for the organization and governance of student chapters. For example, a student academic society of Psychology majors could affiliate with the American Psychological Association.