A National Honor Society for First-Generation College students
Mission
The mission of the Tri-Alpha chapter at University of Missouri, is to assist in the professional development of First-Generation students who showcase exceptional academics and involvement on campus.
Benefits
- Opportunities to meet other first-generation scholars and join them in promoting academic excellence and creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all first-generation students
- Leadership opportunities within the Tri-Alpha chapter at MU
- Outward recognition of personal accomplishments and a symbol of your hard work
- Communicates to future employers, professionals, and graduate schools that you possess academic ability and commitment
- Members receive a certificate and pin signifying membership during the formal induction (November 8th). Membership is for life.
Membership Criteria & Eligibility
Undergraduate students qualify for induction into Tri-Alpha if they meet the following criteria:
- Actively enrolled as a full-time (12 or more credit hours) student or half-time (6-11 credit hours) in a program of study leading to a bachelor’s degree;
- Completed at least three full terms of study and at least 30 credit hours;
- Identify as a first-generation student as defined as “Neither parent(s) nor guardian(s) earned a bachelor’s degree or higher prior to the student beginning their program”
- GPA of at least 3.2 in all coursework.
Faculty and staff may also be inducted into the Tri-Alpha honor society. To qualify, they must have met the definition of a first-generation student at the time they completed their bachelor’s degree.
Graduate students who are first-generation students may also be admitted if they have completed the equivalent of at least one term of study (9 or more graduate credits) and have a GPA in their graduate program of at least 3.5.
Application and Membership Process
Students who meet eligibility criteria will receive invitations to apply for Tri-Alpha at the beginning of September by email.
The 2024 induction deadline has passed. The 2025 invitations will go out on Sept 2nd, 2025, and the deadline for applications will be Sept 19th, 2025.
Faculty/staff who meet eligibility requirements for Tri-Alpha are invited to submit their application and pay the membership dues of $25. Please pay by credit card through the national website.
Upon receiving invitations, students should submit an application and pay the membership dues of $15. Membership dues are paid by credit card through the national website.
*Fee waivers may be available to eligible students.
Induction Ceremony
The 2025 induction ceremony tentatively will be held during National First-Gen Celebration Week this November 3-7.
Contact us!
We hope that you will consider joining Tri-Alpha! Contact the co-advisors with any questions.
Selena Meints- selenameints@missouri.edu
Taylor Stevenson- tstevenson@missouri.edu