Omega Rho is Your Honor Society

by David F. Rogers*

Department of Quantitative Analysis and Operations Management
College of Business
University of Cincinnati

The recognition of significant accomplishments and the promotion of scholarship through honor societies is a long-standing tradition in modern universities. Membership in an honor society bestows honor, recognition, and a lifetime distinction. If you are a student of operations research, management science, or a closely-related area, I hope that you are at one of the universities that has an active chapter of Omega Rho International Honor Society. If your university does not have a chapter of Omega Rho then read on and see how you can be instrumental in reactivating or establishing one.

Omega Rho International Honor Society for operations research, management science, and related areas was founded in the spring of 1976 at a joint national meeting of the Operations Research Society of America and The Institute of Management Sciences and is a Member Society of the Association of College Honor Societies for maintaining high standards for the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in higher education. Omega Rho is a society of collegiate chapters and members for promoting and recognizing superior scholarship and leadership. Membership is prestigious with only approximately 5,100 student and faculty inductees qualified at 37 chapters. Additionally, 34 select individuals have been bestowed honorary membership in Omega Rho.

Having an Omega Rho chapter affiliated with your department and college will bring a number of benefits to both your students and your faculty. It gives the students something to strive for academically, it rewards the academic achievements of those chosen to join, and it serves to unite your better students to organize and carry out (often in partnership with the faculty) a variety of activities (such as career panels, lectures, and social activities) that benefit all your students and your faculty as well. It provides visibility for your department/college and programs and gives them even more credibility and stature with your university administration and local industry. Being members of Omega Rho will also enhance the resumes of your faculty members. Note that Omega Rho admits both graduate and undergraduate students, so it doesn't matter to which of these groups your programs are oriented. Omega Rho works well at both levels, and a chapter can serve to enhance interactions between the graduate and undergraduate students.

Who is qualified for admission to Omega Rho?
Any student of operations research, management science, or a closely-related area may join Omega Rho provided that they meet the following scholastic guidelines:

Undergraduate Students: Top 25% of your class.

Graduate Students: Must have a 3.5/4.0 Grade Point Average.

Students from several different disciplines and discipline names are appropriate candidates for Omega Rho. Department or degree names that are appropriate include but are not limited to:

Operations Research or Operational Research
Management Science
Quantitative Analysis or Quantitative Methods
Industrial Engineering
Decision Sciences
Operations Management
Information Systems, Systems Engineering or Information Sciences
Mathematics or Mathematical Sciences
Computer Science or Computer Engineering
Statistics or Applied Statistics

Any student, however, qualifies for admission to Omega Rho regardless of their declared major as long as they have had a sufficient set of courses in operations research and management science related areas as determined by the local chapter.

What are the advantages in joining an Omega Rho chapter?
The advantages of belonging to Omega Rho are numerous:

You will receive the recognition that you deserve for academic excellence and be able to display this on your resume to enhance potential employment opportunities.
You will receive a handsome certificate.
You will receive an Omega Rho pin or button.
You will have the opportunity to interact with other students and faculty through your local Omega Rho chapter meetings and activities and advance scholarship, ethics, and professionalism in our disciplines.
You will be prepared to begin an Omega Rho chapter at any future university at which you are on the faculty or attending classes. This is an easy opportunity for important service to the operations research and management science fields. Establishing an Omega Rho chapter is a highly-visible activity in your college, especially during graduation ceremonies and honors recognition ceremonies.
Omega Rho sponsors a Distinguished Lecture at INFORMS Annual Meetings.
Omega Rho sponsors students to attend the Doctoral Colloquium at INFORMS Annual Meetings.

What if my university does not have a chapter or has an inactive chapter of Omega Rho?
If your university is listed as one that has an inactive chapter then reactivating it may be easier than you might think. A chapter constitution and bylaws is already on file for these universities and the dormant chapter can easily be reinstated. Crucial to this process is the identification of a faculty member that will agree to be the faculty advisor and ensure the viability of the group from year to year.

If your university does not have a chapter of Omega Rho but does have programs in operations research and management science related areas, I encourage you to initiate the process of starting a chapter. Again, a crucial activity is identifying a faculty member that will agree to be the faculty advisor and ensure group viability annually. To expedite the process of beginning a Chapter, a generic template for a Chapter's constitution, bylaws, and petition for membership is available elsewhere on the Omega Rho website so that you can easily adapt it for your university.

If you are interested in reactivating a dormant chapter or beginning a new chapter please contact:

David F. Rogers, Historian, Past President, and Website Manager

Omega Rho International Honor Society

Department of Quantitative Analysis and Operations Management
College of Business

University of Cincinnati

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0130

Office: +1(513)556-7143 FAX: +1(513)556-5499
David.Rogers@UC.edu

* David F. Rogers is Historian and Website Manager for Omega Rho International Honor Society. Professor Rogers joined Omega Rho in 1982 at Purdue University, established the Chapter at the University of Cincinnati in 1987, was Director of the Central U.S.A. Region from 1992-94, Secretary from 1994-96, Vice-President/President Elect from 1996-1998, and President from 1998-2000.