Becoming a Member

It is important to understand at the outset that the sole purpose of the Cum Laude Society is to honor scholarly achievement, not participation in activities, in the secondary school. Likewise, potential new chapters should know that the Officers and Regents collect considerable information from applicant schools and weigh many aspects of school strength, and make their decisions with great care.

The Board feels that their major responsibility is to be certain that the academic performance of students in schools granted charters is similar to that of current members of the Society, and that as members their level of performance will continue, year after year. The Officers and Regents are particularly interested in the academic strength of the top 20% of the senior class (in the college preparatory curriculum).

A school may apply by completing the "Charter Application" form, available from the central office, after speaking with the Regent in their geographic area. If a school has been in existence continually for at least five years and has graduated three or more classes in a college preparatory course, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational or admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs and athletic and other school administered programs, and is incorporated as a non-profit institution, it is eligible for consideration.

Annual elections are limited to 20% of the Senior Class and new chapter applicants are judged, along with other criteria, on whether in most years 20% would be eligible. This is not to suggest that each chapter does in fact elect 20%, but rather that close to the number are eligible as true scholars.

The first step in a consideration of membership is a conversation with the Regent that represents your geographic area. (Please see a list of Regents at the bottom of this page.)

Charter Application Form

(You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read / save / print these documents)

There is no set program for the installation ceremony, but it should be a formal occasion. Most schools have a special assembly, inviting a speaker or guests from among the parents, trustees, and other school officials.

 

The District Regent will be glad to assist the school in planning an installation ceremony and to advise about an appropriate program. If the District Regent or another Cum Laude Officer is invited, it is customry for the school to cover travel expenses.

 

The program for presenting the Charter to a new Chapter should include the following:

 

1. An explanation of the background and purpose of the Society, its history, its ideals, and its motto.

2. Presentation of the Charter by the Regent (or representative, ex. Registrar General) to the Head of the School.

3. Presentation by the Regent (or representative) of the membership certificates and pins to the Charter members.

 

If the Members-in-course (students) are also being initiated at the time of the installation, the President of the Chapter should conduct that part of the ceremony.

 

Instructions relating to the ceremony for induction of members into a Chapter are found in the Chapter Manual (sent to all chapter secretaries) and in the General Information section of this web page.

Click here to see a sample Charter Installation Program.

District I - William C. Prescott, Jr., Regent

557 Smith Neck Rd.

So. Dartmouth, MA 02748

Tel: 508/992-6330

wprescott@wheelerschool.org

MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT

 

 

District II - Elizabeth Duffy, Regent-elect

The Lawrenceville School

2500 Lawrenceville Rd. - Box 6008

Tel: 609/896-0408 FAX: 609/895-2161

eduffy@lawrenceville.org

PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY

 

 

District III - Walter C. Johnson, Regent

Hackley School

293 Benedict, Tarrytown NY 10591

Tel: 914/366-2601 FAX: 914/631-8929

wjohnson@hackletschool.org

CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK

 

 

District IV - Jean Waller Brune, Regent

Roland Park Country School

5204 Roland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21210

Tel: 410/323-5500 FAX: 410/323-2164

brunej@rpcs.org

DELAWARE, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, D. C., PUERTO RICO

CANADA, ENGLAND, FRANCE, PHILIPPINES, SPAIN

 

 

District V - Edward J. Fox, Jr., Regent

P.O. Box 2747

Cashiers, NC 28717

Tel: 828/743-9778 Fax: (Same as phone)

cashiersfox@aol.com

ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA

 

 

District VI - Arlyce M. Siebert, Regent

The Cranbrook Schools

P. O. Box 801, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48303-3601

Tel: 248/645-3602 FAX: 248/645-3524

aseibert@cranbrook.edu

INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MICHIGAN, OHIO, TENNESSEE

 

 

District VII - Donald C. North, Regent-elect

Kinkaid School

201 Kinkaid School Dr., Houston TX 77024

Tel: 713/782-9778 FAX: 713/782-3543

don.north@kinkaid.org

ARKANSAS, ILLINOIS, KANSAS, LOUISIANA, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI,

OKLAHOMA, TEXAS, WISCONSIN

District Vlll - Thomas C. Hudnut, Regent

Harvard-Westlake School

3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave.,P.O. Box 1037, No. Hollywood, CA 91604-0037

Tel: 818/980-5033 FAX: 818/487-6613

thudnut@hw.com

ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, HAWAII, NEW MEXICO, OREGON, WASHINGTON

 

• Charter Application Form

 

New Chapters - Getting Started

 

 

Immediately after the Regents have granted a Charter, the school should send the Charter fee of $500 to the Central Office, and then proceed to select Officers and Charter Members for the new Chapter.

 

The Charter Members, including the President and Secretary of the Chapter, usually number from 6 to 12, which is the maximum, and are selected from members of the faculty, administrative officers (including department heads), graduates who would have qualified had a Charter been in existence, distinguished alumni, trustees, or others associated with the school. Students, except a student who is a Chapter President, may NOT be Charter Members.

 

The names of the Officers and Charter Members should be sent on the membership application form to the Central Office of the Society, along with the appropriate membership fee for each person elected. Membership forms, order forms, and other necessary materials are sent to the school shortly after a Chapter has been notified that it has been accepted into the Society. At the same time, the Secretary should order, and send payment for, the pins and certificates for the Charter Members and for the anticipated elections during the current school year. A Charter document will be prepared by the Central Office and forwarded to the District Regent for presentation to the school at the time of the installation ceremony. Should the Regent be unable to attend, an alternate presenter should be sought by the school (the Central Office will help in this regard), and the Charter will then be sent to the school. Please allow at least six weeks for preparation of the Charter. Travel costs for a Cum Laude representative at the installation are to be shared equally between the school and the Society.

 

There should be a ceremony at the installation of the Chapter, which is frequently planned to coincide with the initiation of the first Members-in-course (student members). Procedures governing the election of the student and faculty members are found in the Chapter Manual and on this web page. The President or the Secretary of a new Chapter, as soon as one is elected, should call the District Regent to assist in making arrangements for the installation ceremony.

 

The District Regent should be advised at the earliest possible time of the Chapter installation date in order to assist in planning the installation service and arranging to present the Charter.

 

 

 

 

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 THE CUM LAUDE SOCIETY, INC.

23490 Caraway Lakes Drive

Bonita Springs, FL 34135-8441

239/390-3257 FAX: 239/390-3245

E-mail: cumlaude@parktudor.org