Delta Nu Chapter Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health
History
The Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health was founded in 1924 at Johns Hopkins University within the School of Hygiene and Public Health (now known as the Bloomberg School of Public Health) by two graduate students, Dr. Edgar Erskine Hume, and Dr. Claude W. Mitchell. At the time, public health as a profession was still in its infancy and, prior to the establishment of university-based education in public health, entrance into the field had been largely through practical experience and political favor. To promote the graduate study of the field, Dr. Hume and Dr. Mitchell organized this honorary society in order to recognize outstanding achievement in the new field.
The society still honors the ideals that initially formed its foundation. Membership in Delta Omega reflects the dedication of an individual to increasing the quality of the field, as well as to the protection and advancement of the health of all people.
Delta Nu chapter
UTMB is home to the Delta Nu chapter of the Delta Omega Honorary Society in Public Health. Membership in Delta Omega reflects a person’s dedication to quality in the field of public health and to the protection and advancement of the health of all people. Election to membership in Delta Omega is intended, not only to recognize merit, but also to encourage further excellence in (and devotion to) public health work.
Members are inducted by chapters through a highly selective process that assesses their outstanding performance and devotion to the field. To maintain the credibility of this prestigious society, chapters are limited in the number of members they may induct each year.
Each chapter may induct no more than twenty percent (20%) of eligible graduate candidates and 10% of eligible undergraduate candidates in a given calendar year. The selection committee will give particular attention to academic excellence and shall take into consideration commitment to the public health profession.
In order to be eligible for regular membership in the Society, a student shall:
intend, so far as can be ascertained, to follow a career in public health AND
have completed one full year of academic courses or be in the last grading period leading to a masters or doctoral degree in public health offered by a CEPH-accredited school or program of public health;
OR
be enrolled in the last year of a CEPH-accredited baccalaureate degree program.
Faculty
Each year chapter may induct up to the greater of 2 faculty or the equivalent of 3% of faculty FTE (sum of FTEs in CEPH Tables E1 (primary instructional) and E2 (other instructional)) most recently reported to CEPH (self-study or annual report). Even though the limits are based on faculty numbers reported to CEPH, chapters may consider induction of all categories of faculty associated with the unit of accreditation, including adjunct and part-time. Each chapter shall establish selection criteria consistent with its institutional criteria for the recognition and promotion of its faculty.
Alumni
Each chapter may induct graduates of the school or program of public health whose work in the practice of public health would serve as a model for future graduates Chapters may induct graduate alumni members in an amount not to exceed half of the number of graduate student inductees. Chapters may induct undergraduate alumni members in an amount not to exceed half the number of undergraduate student inductees each year
Honorary
The first year that a chapter is active, it may induct three honorary members. However, every year after the chapter may only induct one honorary member. Honorary membership should only be conferred upon persons possessing exceptional qualifications and those who have attained meritorious distinction in the field of public health.
Nominations are due generally a month or two before the end of the semester, and we induct students, faculty and alumni one time a year (at May commencement).
