Chapters can induct students, faculty members, alumni, and honorary members. Only students graduating from the graduate school of Public Health (Master of Public Health, and Master of Science) can be inducted into the Gamma Delta Chapter.
The Gamma Delta Chapter at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut was initiated in 2010. As of 2016, the local Chapter has inducted 1 honorary member, 5 alumni, and 26 students.
The local Chapter has a cabinet consisting of a President, President-Elect, Member-at-Large, and rotating secretary. Elections for the Chapter take place every October of the year. In addition, the Chapter consists of subcommittees for induction and for planning and implementing Chapter activities.
Criteria for Induction into the Chapter
Chapters can induct students, faculty members, alumni, and honorary members. Only students graduating from the graduate school of Public Health (Master of Public Health, and Master of Science) can be inducted into the Gamma Delta Chapter. In addition, induction is based on the following criteria:
Chapters may induct up to 10% of the graduating student body. All student inductees must be in the upper 25% of their class academically. Starting in 2018, students nominated for induction into the Gamma Delta Chapter will have to write a personal statement. A subcommittee consisting of the Chapter cabinet members and three active Chapter members will be formed to assess the personal statements. Inductees will be selected based on their personal statement and the advice of faculty members.
Chapters may induct either five members or 3% of the full-time faculty, whichever is less. Faculty must be selected based on a review of their work in the field.
Chapters may induct a maximum of ten graduates of the local school of public health. Alumni inductees' work in the practice of public health should serve as a model for future graduates of the school. Chapters may induct alumni members in the amount not to exceed half of that allowed for its (graduate) student inductions for that year. Regardless of this calculation, each Chapter will have the option to induct at least 5 alumni members annually. Alumni are nominated by current members of the Chapter. A subcommittee consisting of the Chapter cabinet and three active chapter members will be formed to select top candidates for the nomination. Alumni will be inducted based on a vote by all Chapter members.
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.