Alpha Alpha Alpha

A National Honor Society for First-Generation College Students

Alpha Alpha Alpha, also known as “Tri-Alpha,” is an honor society for first-generation students who excel in higher education. The organization aims to recognize academic excellence and provide opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, and campus and community service for first-generation students.

Tri-Alpha was founded March 24, 2018, at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Over 100 members of the Alpha chapter were initiated that day, including undergraduate students, faculty, staff, alumni, and honorary members. Following the successful induction, the College took steps to incorporate Alpha Alpha Alpha so that chapters could be started on other campuses across the country.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s chapter was founded in the summer of 2024 to celebrate First-gen Blazers, and the founding officers will joined the organization in the fall semester of 2024. Each spring, an induction ceremony will be held to recognize and celebrate the newest members of the UAB Tri-Alpha chapter.

Membership Requirements

Tri-Alpha undergraduate candidates must satisfy the following criteria:

• Have earned at least 30 credit hours towards a baccalaureate degree.
• Achieved an overall undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.2 on a 4.0 scale.
• Neither of the student’s parents, nor step-parents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor’s degree.

Graduate students who are first-generation students can be admitted if they have completed at least 9 graduate-level credit hours and have a graduate GPA of at least 3.5.

Faculty and staff may be inducted if they met the requirements above at the time of completing their bachelor’s degree.

Both undergraduate and graduate students must pay a $20 membership fee. Faculty, staff, honorary, and alumni inductees must pay a $25 membership fee.

Membership Process

1. Apply to become a member. The membership application is open from early September to early October each fall and early February to early March in the spring. Eligible undergraduate and graduate students will receive an email from the Office of Student Mentorship & Leadership.
2. Pay the one-time membership due. The membership due covers the cost of the membership certificate and pin from the national honor society. There are a limited number of scholarships available to students who need financial assistance from the Office of Student Mentorship & Leadership to join this honor society.
3. Attend the Induction Ceremony. New members become official members of the national honor society the day of their induction ceremony. We understand some new members will have to miss the ceremony due to class or work commitments.

Benefits

• Lifetime Membership & Recognition
  A one-time, affordable initiation fee grants lifelong membership, along with a certificate and pin signifying your achievement.
• Academic Distinction
  Membership highlights your dedication to academic excellence and distinguishes you to employers, graduate schools, and professionals.
• Networking & Community
  Connect with first-generation scholars across all academic disciplines to foster a supportive and empowering environment.
• Mentorship Opportunities
  Gain guidance from faculty, staff, alumni, and senior first-gen students, while also mentoring younger first-generation students.
• Leadership Development
  Take on local chapter leadership roles and build valuable experience for your future.
• Professional Growth
  Enhance your resume, expand your network, and access opportunities that support your academic and career success.

Selection Timeline

• Fall 2026
  • September – Application Opens
  • October – Application Closes
  • November – New Member Induction
  • December – First Chapter Meeting for New Members
• Spring 2027
  • January – Application Opens
  • February – Application Closes
  • March – New Member Induction
  • April – First Chapter Meeting for New Members
  • May – Announcement of Chapter Officers

Chapter Officers

Applications for the Fall 2027 Tri-Alpha Executive Board will open following the Fall 2026 Tri-Alpha Induction Ceremony. Serving on the executive board is an opportunity for members to help shape the chapter’s direction, create meaningful programming, support first-generation student success, and strengthen the Tri-Alpha community at UAB. Board members work closely with fellow officers and chapter advisors to uphold the mission of Alpha Alpha Alpha while providing leadership, engagement, and service opportunities for members.

Students interested in serving are encouraged to attend chapter events, remain active in the organization, and learn more about the responsibilities of each officer position outlined below.

President

The president is the presiding officer at chapter meetings of Alpha Alpha Alpha. As your chapter’s president, you will be planning, organizing, and carrying out responsibilities associated with your role as the chapter’s chief executive officer. Most members will help you succeed if the tasks and expectations are clearly defined, reasonable, and the members share appropriate interest and skill. Remember, planning and preparation count, and enthusiasm is contagious. The duties are generally as follows:

• To open the meeting at the time scheduled by taking the chair and calling the members to order; to announce the business before those assembled in the order in which it is to be acted upon; to recognize members entitled to the floor; to state and to put to vote all questions which are regularly moved, or necessarily arise in the course of the proceedings, and to announce the result of the vote
• To prepare the vice president to preside in your absence
• To meet with the advisor(s) to set goals for the year and to plan induction ceremonies
• To appoint persons and delegate tasks for the success of your chapter, then to monitor and ensure that the tasks are successfully completed
• To assist in the recruitment of new members
• To assist in recruitment of new officers and in the training of the new officers
• To work with the chapter advisor(s) and officers on annual reports for the National Office.

Vice President

The role of vice president is an important one. Sometimes it happens that the president is prevented from carrying out the duties of his/her office for various reasons. A well organized and properly operating chapter should have a properly trained vice president who is prepared to administer the chapter in the absence of the president. The main duty of the vice president is to assist the president and other chapter officers in completing their duties. It is also the vice president’s job to effectively contribute to the chapter’s operations. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Preside over meetings in the absence of the president.
• Gather material for and help edit a chapter newsletter, on a schedule determined by the officers and advisor(s)
• Attend all chapter meetings; take attendance if the secretary is not available.
• Attend the chapter’s officers’ directors meetings.
• Become thoroughly acquainted with the president’s duties so you can assist the president
• Work with chapter secretary and treasurer to ensure member roster and dues are mailed by the appropriate dates.

You, as vice president, are as responsible as the president in executing the president’s functions and duties properly.

Secretary

The secretary is the recording officer of the chapter and custodian of records except those which are specifically assigned to the treasurer or historian. The secretary and historian should work closely together to ensure that all records are kept and that both are aware of what the other has maintained. These records are open, however, to inspection by any member at reasonable times.

In addition to keeping the records of the society and the minutes of the meetings, it is the duty of the secretary to keep a register, or roll, of the members and to call the roll when required; to notify officers of their appointment. The secretary should also keep one book in which the by-laws, rules of order, and standing rules should all be written, leaving every other page blank; and whenever an amendment is made to any of them, in addition to being recorded in the minutes it should be immediately entered on the page opposite to the article amended. Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Send out proper notices of all called meetings, and of other meetings when necessary
• Conduct the correspondence of the society, except as otherwise provided
• Make an agenda for meetings, which the president/chairperson will use as a guide
• Collate and write the annual report, working with the other officers
• Circulate approved minutes
• Keep a record of past and upcoming activities
• Assist in the preparation of the chapter’s induction ceremony program

Treasurer

The treasurer is in control of the chapter’s money, its collection, and disbursement. The treasurer is responsible for keeping accurate books that will enable him/her to give a full financial report whenever requested. The treasurer should do his/her best to see that everything is done meticulously so that there are no doubts about his/her integrity. It should be noted that the treasurer’s records always should be open to inspection by the chapter’s officers or advisor(s). Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Collect member dues.
• In coordination with the secretary, forward dues, the invoice, and your chapter’s Membership Roster to the National Office.
• Prepare the chapter’s budget, present it to the board for approval, and ensure that chapter activities adhere to the budget.
• Maintain accurate financial records throughout the year to be reviewed at any time by members, other officers, or administration.
• Transact business through a bank or institutional account.
• Inform the chapter of its financial strengths and weaknesses.
• Reconcile bank statements.
• Bill members for unpaid dues.
• Deposit chapter funds.
• Understand school and chapter policies regarding student financial accounts relating to school organizations.

Historian

The historian is the steward of the chapter’s history. The historian provides support for the secretary in keeping records of the chapter. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Compiling a year-end scrapbook, to include chapter advertisements, newsletters, newspaper articles, event programs, ticket stubs, copies of the induction ceremony program, and photos. The scrapbook can be a simple collection of material or a professional-level bound book with high-quality scans.
• Take pictures at events, except for the induction ceremony, where the historian will be participating. In this case, the historian works with the advisor(s) to secure a photographer for the event. It all depends on the historian’s imagination, technological knowledge and budget.
• The historian creates and maintains the chapter’s record book, into which the historian writes all pertinent information in the book, such as the year's officers, programs, and award winners. All information should be double-checked for accuracy. If ever the record book is lost or misplaced, the historian starts a new one.

Events and Activities

Tri-Alpha hosts a variety of events and activities throughout the year, including:

• Induction Ceremony: A formal event to welcome new members once per semester.
• Leadership Workshops: Sessions focused on developing leadership skills and enhancing academic success.
• Group Mentorship Opportunities: Programs that connect members with fellow first-generation students, faculty, staff, alumni, and peers to build community, share experiences, and support personal, academic, and professional growth.
• Community Service Projects: Opportunities to give back to the community in meaningful ways.