Student Associations and Honor Societies

Alpha Phi Sigma is the only nationally recognized honor society for students in the criminal justice sciences. The society recognizes academic excellence by undergraduates and graduate students alike.

Alpha Phi Sigma-Kappa Xi is dedicated to fostering active and inclusive chapters focused on promoting excellence in criminal justice scholarship and performance. As one of over 350 chapters, Kappa Xi is committed to contributing in both a scholarly and civic capacity to improve our community.

Alpha Phi Sigma Kappa Xi is dedicated to developing a diverse membership base, capable of incorporating a range of scholarly perspectives. We are focused on showcasing the contributions of our members and recognizing their scholarly achievements. We focus on engaging members and the community through workshops, networking and research opportunities.

We encourage and develop lifelong learners and professionals, of high moral and ethical standards, with strong analytical and intellectual skills, who focus on the efficiency and effectiveness of the criminal justice system.

Membership

Undergraduate and graduate students who are in the criminal justice field are encouraged to apply for membership in this organization. To be eligible for membership, students must have completed one-third of their total hours required for graduation.

Undergraduate students are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.2 GPA in both criminal justice courses and overall courses at the time of induction. Student must also rank in the top 35 percent of their classes and have completed a minimum of four courses within the criminal justice curriculum.

Graduate students are required to maintain a minimum of a 3.4 GPA in both criminal justice courses and overall courses. Students must have completed a minimum of four courses within the criminal justice curriculum. Law students must have completed one academic year in law school with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher.

Apply for Alpha Phi Sigma - Kappa Xi membership.

Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Regalia for graduating students

Current members of Alpha Phi Sigma who are graduating can order special Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Regalia. Complete the Honor Regalia form to submit your order. 

It is highly recommended students submit the Honor Regalia Form at least 8 weeks in advance of when they would like to receive the regalia. Honor Regalia will be mailed directly to the student address provided on the form.

The Dean’s Student Advisory Council (SAC) is comprised of students who meet monthly with School of Public Affairs (SPA) Dean Paul Teske to provide feedback and information on their experiences here at SPA. There will also be opportunities at each meeting to hear updates regarding SPA. The SAC’s goal is to come together in an effort to continuously improve the student experience and influence positive change within the community.

Time Commitment: 1 - 2 hours per month.

For more information, please email Jessica Valdez at jessica.valdez@ucdenver.edu.

Apply to join the Student Advisory Council.

The mission of CU Denver's Master of Public Administration Student Association (MPASA) is to create opportunities for MPA students to engage with one another and to share knowledge, experiences and insight. We seek to establish a network of students through program engagement, community involvement and professional development.

Goals

• Professional Development: To enhance professional development, networking and resource exchange opportunities between MPA students, faculty and alumni. 
• Student Culture: To foster a community for MPA students to meet and interact, provide support, and engage in various activities and social events.
• Community Service: To build a positive presence in the Denver community and strengthen relationships with local nonprofits through volunteerism.
• Represent: To maintain the MPA Student Association’s presence in the MPA program and represent student concerns, interests and ideas, as well as make formal recommendations to the faculty, staff and administration of CU Denver and the School of Public Affairs.

Meetings are held monthly during the fall and spring semesters, and are open to all current MPA students. 

Please email spa.jobs@ucdenver.edu for more information.

Pi Alpha Alpha is the Global Honor Society for public affairs and administration. There are more than 160 chapters located around the world at NASPAA member schools, including CU Denver School of Public Affairs.

The purpose of Pi Alpha Alpha is to encourage and recognize outstanding scholarship and accomplishment in public affairs and administration. Its objectives, such as fostering integrity, professionalism, and effective performance, promote the advancement of quality in the education and practice of the art and science of public affairs and administration. PAA membership identifies those with the highest performance levels in educational programs preparing them for public service careers.

The School of Public Affairs’ PhD Student Association (SPAPSA) mission is to establish a community of students who support each other through the sharing of experience and knowledge across PhD cohorts. SPAPSA has three main functions: academic enrichment, social and interpersonal engagement, and new student orientation and mentorship. 

SPAPSA supports the academic development of students through information and resource exchange and through the organization of relevant academic and social activities. To encourage further cross-cohort interactions, SPAPSA assigns student peer mentors to incoming students each year. Additionally, a SPAPSA representative serves on the faculty PhD committee. The faculty committee and association members make a concerted effort to coordinate activities and share ideas about program needs.

SPAPSA is open to all SPA PhD students, who are strongly encouraged to participate in meetings and events. The elected SPAPSA leadership board is made up of two Co-Presidents, a Treasurer, and Secretary, and they typically hold at least one formal meeting per month.

For the 2022-2023 academic year, the leadership consists of: Kayla Gabehart (Co-President), Allegra Fullerton (Co-President), Shihao Dai (Secretary), and Betsy Smith (Treasurer).