English-Related Activities and Organizations
The English Club
The English Club was re-established in September 2013 with the goal of providing a community for undergraduate English majors and minors. Its revised constitution sets out four chief objectives: first, to exemplify and promote the seriousness of the English degree; second, to nourish the creative energies and thoughts of English students; third, to provide an environment in which English students may develop themselves in an extra-curricular fashion; and finally, to act on matters that affect the literary well-being of the club, the department, and the wider Oshkosh community.
In pursuing these objectives, the English Club holds weekly meetings throughout the semester that combine literary activities for that specific evening – e.g., book club meetings, guest speakers or readers, writing exercises, etc. – with the planning of outreach activities in the university community or Oshkosh at large. Past club initiatives have included a 12-hour Write-A-Thon to benefit a local literacy charity, the co-sponsorship of literary speakers of interest to the wider university community, and the co-planning of a banquet in celebration of graduating English majors.
The Club meets weekly throughout the semester: if you’re at all curious about what we do, join us!
Sigma Tau Delta
Sigma Tau Delta is the international English Honor Society. Established in 1924, it now has over 800 chapters at 4-year colleges and universities throughout the world. The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh’s chapter—Lambda Mu—was established in the 1970s.
Membership is by invitation. All undergraduate majors and minors who have completed at least three semesters of college coursework and at least two upper-level courses beyond general education and are in the top 35% of their class are eligible for membership. Graduate students who have completed at least 6 hours of graduate coursework and have a minimum GPA of 3.3 are also eligible. Those students meeting the requirements for membership are invited to join annually during the spring semester.
Once you enroll in Sigma Tau Delta, you are a member of the honor society for life. It is a prestigious recognition that distinguishes you not only when you are in school but also when you are looking to advance your career. Additionally, while you are a student, you can apply for special scholarships, writing awards, and internships, all of which are available exclusively to Sigma Tau Delta members. The honor society also offers venues for you to present and publish your scholarship and creative writing, from an annual conference to two highly regarded peer-reviewed journals.
The campus chapter is as active as its members would like it to be. In the past, Lambda Mu has sponsored trips to the annual Sigma Tau Delta conference and to Chicago to visit the Art Institute, held induction ceremonies to which friends and family are invited, and hosted speakers and workshops. The current faculty advisor for Oshkosh’s chapter is Professor Don Dingledine.
For more information about Lambda Mu and Sigma Tau Delta, contact Professor Dingledine (dingledi@uwosh.edu) or Professor Pascale Manning (manning@uwosh.edu).