San José City College’s Communication Studies and Mass Media Department has been approved to start a chapter of Sigma Chi Eta, the honor society for community college communication students.
The National Communication Association, which oversees the honor society, notified the college in an Oct. 27 letter that its application had been accepted. The SJCC group will be known as the Chi Eta chapter.
Guadalupe Alatorre, a professor in the department, submitted the application.
“This is an exciting milestone for our Communication Studies and Mass Media Department and a wonderful opportunity for our students,” Alatorre said.
The department plans to hold its first induction ceremony in spring 2027 to welcome the chapter’s founding members.
Alatorre said the chapter supports one of the department’s ongoing goals: getting more students to choose communication studies and mass media as their academic path and earn an associate degree or certificate in the field. She sees the honor society as a way to recognize high-achieving students, give them a stronger sense of belonging and keep them engaged in the program.
“Beyond recognizing academic achievement, I hope this honor society will inspire students to become more involved in our department, explore leadership opportunities, build meaningful connections and take pride in their academic accomplishments,” she said.
The chapter is open to communication studies and mass media majors as well as students interested in the field.
Sigma Chi Eta, known as SCH, is the NCA’s official community college honor society. Since 2000, it has inducted communication students at two-year colleges and universities each year and helped them explore transferring to a four-year school or heading into the workforce. Membership is for life, and the organization encourages members to stay connected with their college, faculty and fellow students in the discipline.
The society’s goals are to reward scholastic achievement, build interest in communication as a field and support professional development among communication majors. It also gives students a place to exchange ideas, strengthens ties between faculty and students, and helps members look ahead to further undergraduate or graduate study.
“I am truly excited about the possibilities this honor society will bring to our campus,” Alatorre said.
More information about Sigma Chi Eta is available on the National Communication Association’s website at natcom.org/sigma-chi-eta.
