National Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society announcing major developments to their programs and services
On October 1, major developments regarding programs and services exclusively for National Honor Society (NHS) and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapters beginning this academic year will be revealed on the following topics.
As you read this, know that you are in good company. Did you know, for instance, you are among thousands of NHS and NJHS advisers who will benefit from new tools and resources tailor-made for Honor Society chapters? The online Adviser Resource Center launches this fall, providing a tool that will equip you for your role in ways you’ve never before experienced as an Honor Society adviser.
As an educator, you are preparing a pathway for your students to pursue their ultimate careers. When it comes to attributes sought by employers, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) through its “Job Outlook Survey 2015” reports that “leadership” and “ability to work in a team” are the two most important factors that employers look for when hiring new staff. In fact, 77.8 percent of employers look for these qualities on a candidate’s résumé. You will soon learn how NHS and NJHS will deliver unique, innovative leadership opportunities and career exploration for students.
According to the national nonprofit Get Schooled Foundation, 70 percent of students rely on the Internet to research their career field. Knowing students today are truly digital natives, NHS and NJHS will respond with virtual options designed to build students’ awareness of career options and the preparations necessary to achieve their goal.
College savings coupled with the ability to identify scholarships, grants, and loans to support higher education are top of mind for students today. GetSchooled.com reports, “According to ACT … the two biggest barriers [students] face in turning their dream careers into reality: money and institutions.” The report goes on to say that more than half of all students point to a lack of financial means as their key obstacle. Meanwhile, research reported by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) shows that students with a college savings account are “three times more likely to enroll in college and four times more likely to graduate than those who do not.” To address these matters, customized resources will be made available for Honor Society students to support scholarship acquisition and financial aid search.
You’ve likely heard the adage, “There’s safety in numbers.” NHS and NJHS plan to give new meaning to this saying for members. This academic year, there will be new opportunities for students to learn leadership and advocacy skills and join forces to help shape legislative education agendas at the grassroots level.
These new initiatives are the result of research led by Cornell’s Survey Research Institute. The study, titled “National Honor Society Value Project 2014,” reached out to 35,000 NHS and NJHS principals and advisers online. It also conducted eight focus groups in four regions, comprising principals, advisers, students, and parents. Plan to make this column your first stop in Advise for the latest information on both current and new Honor Society programs and services.