Chapter sponsors, (sometimes called moderators or facilitators) are responsible for helping members run their chapter of Mu
Alpha Theta. They provide oversight and guidance to student officers of the club, including financial responsibility for club
funds. Often a sponsor will set up a Mu Alpha Theta account with their school bookkeeper or treasurer in which they deposit all
club monies collected. This provides school oversight of funds. Sponsors provide a supervised meeting space for the club and act
as liaison, when necessary, to the school administration and members' parents. Along with club officers, sponsors should plan
periodic meetings, at least monthly, where a math talk or activity is planned. Some chapters invite speakers from a local
college, university, or industry to speak. Some meetings may be devoted to taking mathematical tests for competitions, practice
sessions for competitions, working on math research topics for student members to give "chalk talks" at a future meeting, playing
math-related games, etc. Sponsors accompany students to mathematical competitions or events away from their school and arrange
for chaperones, transportation, permission forms, and other details of such field trips. It is the sponsor's duty to update
school information online, by email, or by calling the National Office with changes, should they occur. It is especially
important that a current email address for each sponsor is available.
It is the sponsor's responsibility to alert math teachers at their school of the chapter and its mission, ask for names of
qualified students for membership, check grades to insure eligibility, and present these names to the admission committee of
the club. Alternatively, student officers can post notices and posters explaining the mission of Mu Alpha Theta and ask eligible
students to apply for membership. In this case, students are asked to fill out a form showing their eligibility. Some forms
include questions about the student's interest in mathematics or ask them to provide other information about their qualifications,
besides their math grades. Sponsors should still check that an applicant's grades meet the chapter's minimum requirement for
membership, before the admission committee decides on new members. No student shall be recommended for consideration that does
not meet the minimum qualifications. Individual chapters may impose additional requirements; however, no student will be denied
membership on account of race, religion, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual preference, and/or physical
disability.
Some clubs have attendance or service requirements for continued membership. This depends on the school's constitution.
Sponsors should make sure applicants are aware of all requirements and understand how members will be chosen and how they
maintain their membership, when they apply. It should be noted that Mu Alpha Theta was not specifically set up as a service
organization but that many chapters have added math tutoring or service activities to round out their yearly calendar of events.
Once members are chosen, it is the sponsor’s responsibility to submit those names to the National Office within one month
of their initiation into the chapter. This can be done by submitting names into the online order system accessible from our
website at www.mualphatheta.org, by email, or by mail. Instructions for the online order system can be downloaded
here.
Sponsors should be aware that once a student’s name has been entered into the national database, it remains there forever,
unless it was placed there by mistake. There is no requirement for continued membership at the national level. The student’s
name will be moved from the school’s current member table to a graduated students table, when the student reaches their year of
graduation. Sponsors should alert the National Office if their current membership list, available online, does not agree with
their records.
Sponsors may ask the chapter secretary to enter names or be responsible for emailing them to be sent. However, it is the
sponsor’s responsibility to approve each new member and confirm their eligibility before turning the names over to a student
officer. Sponsors should also be sure that each student submitted for national membership really wishes to participate. It
is hoped that chosen members will realize Mu Alpha Theta is more than just an honor society and will strive to provide them
with stimulating mathematical activities to further their understanding of mathematics.
Prior to submitting names to the National Office, sponsors should make sure new members have paid their initiation fee that
must be sent to have their name added to the Mu Alpha Theta database. Many schools choose to pay the fee for their students.
Fees should be paid with a single check or credit card purchase. It is best to set a deadline for new members and then wait
until all have paid before submitting names for certificates. Names are accepted year-round. If a school does not submit new
member names for more than two years, their chapter will become inactive. A letter will be sent to the school requiring the
removal of the “Mu Alpha Theta” name from the school’s math club at that time. Should a chapter become inactive, students must
be informed not to list membership in Mu Alpha Theta on a resume if they join the math club. Unless we have their name
in our database, we cannot confirm their membership.
For their registration fee, each student receives a certificate suitable for framing, a membership card, and a decal.
There is a $2.00 reprint fee per certificate, if a name is submitted incorrectly. We will reprint and send corrected
certificates free of charge, if an error is our fault. Sponsors should notify the office by email or phone as soon as errors
are discovered, so we can send a replacement certificate.
Sponsors should notify the National Office to remove associates if they do not become members.
Sponsors or a student officer may enter the names of associates by online at any time. Associates are defined as high
school students in grades 9 through 12, at the school where their permanent record resides, who have completed one year of
algebra, or its equivalent, with distinction and are currently enrolled in a higher math course. Associates are not members of
Mu Alpha Theta but are likely candidates for membership. Associates do not pay the initiation fee but are eligible to be listed
with the National Office, should they wish to participate in Mu Alpha Theta national math contests. While they are not entitled
to vote nor hold office in their chapter, they are entitled to attend and be heard at meetings. A student may remain an associate
for only one year and then, if eligible, must be inducted as a member of Mu Alpha Theta or removed from the database. Sponsors
may also notify the National Office to remove associates if they do not become members.
Mu Alpha Theta will accept a school purchase order for orders, as long as the invoice is paid within a two month period.
Sponsors are responsible for making sure that the bill is paid and that the National Office receives a copy of the purchase
order, should special instructions need to be followed. We will email a receipt notifying the sponsor that the school has paid
the bill, once a check arrives. Our fax number is 405–325-7184.
Sponsors are in charge of ordering insignia merchandise and honor cords for their members, if desired. Students or parents
should not request merchandise by separate check. The current order form and price list with pictures can be
found here or on the online system. Pictures of merchandise are viewable there and in the online
system. It is best to check online to ensure current prices are used when ordering. Only active chapters that have enrolled
members during the past two years may purchase merchandise. Please restrict the wearing of Mu Alpha Theta t-shirts or insignia
merchandise to current members, associates, or former members of the club. Sponsors or proud parents may also wish to purchase
t-shirts to wear. The National Office reserves the right to refuse the sale of insignia materials to non-members or chapters
without enough members to warrant the amount of materials ordered. An honor cord or tassel is sent when a $5 donation is made
to the Mu Alpha Theta Educational Foundation. Donations go to support awards, grants, and scholarships for deserving members,
sponsors, or chapters and to support other educational activities of Mu Alpha Theta. Only members are eligible to wear the
honor cord at graduation.
Mu Alpha Theta has a number of special awards and grants that it presents to outstanding members, sponsors, and chapters.
Descriptions of these awards, along with applications, are available here. Sponsors and students should submit the names of
those worthy of one of these awards. Clubs may choose to have a selection committee review nominated students for some awards,
since the number of students submitted per chapter is limited. Mu Alpha Theta also offers scholarships for graduating members.
Summer study or research grants are available for members as well. Please visit and have your students visit our website often
to keep up with all the benefits of membership.
Each fall and spring, a newsletter is posted in the Newsletter Archive and will be emailed to chapter sponsors.
Sponsors should read the newsletter thoroughly. Grant and scholarship opportunities are highlighted in the newsletter.
Sponsors should watch for this information and share it with their members or remind members to read the newsletter online.
The newsletter includes important information about policy changes, award and grant deadlines, Governing Council decisions,
news of national and regional competitions, news from the National Office, and articles of interest on math.
It is important for sponsors to maintain a current email address with the National Office. This may be done online, by
emailing matheta@ou.edu, or by phone. Sponsors should also add maomailer@ou.edu to their safe list as all newsletters and
updates are emailed from this address.
Elections of officers to the Governing Council – our Board of Directors – are held in the spring during years ending with
an even number. It is the responsibility of chapter sponsors to be aware of national issues and vote in national elections.
Constitutional changes to the National Constitution may also be sent out with the spring ballot. Voting is done by email.
Each active chapter has one vote. Sponsors are encouraged to run for national office or work on a national committee to help
Mu Alpha Theta grow and remain a positive influence on students.
Sponsors are encouraged to call or email Kay Weiss at the National Office for answers to any questions they may
have. 405-325-4489 or matheta@ou.edu