Gamma Theta Upsilon
About GTU
Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) is an international honor society in Geography. Gamma Theta Upsilon was founded in 1928 and became a national organization in 1931. Members of GTU have met academic requirements and share a background and interest in Geography. GTU chapter activities support geography knowledge and awareness. Additional information about Gamma Theta Upsilon is available at the GTU Society Website.
Kappa Delta is the name of the GTU chapter located at Central Connecticut State University. Dr. Timothy Garceau is the Chapter Faculty Sponsor.
Goals
- To further professional interest in Geography by affording a common organization for those interested in the field.
- To strengthen student and professional training through academic experiences in addition to those of the classroom and laboratory.
- To advance the status of Geography as a cultural and practical discipline for study and investigation.
- To encourage student research of high quality, and to promote an outlet for publication.
- To create and administer funds for furthering graduate study and/or research in the field of Geography.
- To encourage members to apply geographic knowledge and skills in service to humankind.
Benefits of GTU Membership
- Gamma Theta Upsilon membership is earned through superior scholarship; it is an honor, and a professional distinction. Lifetime membership is $40. Members receive a handsome certificate, suitable for framing. No further membership dues are paid to the national organization after the initiation fee.
- Most chapters organize and host speakers, campus-wide programs, field trips, and social events. Chapter members participate in service functions. Members can engage in numerous extra-curricular activities.
- Membership provides a network that helps students become better acquainted with other geography students and faculty.
- Members can improve their expertise in the field of geography by learning things not normally covered in the classroom.
- Members are eligible to apply for a variety of Gamma Theta Upsilon scholarships.
- Membership in an academic honor society is evidence of your dedication to and competency in your potential career field. Some employers give hiring preference or a higher starting salary to honor society members.
Membership Eligibility
Persons seeking membership must be initiated through an established chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon. There are two classes of membership in GTU:
- Regular Member: In keeping with the Society's Specialized Scholarship classification, initiates must have completed the equivalent of three semesters of college coursework, a minimum of three courses in geography with a 3.3 GPA (on the 4.0 scale) in those courses, and rank in the top 35% of their class (a 3.3 GPA can be used as a substitute for the ranking if the institution does not calculate rankings). Please note that regular members do not have to be currently enrolled, nor must they be geography majors.
- Honorary Member: Honorary membership is available only under extraordinary circumstances and upon approval by the Executive Committee for a person whom the committee feels has contributed to a marked advancement in any phase of geography. A chapter may apply directly to the Executive Committee to petition for honorary membership on behalf of an individual. Please note that honorary membership is reserved for those not eligible for regular membership.
Kappa Delta Chapter Report
During the 2017-2018 year, Dr. Peter Kyem stepped down as Central Connecticut State University's (CCSU) Kappa Delta Chapter Faculty Sponsor and Dr. Tim Garceau took over this role at CCSU. We thank Dr. Kyem for his many years of service in this role. Dr. Garceau has recently completed his third year as an Assistant Professor at CCSU and teaches Human Geography, Introduction to Planning and a variety of upper-level and grad-level planning courses.
At the April 2018 CCSU Geography Department Banquet, nine new initiates were welcomed into the Kappa Delta Chapter of the GTU and pledged themselves to service in geography. Of the nine, seven were undergraduates and two were graduate students; representing specializations in in environmental geography, planning, GIS, hospitality and tourism, and sustainability.
At the annual banquet, the department also recognizes students who have been inducted into GTU in prior years and have continued to exhibit successes both in the classroom and out of it as they have progressed in their careers at CCSU. This year, Emily Scanlon (inducted into GTU in 2017) was recognized as the outstanding undergraduate student for her exemplary academic performance in a breadth of geography, planning and tourism/hospitality courses as she completed her degree requirements. Ashley Stephens (inducted into GTU in 2016) was recognized as the outstanding graduate student for her hard work, dedication and outreach while serving as Operations Manager for the Connecticut Geographic Alliance over the past year.
Additional Information
Additional information about Gamma Theta Upsilon is available at the GTU Society Website.