Nu Sigma Nu
| Nu Sigma Nu Fraternity | |
|---|---|
| ΝΣΝ | |
 |
|
| Founded | 2 March 1882 University of Michigan |
| Type | Professional fraternity |
| Scope | International |
| Mission statement | "To promote scholarship, the development of better teaching, and generally in raising medical education to a higher level.” |
| Flower | red and white carnations |
| Chapters | 4 active, 37+ chartered |
| Headquarters |
Nu Sigma Nu Fraternity c/o Alpha Chapter 1912 Geddes Avenue Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 USA |
| Homepage | Alpha chapter's home page, accessed 6 July 2014 |
Nu Sigma Nu (ΝΣΝ) was an international professional fraternity for medicine, now existing as a handful of stable remaining chapters. It was founded on 2 March 1882 by five medical students at the University of Michigan, who identified as their immediate object "to further the best interests of our profession." Later, its purpose was more fully stated as, "To promote scholarship, the development of better teaching, and generally in raising medical education to a higher level.” As one of the earliest formed among all professional fraternities, Nu Sigma Nu was the first fraternal organization nationally to limit membership to medical students only. It can therefore claim that it was the first Medical Professional Fraternity.
The organization evolved quickly from its birth on 2 March 1882 under the leadership of five original members, all of the class of 1883, who, along with one other became the six recognized Founders of the Fraternity. The six Founders were:
The first five developed and signed the Constitution, and all six signed the original charter upon their initiation. Soon afterward, two professors were added to the membership rolls: Donald McLean and George E. Frothingham. With these, and a fixed attention on professional achievement in its defined area of study, the Fraternity had a relatively short period before contemplating a national expansion. The Grand Chapter of Nu Sigma Nu was formed in 1886. Its Beta Chapter was formed in 1889 at the Detroit College of Medicine, and the Fraternity added additional chapters during a vigorous period of growth from 1890 to 1933.
Nu Sigma Nu was the first of five national medical professional fraternities to form, and did so when the concept of a professional fraternity was far less common; it was a pioneer in establishment of the professional model.
The fraternity became co-educational in 1972.
The national fraternity was dissolved in 1973, due to changing student interest and organizational turmoil. However, several well-established chapters survived and have flourished as semi-local institutions. The remaining chapters occasionally communicate, but there is no continuation of national convention activity.
Chapters that aggressively maintained their ties with alumni and faculty for the benefit of student members, and who eyed long term viability, with alumni support, encouraged early growth of their building and scholarship funds. As early as 1901, Alpha Chapter had accumulated enough capital to seek real estate investment, purchasing a suitable lot in Ann Arbor on Huron Street, near the medical school at that time. Historical records show Epsilon Chapter at the University of Minnesota similarly sought to build early in its history, choosing a site at 429 Union Street, in Minneapolis, just two blocks from the medical school. Prior to this, Epsilon Chapter rented space at the Masonic Temple at 6th and Hennepin in Minneapolis.
...
Wikipedia