# Society for Collegiate Journalists

The Society for Collegiate Journalists (SCJ) is an American honor society for student journalists. It was created in 1975 through the merger of Pi Delta Epsilon and Alpha Phi Gamma.

## History

The Society for Collegiate Journalists was formed on June 1, 1975, as a merger between the two journalism honor societies, Pi Delta Epsilon and Alpha Phi Gamma. Pi Delta Epsilon was established in 1909. Alpha Phi Gamma was established in 1919. It held its first national meeting at the David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1977.
The society expanded across the United States and includes around 100 chapters. As of 2024, SCJ has approximately 1,200 members. Its national headquarters in location in Storm Lake, Iowa.

## Symbols

The seal of the Society of Collegiate Journalists incorporated elements of its predecessors. It is a circle surrounded by the words “SOCIETY OF COLLEGIATE JOURNALISTS FOUNDED A.D. 1909" Inside the circle is an inkwell with crossed quills above.
The society's colors are black and white, symbolizing journalism's heritage of print media. It uses maroon and silver for banners and its Medal of Merit. Graduating members may wear honor cords which are red.
Its publication is called The Reporter.

## Activities

At the national level, the SCJ runs a biennial national convention and an annual student journalist contest with judges who are professionals in the field. It also publishes an online journal, The Collegiate Journalist, and a newsletter, The Reporter.
SCJ presents the Medal of Merit Certificate, the Presidential Citation, the Ingelhart First Amendment Award, the McDonald Award for the outstanding chapter, the SCJ Barlow Student Journalist of the Year Award, the Outstanding New Advisor Award, and the Outstanding New Chapter Award. The Student Journalist of the Year Award winner receives a scholarship and Ingelhart Award receives a cash prize.
At the local level, chapters host workshops, speakers, and seminars related to journalism.

## Chapters

SCJ has around 100 active chapters in the United States. Its chapters use their original charter date, from the predecessor organizations. Inactive institutions are in italics.
| Institution | Charter date and range | Location | Status |
| Ohio Northern University | 1919 | Ada, Ohio | |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | 1922 | Hoboken, New Jersey | |
| Muskingum College | 1923 | New Concord, Ohio | |
| Washington & Jefferson College | 1924 | Washington, Pennsylvania | |
| University of Richmond | 1926 | Richmond, Virginia | |
| Virginia Tech | 1930 | Blacksburg, Virginia | Active |
| Catholic University of America | 1931 | Washington, D.C. | |
| Westminster College | 1934 | New Wilmington, Pennsylvania | |
| College of William & Mary | 1935 | Williamsburg, Virginia | |
| Hastings College | 1937 | Hastings, Nebraska | Active |
| Franklin College | 1938 | Franklin, Indiana | Active |
| Hampden-Sydney College | 1939–xxxx ?; 2000 | Hampden Sydney, Virginia | Active |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 1939 | Carbondale, Illinois | Inactive |
| Midland Lutheran College | 1940 | Fremont, Nebraska | Inactive |
| Bethany College | 1947 | Bethany, West Virginia | Active |
| John Carroll University | 1948 | University Heights, Ohio | Active |
| Clarkson University | 1949 | Potsdam, New York | |
| Eastern Illinois University | 1949 | Charleston, Illinois | Active |
| Fairmont State College | 1949 | Fairmont, West Virginia | Inactive |
| Marietta College | 1949 | Marietta, Ohio | Active |
| Wartburg College | 1949 | Waverly, Iowa | Active |
| Keuka College | 1950 | Keuka Park, New York | |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | 1951 | Newark, New Jersey | |
| Hofstra University | 1953–xxxx ?; May 2014 | Hempstead, New York | Active |
| Thiel College | 1953 | Greenville, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Bridgewater College | 1955 | Bridgewater, Virginia | Inactive |
| Caldwell College | 1960 | Caldwell, New Jersey | |
| Pittsburg State University | 1960 | Pittsburg, Kansas | |
| Bethel College | 1961 | McKenzie, Tennessee | Inactive |
| Valparaiso University | 1961 | Valparaiso, Indiana | Active |
| Winona State University | 1961 | Winona, Minnesota | Active |
| Anderson University | 1963 | Anderson, Indiana | |
| Bemidji State University | 1964 | Bemidji, Minnesota | |
| Clarion University of Pennsylvania | 1964 | Clarion, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Lipscomb University | 1964 | Nashville, Tennessee | Active |
| Radford University | 1964–after 2011 | Radford, Virginia | Inactive |
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | 1965 | Millersville, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Northeastern State University | 1965 | Tahlequah, Oklahoma | |
| Southeast Missouri State University | 1965 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Active |
| Saint John’s University | 1965 | New York City, New York | Active |
| Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania | 1966 | Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania | |
| High Point University | 1966 | High Point, North Carolina | Active |
| Evangel University | 1967 | Springfield, Missouri | Active |
| Harding University | 1967 | Searcy, Arkansas | Active |
| Mount St. Mary's College | 1967 | Emmitsburg, Maryland | Inactive |
| Slippery Rock University | 1967 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 1968 | Richmond, Kentucky | Active |
| Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania | 1968 | Lock Haven, Pennsylvania | |
| Fort Hays State University | 1970 | Hays, Kansas | Active |
| West Virginia Wesleyan College | 1970 | Buckhannon, West Virginia | |
| Oklahoma Baptist University | 1971 | Shawnee, Oklahoma | Inactive |
| Winthrop University | 1972 | Rock Hill, South Carolina | Active |
| Tennessee Tech | 1975 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Active |
| University of North Alabama | 1978 | Florence, Alabama | |
| Cabrini University | 1979 | Radnor Township, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach | 1979 | Daytona Beach, Florida | |
| James Madison University | 1979 | Harrisonburg, Virginia | Inactive |
| Mary Baldwin University | 1979 | Staunton, Virginia | Active |
| Marycrest College | 1981 | Davenport, Iowa | Inactive |
| Southern Arkansas University | 1981 | Magnolia, Arkansas | Inactive |
| Wingate College | 1981 | Wingate, North Carolina | |
| College of St. Francis | 1982 | Joliet, Illinois | |
| Manchester Community College | 1982 | Manchester, Connecticut | |
| Carson-Newman College | 1983 | Jefferson City, Tennessee | Inactive |
| Cowley Community College | 1983 | Arkansas City, Kansas | |
| Kansas State University | 1983 | Manhattan, Kansas | Inactive |
| Kingsborough Community College | 1983 | Brooklyn, New York | |
| Milwaukee Area Technical College | 1983 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | |
| Ocean County College | 1983 | Ocean County, New Jersey | |
| Southeastern Louisiana University | 1983 | Hammond, Louisiana | Active |
| University of Scranton | 1983 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Drury College | 1984 | Springfield, Missouri | Inactive |
| Elizabethtown College | 1984 | Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Garden City Community College | 1984 | Garden City, Kansas | Inactive |
| Wabash College | 1984 | Crawfordsville, Indiana | Inactive |
| Jacksonville University | 1985 | Jacksonville, Florida | Inactive |
| Jacksonville State University | 1985 | Jacksonville, Alabama | Inactive |
| Nicholls State University | 1985 | Thibodaux, Louisiana | Inactive |
| Oakton Community College | 1985 | Des Plaines, Illinois | Inactive |
| Appalachian State University | 1986 | Boone, North Carolina | Inactive |
| Minot State College | 1986 | Minot, North Dakota | Inactive |
| Christian Brothers College | 1987 | Memphis, Tennessee | Inactive |
| Hunter College | 1987 | New York City, New York | Inactive |
| Independence Community College | 1987 | Independence, Kansas | |
| Ouachita Baptist University | 1987 | Arkadelphia, Arkansas | Inactive |
| Randolph–Macon College | 1987 | Ashland, Virginia | |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | 1987 | Lafayette, Louisiana | Inactive |
| Wayne State College | 1987 | Wayne, Nebraska | Inactive |
| Carnegie Mellon University | 1988 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | |
| Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott | 1988 | Prescott, Arizona | Inactive |
| Labette Community College | 1988 | Parsons, Kansas | |
| Lynchburg College | 1988 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Inactive |
| Lincoln Memorial University | 1989 | Harrogate, Tennessee | |
| North Central College | 1989 | Naperville, Illinois | Inactive |
| University of Arkansas | 1989 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Inactive |
| Old Dominion University | 1990 | Norfolk, Virginia | Inactive |
| Spring Arbor College | 1990 | Spring Arbor, Michigan | Inactive |
| Eastern Michigan University | 1991 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Active |
| Berry College | 1992 | Mount Berry, Georgia | Inactive |
| Regent University | 1993 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Inactive |
| Susquehanna University | 1993 | Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown | 1994 | Johnstown, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Marian College | 1995 | Fond du Lac, Wisconsin | Inactive |
| Union University | 1995 | Jackson, Tennessee | Inactive |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | 1995 | Virginia Beach, Virginia | Active |
| McDaniel College | 1996 | Westminster, Maryland | Active |
| New York Institute of Technology | 1996 | Old Westbury, New York | Inactive |
| North Carolina State University | 1996 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Active |
| Clarke College | 1997 | Dubuque, Iowa | Inactive |
| Murray State University | 1997 | Murray, Kentucky | Inactive |
| Oxnard College | 1997 | Oxnard, California | Inactive |
| Taylor University | 1997 | Upland, Indiana | Inactive |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | 1997 | Kearney, Nebraska | Active |
| Wilkes University | 1998 | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania | |
| Youngstown State University | 1998 | Youngstown, Ohio | |
| Simpson College | 1999 | Indianola, Iowa | |
| Southwest Missouri State University | 1999 | Springfield, Missouri | Inactive |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | 1999 | New Paltz, New York | Inactive |
| University of Pittsburgh at Bradford | 1999 | Bradford, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Utica University | 1999 | Utica, New York | Active |
| Washburn University | 1999 | Topeka, Kansas | |
| Westark Community College | 1999 | Fort Smith, Arkansas | Inactive |
| Asbury College | 2000 | Wilmore, Kentucky | Inactive |
| Northeast Texas Community College | 2000 | Mount Pleasant, Texas | Active |
| Widener University | 2000 | Chester, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| University of the Pacific | 2001 | Stockton, California | |
| Naugatuck Valley Community College | 2002 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Active |
| Valdosta State University | 2002 | Valdosta, Georgia | Active |
| Neumann College | 2003 | Aston, Pennsylvania | Inactive |
| Piedmont University | 2003 | Demorest, Georgia | Active |
| Shenandoah College | 2003 | Winchester, Virginia | Inactive |
| Community College of Baltimore County | 2004 | Essex, Maryland | Inactive |
| Barton College | 2005 | Wilson, North Carolina | Active |
| Bennett College | 2005 | Greensboro, North Carolina | |
| Loyola Marymount University | 2006 | Los Angeles, California | Inactive |
| Providence College | 2006 | Providence, Rhode Island | |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 2006 | Savannah, Georgia | |
| Keene State College | 2007 | Keene, New Hampshire | Active |
| Lindsey Wilson College | 2007 | Columbia, Kentucky | Inactive |
| Mercer University | 2007 | Macon, Georgia | Inactive |
| Robert Morris University | 2009 | Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Landmark College | 2010 | Putney, Vermont | Inactive |
| Frostburg State University | 2011 | Frostburg, Maryland | Active |
| Lee University | 2011 | Cleveland, Tennessee | Active |
| Marywood University | 2011 | Scranton, Pennsylvania | Active |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | 2011 | Atlanta, Georgia | Active |
| Buena Vista University | 2012 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Active |
| Savannah State University | 2018 | Savannah, Georgia | Inactive |
| Fort Lewis College | | Durango, Colorado | |
| Virginia State University | | Ettrick, Virginia | Inactive |
| Western Kentucky University | | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Active |
| Community College of Denver | | Denver, Colorado | Active |
* ↑ This chapter is a subsection of the Long Island Press Club.
* ↑ The national website says this chapter is in Arizona.
* ↑ The college became Teikyo Marycrest University and finally Marycrest International University. It closed in 2002 because of financial shortcomings.
* ↑ The national website says this college is in North Dakota.
* ↑ Known as the Auraria chapter.