CAS Member Spotlight: The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS)

The Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS) is the organization that honor societies join when they seek certification by a neutral body and collaboration with peers to uphold the highest standards of excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and research. Founded in 1925, ACHS is the only certifying agency for college and university honor societies. It establishes standards for organizational excellence, scholastic eligibility, and governance practices, ensuring that academic recognition remains meaningful and aligned with institutional values.

The mission of ACHS is to build a cohesive community of national and international honor societies that promotes the values of higher education and fosters excellence in scholarship, leadership, service, and research. This mission aligns closely with CAS’s dedication to student learning, development, and quality practice. Both organizations emphasize ethical leadership, continuous improvement, and the creation of co-curricular environments that promote student success and engagement.

Through its participation in CAS, ACHS has gained access to a nationally recognized framework for program assessment and improvement, strengthening the credibility and integrity of its own standards for honor society excellence. Participation in the CAS community has also connected ACHS to a broad network of higher education associations, fostering collaboration and the exchange of best practices across student affairs, academic programs, and co-curricular leadership development.

Most recently, ACHS partnered with CAS in revising the CAS College Honor Society Programs Standards, ensuring that they reflect both sector-wide expectations and the unique contributions honor societies make to student learning, engagement, and recognition. This collaboration reinforced ACHS’s role as a key contributor to student development across higher education while strengthening the quality and impact of honor society programs nationwide.

Professionals in the field are encouraged to explore the CAS College Honor Society Programs Standards and the accompanying Self-Assessment Guide (SAG) to support program evaluation, strategic improvement, and alignment with nationally recognized best practices:

• College Honor Society Programs Standards
• College Honor Society Programs Self-Assessment Guide (SAG)

ACHS encourages the broader higher education community to recognize the vital role honor societies play in advancing scholarship, leadership, and student belonging. ACHS-member organizations uphold rigorous standards of integrity and excellence, offering high-impact involvement opportunities that complement academic programs and foster meaningful student development.

Looking ahead, ACHS will host its 2026 Annual Conference from January 29–31 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, bringing together leaders, educators, and honor society members from across the country. The conference will focus on collaboration, academic excellence, and student engagement, strengthening the collective impact of honor societies nationwide. Learn more at: https://www.achshonor.org/2026-annual-conference

CAS is proud to spotlight the Association of College Honor Societies and its enduring commitment to recognizing achievement, promoting leadership, and advancing student success across higher education.