National Council Positions & Responsibilities

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Notice: All members of the 2023-24 National Council will be required to attend the annual SPS council meeting, which will be held September 7-9, 2023 in Washington, D.C.* All travel expenses will be covered by the SPS national office. 


The SPS President

Elected for a two-year term, the duties of SPS President include serving on the Executive Committee as its chairperson, presiding over meetings of the Council, and representing SPS to the AIP Governing Board and the AIP Advisory Committee on Physics Education.

The Sigma Pi Sigma President

Elected for a two-year term, the Sigma Pi Sigma President represents Sigma Pi Sigma and its members to the SPS Executive Committee and the Council. The President also provides liaison, together with the Director of the Society of Physics Students, between Sigma Pi Sigma and the Association of College Honor Societies.

In addition, serves on the planning committee of the quadrennial Congress of Sigma Pi Sigma, and may be invited to officiate at the installation of new chapters of the honor society.

The Zone Councilor

Elected for a three-year term, the Zone Councilor (ZC):

  • Represents faculty and department perspectives on the national council
  • Attends National Council Meetings (annual in-person meeting, quarterly webinars)
  • Communicates with SPS faculty advisors regarding opportunities and deadlines
  • Communicates regularly with chapters in their zone about SPS and Sigma Pi Sigma
  • Encourages local and national initiatives
  • Reminds chapter leadership of deadlines
  • Encourages and supports local chapters & advisors 
  • Works with AZC & zone chapters to ensure at least one zone meeting occurs each year 

The Associate Zone Councilor

The Associate Zone Councilor (AZC) must be a student member of a SPS chapter. Elected for a one-year term, the duties of the Associate Zone Councilor parallel those of the Zone Councilor:

  • Represents student perspectives on the national council
  • Attends National Council Meetings (annual in-person meeting, quarterly webinars)
  • Works with ZC & zone chapters to ensure at least one zone meeting occurs each year
  • Communicates with SPS presidents about opportunities and deadlines
  • Engages chapter officers to encourage involvement within zone and the SPS national community
  • Maintains healthy lines of communication with ZC, the SPS National Office, and the National Council
  • Maintains SPS student membership during term of service
  • Read more in the AZC handbook.

Related: Give Counsel to the National Council | So You Want to Be an AZC?

Represents faculty and department perspectives on the national council