Eta Beta Chapter

Message sent of behalf of Eta Beta President Dr. DeLisa Cofer:

Call for Research Abstracts – Eta Beta Research Symposium on April 17, 2026

Deadline for Submission: March 16, 2026

Eta Beta Research Symposium invites nurses, student nurses, researchers, and faculty to submit abstracts for oral and poster presentations at this year’s event, focusing on the 2025-2027 organizational call to action to "Lead Together".  This is our time. Let’s Lead Together—across nursing, within Sigma, and around the globe.

Submission Guidelines:

1. Abstracts should be between 250-350 words in length.
2. Topic Areas: Abstracts related to nursing practice, clinical research, nursing education, healthcare policy, patient care, and other related areas are welcome.
3. Submission Process:
• Abstracts must be submitted to mcfrancis@widener.edu. By March 16, 2026
• Please include a brief bio (150 words) for each presenter.
4. Review Process: Submitted abstracts will undergo a peer-review process. Acceptance notifications will be sent by April 1. 2026.
5. Presentation Formats: Accepted abstracts will be presented either in oral or poster format.

For more details and submission instructions, please contact Dr. Mary Francis.

We look forward to your contributions and to a successful symposium!

Contact Information:
Mary Francis RN PhD ACNP-BC

Mcfrancis@widener.edu

Attention senior nursing students!

Greetings,
The Eta Beta Chapter is proud to support meaningful projects in our local community. This season, we are collecting monetary donations for the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, and we invite you to join us in making a difference.
Your contribution will help provide critical resources to individuals and families in need. Please consider donating:

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-support-the-domestic-abuse-project-of-delaware-county

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to supporting those who need it most. Together, we can make a lasting impact!
Warm regards,
DeLisa Cofer
President, Eta Beta Chapter of Sigma

Eta Beta Chapter has again received the Key Award! Drs. Cofer and Kokoszka accepted the award at the Biennial convention.

In addition, Eta Beta received regional recognition for exemplary efforts for the following:

Responding

Communicating

Reflecting

Respecting

Mentorship

Kudos!!

A wonderful time was had by all at the Eta Beta Fall Dinner. Dr. Regina Green presented on Mental Health. Awards were presented to the following recipients:

Excellence in Teaching - Dr. Kristin Davies

Excellence in Leadership - Dr. DeLisa Cofer

Excellence in Mentorship - Dr. Emily Battaglia

Excellence in Research - Dr. Meg Hall

Congratulations!

Student Membership Ambassador Role

Position Description

The Student Membership Ambassador is a representative at the chapter level that serves as a liaison between student members and the Eta Beta Chapter. The ambassador should strive to strengthen the connection with new and potential inductees to create welcoming environments and to orient and inform this membership segment about STTI and Eta Beta

Requirements

·       New student inductees that are active, dues-paying members of the chapter

·       filling and able to serve a two-year term (senior year and one year after graduation)

·       Able to participate in Eta Beta activities (leadership meetings. scholarship programs)

Responsibilities

·       Serve as liaison between newly inducted and potential student members and the chapter, regional, international levels of STTI.

·       Introduce potential inductees to STTI and Eta Beta Chapter activities and benefits of membership.

·       Use Eta Beta's social media presence to engage and inform newly inducted and potential student members.

·       Participate in leadership succession activities by shadowing chapter leaders, participating in board meetings or conference calls, and collaborating with the member involvement committee.

·       Survey new student members or candidates or foster discussions to discover and understand the needs of these members.

Benefits

·       Annual membership dues for the initial year of membership will be reimbursed by the chapter at the end of the fiscal

·       Registration fees for Eta Beta's Fall Dinner Programs will be paid by the chapter.

·       Registration fees for the Tri-State Consortium Program will be paid by the chapter.

Application Process

·       Applications for the position are due by November 12, 2025. Please submit applications to Dr. Stephanie Jeffers via email (sjeffers@widener.edu).

·       A 250-word essay describing your leadership and communication skills as well as your vision for fulfilling the

·       above responsibilities are required.

·       Two applicants will be chosen by the Eta Beta Board at the December Board meeting.

·       Student Ambassadors will serve a one-year term starting on January 1 and ending on December 31.

          *Attend three events, one in Spring and two in Fall semester.

To continue building that spirit of connection, I warmly invite you to join us for the New Member Orientation on October 22 at 6:00 PM via Zoom: https://widener.zoom.us/j/8633391891. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet our new inductees, reconnect with one another, and hear about the many benefits of being a member of the Eta Beta Chapter.

Congratulations to the Eta Beta Chapter! The chapter will receive the Key Award at the upcoming biennial conference in November. 

The Chapter Key Award, established in 1991, honors Sigma chapters that excel in chapter-related activities such as:  

• Chapter Leadership and Operations 

• Membership Recruitment and Retention 

• Communication and Engagement 

• Chapter Service, Awards, and Philanthropy 

Chapter Leader Descriptions
Sigma has developed chapter leader position descriptions that can be used as templates to better define the roles and responsibilities of the leaders serving your chapter.

Chapter Leader Qualifications
• Active member in the chapter
• Completed a consent to serve in the position
• Positions required in the chapter bylaws have a two-year commitment

Chapter Leader Resources
• The All Chapter Officers Workgroup in The Circle is the learning hub for all of Sigma’s chapter leaders. Visit https://thecircle.sigmanursing.org/mygroups to access the workgroup. Take part in discussions, ask questions, view a full list of important upcoming dates, and access a library with more than 400 training resources, including orientation information for specific positions.
• Visit your Regional Officer Connect Workgroup in The Circle to connect with other chapter leaders in your region and your regional coordinator!
• Access the Chapter Management System (CMS) to download membership rosters, review nurse leader applications, submit important reports to headquarters, write news for Sigma Update and more. Visit https://management.sigmanursing.org to get started.
• Each chapter has a website hosted in The Circle. These free resources are an excellent way for chapters to connect with members, create a sense of community, and establish an online presence. Access your chapter website by using the direct URL: CHAPTERGREEKNAME.sigmanursing.org. (ex. deltaupsilon.sigmanursing.org).

Secretary
• Serve on the chapter’s board of directors:
o Record, write, and distribute the minutes for each Board of Directors and business meeting.
o Keep an official record book of the minutes, in perpetuity, of all Board of Directors and business
meetings to present to the succeeding secretary.
o Prepare an annual report to the chapter membership regarding the secretary’s responsibilities
and activities.
o Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to the position of secretary. Submit
modifications or new policies and procedures to the Board of Directors for approval. • Lead communication to the chapter membership:
o Organize and develop a comprehensive chapter communication plan.
o Organize, write, and distribute all membership communication about chapter activities.
o Develop and maintain chapter’s online outlets for publicity or membership communication. o Serve as chair of chapter communications committee, if applicable.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned by chapter: o Serve on committees as needed.
• Skills Gained through Service:
o Serve on a non-profit/non-governmental organization board of directors o Team communication
o Leadership of committee
o Social Media
o Communication standards
o Budgeting

Treasurer
• Serve on the chapter’s board of directors:
o Prepare and present a current financial report to the board of directors at each meeting.
o Prepare and submit an annual budget to the board of directors with appropriate committee
advisory council or task force.
o Develop and maintain fiscal policies and procedures in collaboration with the appropriate
committee. Submit new policies or modifications of existing policies to the boar d of directors for
approval.
o Prepare an annual report to the chapter membership regarding the treasurer’s responsibilities
and activities.
• Be custodian of the chapter funds:
o Prepare and submit the financial section of the chapter annual report. o Work with an accountant on a biennial audit.

o Obtain and complete necessary tax forms for the Internal Revenue Service (US chapters only) or other governing agencies.
o Manage the investment plan of the chapter with support from the board of directors.
o Be aware of Sigma’s policies and timelines regarding chapter checks, and communicate how your
chapter would like them delivered.
o May be bonded in an amount equal to three-fourths of the worth of the chapter.
• Skills Gained through Service:
o Serve on a non-profit/non-governmental organization board of directors o Team communication
o Leadership of committee
o Financial accountability and accounting standards
o Budgeting

Counselor
• Serve on the chapter board of directors:
o Prepare an annual report to the chapter membership regarding the counselor’s responsibilities
and activities.
o Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to the position of counselor. Submit
modifications or new policies and procedures to the board of directors for approval. • Lead the recruitment process and be an advocate for membership in the organization:
o Lead the procedure for determining membership eligibility and inducting members.
o Develop strategies for publicizing and informing students and nursing leaders of membership
eligibility criteria.
o Secure necessary data from the official records of students to determine eligibility status.
o Notify students of their eligibility status and send out the appropriate informational materials. o Prepare and set up inductions using the Online Induction System. Download the latest version
and consult the Online Induction System manual for each induction.
o Prepare for inductions by downloading and customizing the induction scripts and slides.
o Work with the appropriate parties to plan induction ceremony events.
o Download and send the “Sample Letter to Send Before Induction” to each eligible candidate
before induction. • Serve on committees:
o Serve on the Governance Committee (may be appointed as chair).
o Work with other committees, as assigned. • Skills Gained through Service:
o Serve on a non-profit/non-governmental organization board of directors o Team communication
o Leadership of committee
o Recruitment best practices
o Budgeting
• Special Notes about Counselors:
o Counselors are required to be a faculty member or employee at the university or practice setting affiliated with the chapter.
o Counselors of alumni chapters who oversee nurse leader inductions are not required to be faculty.
o At-large chapters should have a counselor at each institution of higher education and practice setting.

Governance Committee
• Committee Structure:
o 4 committee members

• Reports to the board of directors:
o Prepare an annual report to the chapter membership regarding the governance committee
responsibilities and activities.
o Develop and maintain policies and procedures related to the governance committee. Submit
modifications or new policies and procedures to the board of directors for approval. • Membership eligibility:
o Oversee chapter membership eligibility issues and determine where the exception clauses apply. o Collaborate with Counselor to promote membership to potential candidates.
o Assist with the planning and organization of the induction.
• Chapter bylaws:
o Lead the bylaws amendment process by considering, reviewing, editing and/or correlating
amendments as suggested or appropriate
o Utilize the updated chapter bylaws template created by Sigma each biennium.
o Submit the updated bylaws to Sigma every even year and when the chapter makes bylaws
alterations.
• Skills Gained through Service:
o Serving on a committee
o Team communication
o Organizational governance o Recruitment best practices