About

Mortar Board is a national honor society recognizing college juniors and seniors for their exemplary scholarship, leadership and service.

Our purpose

Mortar Board’s purpose is to:

  • promote equal opportunities among all peoples,
  • emphasize the advancement of the status of women,
  • support the ideals of the college or university,
  • advance a spirit of scholarship,
  • recognize and encourage leadership,
  • provide service,
  • contribute to the self-awareness of its members, and
  • establish the opportunity for a meaningful exchange of ideas as individuals and as a group.

Strategic Plan

Guiding Principles

Mission – Mortar Board, a national honor society that recognizes college juniors and seniors for their achievements in scholarship, leadership and service, provides opportunities for continued leadership development, promotes service to colleges and universities and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. (Adopted July 1994)

Motto – Pi Sigma Alpha, letters that correspond to three Greek words representing the Ideals of Mortar Board: scholarship, service and leadership.

Symbol – A mortarboard, an ancient symbol of honor and distinction, represents the organization. Many early scholars adopted the clerical or monastic robes as a symbol, illustrating their devotion to learning.

Colors – Gold (representing achievement) and silver (symbolizing opportunity.)

Commitment to Community & Belonging

Learn how Mortar Board is committed to inclusive excellence in programming and membership, fostering community and a sense of belonging, and creating equal opportunities for all.

We Are Mortar Board

Guiding principles


Mission – Mortar Board, a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for their achievements in scholarship, leadership and service, provides opportunities for continued leadership development, promotes service to colleges and universities and encourages lifelong contributions to the global community. (Adopted July 1994)

Motto – Pi Sigma Alpha, letters that correspond to three Greek words representing the Ideals of Mortar Board: scholarship, service and leadership.

Symbol – A mortarboard, an ancient symbol of honor and distinction, represents the organization. Many early scholars adopted the clerical or monastic robes as a symbol, illustrating their devotion to learning.

Colors – Gold (representing achievement) and silver (symbolizing opportunity).


Leading the way for success since 1918

Collegiate chapters
States represented
Years of scholarship, leadership and service

Mortar Board: A Century of Scholars, Chosen for Leadership, United to Serve

Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society has a unique place in the history of higher education and, indeed, in the history of the United States. In preparation for its centennial, volunteers poured over 50,000 photos, memos and files to prepare its first-ever history compilation. The result is a beautifully accurate, sometimes humorous and always enlightening portrayal of college life in the United States over the last 100 years.


Mortar Board: A Century of Scholars, Chosen for Leadership, United to Serve

Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society has a unique place in the history of higher education and, indeed, in the history of the United States. In preparation for its centennial, volunteers poured over 50,000 photos, memos and files to prepare its first-ever history. The result is a beautifully accurate, sometimes humorous and always enlightening portrayal of college life in the United States over the last 100 years.

National leadership

The National Council, elected by collegiate delegates, is charged with guiding the long-term future of the organization. A board of trustees governs the National Foundation. Section coordinators work directly with chapters, serving as close primary contacts for chapters within a specified geographic region.

Partners

Mortar Board partnerships and affiliate programs allow Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society to provide members with competitive pricing on products and services in exchange for funding of Mortar Board programs, building recognition and goodwill between partners and members.

National project

In 1985, the collegiate members decided they wanted each chapter to engage in and actively promote a national project each year. Over several years, the national project promoted many issues, and today’s permanent project is Reading is Leading.