Albany Student Voice

Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. (CEP) is a national sorority of nursing students and registered professional nurses founded, Oct. 16 in 1932 with the two-fold purpose of elevating the plane of nursing and increasing interest in the field of nursing. Worldwide, CEP represents more than 8,000 nurses from many cultures and diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Nine ASU nursing students wanted to enhance their professional careers and Chi Eta Phi provided the opportunity to network with other nurses. President Christine Carpenter, 22-year-old senior nursing major from Chicago said, "We contacted a regional director and informed her that we were interested in starting a chapter at Albany State. We also had to complete an organization starter kit and turn in the required paper work."

Carpenter said there had to be at least nine students who were interested in the organization. Also, they needed to find a graduate chapter to sponsor them. After eight months, the Albany State Chapter of CEP was established on May 19. Currently, the chapter includes nine women; 8 seniors and 1 junior. Although CEP is a sorority, membership is open to female and male nursing majors who are in good academic standing and admitted into the nursing program.

The chapter is dedicated and committed to implementing various health related projects and mentorship programs on campus and in the community. "We hope that Chi Eta Phi will help the retention rate by starting mentoring programs for nursing majors," Smith said. Later this month, CEP will be preparing for awareness day to promote good healthcare and to introduce the sorority to ASU students.

"We will have blood pressure screenings, glucose screenings, height and weight checks, prizes, and much more," Smith said. If students are interested in joining CEP, there will be an interest meeting in January 2008. CEP is in the process of developing a mentorship program to give students the opportunity to meet and work with junior and senior nursing students.

"You can call us the trend setters. This is a group of nine hard working women who are a force to be reckoned with," Carpenter said. For more information contact ASU CEP chapter president at christine_carpenter@hotmail.com.

Article Tools