On December 3, 2009, the Upsilon Xi chapter of the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society here at Kean will hold its new winter induction ceremony for prospective members. The change in ceremony efforts as a strategic way to get new members engaged with current members, together utilizing the spring semester as leverage for planning and service. The ceremony will take place in the Maxine and Jack Lane Center for Academic Success room 106 at 7p.m. and will feature Kean University's own Dr. Susanna Rich as a speaker. As new inductees, students will be joining into a lifetime membership of scholarship, expressive, and internship opportunities. Students looking to join the English honor society in the future or even contribute to the group now are encouraged to be present at the ceremony. Since the introduction of Kean's chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the group has looked to change its standards for future inductees and make a name for itself on campus. Initially, students who maintained at least a cumulative 3.0 GPA and had obtained enough credits to be junior status were eligible for induction. Yet, after consideration, to simply uphold studious rank did not seem suffice for becoming an inductee. Hence, Dr. Gupta-Casale, current advisor of the group, instituted a new requirement towards the application process. Students looking to become inducted must now complete two service requirements, one in promotion of literacy and the other in function with the community. An example of such service would be volunteering to read at a school or holding a book drive in your local community.

Sigma Tau Delta is currently holding a book drive of their own on campus sponsored by Better World Books; donations bins are located throughout numerous building on campus such at the Center for Academic Success. If any student wishes to donate and can not find a bin, they can bring their donation to any member of the group or the group's advisor. In addition to the group's committed community services is next semester's much anticipated involvement with the "Big Read". In the urgency to nationally promote literacy, this event will personally bring acclaimed author Tim O'Brien, and several events surrounding his book, "The Things They Carried". Recognizing the rewarding philanthropy that this event will bring to any who participate, members of the group strongly encourage any student from campus to seize the opportunity to become involved.

If there is any direction that Sigma Tau Delta president Joseph Tingle, a senior English major with writing option and Chinese minor, would most want to veer the group towards, it would be on the path of recognition and retention. Tingle advocates for the group to rise above the norm of what is expected from the average honor society, chiefly because he sees the potential within his members. Towards that he adds, "I want to make the group an active, recognizable group on campus. Honor societies tend to have their members sign a check so they can strengthen their resume, but the involvement never goes further. I want the Kean Sigma Tau Delta Chapter to be more of a community." Tingle shares this ambition with much of his existing group; collectively, they aim to carry out this unification feat by utilizing the projected community services as well as strengthening bonds within the meetings.