Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

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Bouchet Graduate Honor Society
BGHS
FoundedSeptember 15, 2005; 18 years ago (2005-09-15)
Yale University, Howard University
TypeHonor society
EmphasisDoctoral, Post-Doctoral, Faculty
ScopeNational (U.S.)
Mission statementTo recognize scholarly achievement and promote diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate.
Chapters19
Headquarters
Yale University, United States
WebsiteOfficial Website
Bouchet, c. 1912 Namesake of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society

The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (often referred to as the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, Bouchet Society or BGHS) is an American honor society named after Edward Alexander Bouchet, the first African American to earn a doctorate degree (Ph.D. in Physics, Yale University, 1876). Established to recognize outstanding scholarly achievement and promote diversity and excellence in doctoral education and the professoriate, it was co-founded by Yale University and Howard University on September 15, 2005, commemorating Bouchet's birthday.

History[edit]

The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society was co-founded by Yale University and Howard University on September 15, 2005, in commemoration of Bouchet's birthday.[1][2][3][4] Inaugurated with a simulcast ceremony between Yale and Howard, the founding institutions reflect a commitment to combating historical underrepresentation in academia.

Honor societies have historically been critiqued for systemic bias and racism, often reflecting broader societal inequities in their membership and recognition practices. Traditional honor societies have sometimes perpetuated exclusion by upholding criteria or cultures that do not fully recognize the diverse potential of all scholars, particularly those from minority backgrounds. The Bouchet Society was established in part to address these gaps, emphasizing inclusivity and the importance of diverse scholarly contributions.[5][6]

The Bouchet Society aims to develop a network of preeminent scholars who exemplify academic and personal excellence, foster supportive environments, and serve as exemplars of scholarship, leadership, character, service, and advocacy for those traditionally underrepresented in the academy.[7][8]

The Bouchet Society has expanded to include numerous chapters across the United States.[9] [10] [11]

Membership[edit]

Membership is granted to individuals who demonstrate significant achievements aligned with the society's core values, including doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members. A distinct aspect of the society's nomination process is its focus on self-nominations and endorsements from faculty, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups such as minorities and women in STEM.[12][13]

Activities and awards[edit]

The society organizes annual conferences and forums, fostering professional development, networking, and academic exchange among members. These events also serve as platforms for discussing and promoting DEI initiatives within higher education.[14][15]

The Bouchet Leadership Medal recognizes leaders who exemplify outstanding scholarly and community-oriented achievements, serving as role models in both academic and broader social contexts.[16][17]

Chapters[edit]

Following is a list of Bouchet Society chapters.[1][18]

Chapter Charter date Location Status References
Yale University September 15, 2005 New Haven, Connecticut Active
Howard University September 15, 2005 Washington, D.C. Active
Cornell University 2006 Ithaca, New York Active [19]
Washington University in St. Louis 2007 St. Louis, Missouri Active [20]
University of Michigan 2008 Ann Arbor, Michigan Active [21]
George Washington University 2009 Washington, D.C. Active [18]
University of California, San Diego 2010 San Diego, California Active [22]
University of Wisconsin–Madison 2010 Madison, Wisconsin Active [23]
The Chicago School 2013 Chicago, Illinois Active [24]
Virginia Tech 2015 Blacksburg, Virginia Active [25][26]
Northwestern University 2017 Evanston, Illinois Active [27]
Johns Hopkins University April 2018 Baltimore, Maryland Active [28]
Michigan State University April 5, 2019 East Lansing, Michigan Active [29]
Emory University 2019 Atlanta, Georgia Active [30]
Florida International University 2023 University Park, Florida Active [31]
Rutgers University Active
University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Active
University of Florida Gainesville, Florida Active
University of Miami Coral Gables, Florida Active

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". Yale GSAS. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". Howard University. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  3. ^ "Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Scholars". Cornell University. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  4. ^ "About the Program: BGHS". University of California, Los Angeles. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  5. ^ "Bouchet Honor Society". University of Michigan Rakham Graduate School. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  6. ^ "Bouchet Honor Society". Northwestern, The Graduate School. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  7. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  8. ^ "About the Program: BGHS". University of Wisconsin. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". George Washington University. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  10. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". Virginia Tech University. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  11. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". FIU Graduate School. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  12. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". University of Wisconsin. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  13. ^ "Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". Washington University in St. Louis, Office of the Provost. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  14. ^ "Bouchet Society and Conference". University of Miami. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  15. ^ "The Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (BGHS)". Michigan State University. 6 September 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  16. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". Emory University, Laney Graduate School. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  17. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". TheChicagoSchool. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  18. ^ a b "The Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society | Columbian College of Arts & Sciences | The George Washington University". Columbian College of Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  19. ^ Hrichak, Katya (April 10, 2023). "Ten Inducted into Bouchet Graduate Honor Society : Graduate School". gradschool.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  20. ^ "Three WU Doctoral Candidates Named to Diversity Society" (PDF). St. Louis American. July 25, 2013. p. 4. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  21. ^ "Bouchet Honor Society". Rackham Graduate School: University of Michigan. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  22. ^ "Bouchet Honor Society". grad.ucsd.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  23. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". Graduate School | UW–Madison. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  24. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". The Chicago School. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  25. ^ "Bouchet Graduate Honor Society Scholars". graduateschool.vt.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  26. ^ "Virginia Tech Is the Twelfth University Member of the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  27. ^ "Bouchet Honor Society". The Graduate School Northwestern University. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  28. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society | Office of the Provost". Johns Hopkins University. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  29. ^ "The Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society (BGHS)". grad.msu.edu. 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  30. ^ "Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society". Graduate School | Emory University. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
  31. ^ Fattal, Ayleen Barbel (May 24, 2023). "Meet FIU's first Bouchet Society inductees". FIU News. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
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