Since the 1980s, high-achieving English majors have had the opportunity to join Phi Upsilon, Ursinus’s chapter of the international English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta.

On campus, Sigma Tau Delta’s goal is twofold: to commend current majors’ hard work and to create a community among those who enjoy English. Every spring semester, highly motivated English majors who meet the induction criteria for the Phi Upsilon chapter are invited to join Sigma Tau Delta. Juniors and seniors qualify if they have achieved an English GPA of 3.5 and an overall GPA of 3.0, as well as having completed at least five Ursinus English courses. New members become part of a celebrated global network of like-minded students and alumni.

Additionally, all members of Sigma Tau Delta are eligible for the society’s scholarships, internships, and conferences, as well as publication in two journals - The Rectangle, for creative writing, and The Review, for academic essays - through the organization. At Ursinus, Sigma Tau Delta members act as ambassadors for the English department, welcoming new English majors and hosting social events for the entire campus. In recent years Sigma Tau Delta has organized poetry slams, read-a-thons, publishing workshops, study breaks, and literary-themed parties. Sigma Tau Delta members have often shared their passion for language and literature by heading other activities at Ursinus such as Lit Soc, The Lantern, and The Grizzly.