Dobro Slovo National Slavic Honor Society

The Indiana University Zeta Zeta Chapter

As the name implies, Dobro Slovo is a national honor society (with local chapters at universities throughout the United States) which recognizes academic achievement in the field of Slavic studies.  Student membership is attained by meeting three criteria: completing at least two years (or equivalent) of study of Slavic languages, literature, culture, or related subjects, achieving a 3.5 GPA in all Slavic course work and an overall GPA of 3.0, and indicating an active and continuing interest in Slavic languages, literature, culture and related fields of Slavic studies.  While you do not have to be majoring in Slavic to become a member, many of our members will be graduate students and undergraduate majors.  We also have faculty and honorary members as well.

History

Dobro Slovo was originally founded as a local Slavic honorary society on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley on October 29, 1926.  In 1963, with the help and encouragement of the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages (AATSEEL), Dobro Slovo became the National Slavic Honor Society. There are now over 100 local chapters.

Dobro Slovo serves as a means for recognition of academic excellence in the study of Slavic languages, literatures, and history.  The Society serves as an incentive for scholarly interest in Slavic life and culture.  The National Slavic Honor Society has been patterned after other existing honorary organizations.  The Key of the Society is as representative of academic excellence in Slavic studies as the Phi Beta Kappa Key is for academic studies as a whole.

The National Level

Each year the local chapters of Dobro Slovo induct new members.  After paying the national initiation dues ($25, which will be covered through donations by Slavic department alumni) and any applicable local chapter dues (currently no annual dues at IU), these members are presented with a certificate, honors card, and a Dobro Slovo key (lapel pin).  Once inducted, one is a member for life, with no further obligations to the national committee; all further contact members have is usually with a local chapter.  In this sense, Dobro Slovo is like many national honor societies whose purpose is to recognize and promote academic achievement.

The Local Level

The Zeta Zeta Chapter was chartered at Indiana University in the 1960's and enjoyed a brief existence.  It lay inactive since the mid-1970's until 2003, when it was decided that it should be revived.  Initiation of new members was held in April 2003 for the first time in over 25 years.  Since then, over 150 new IU student, faculty, and staff members have been inducted.

Questions?

Contact Dr. Jeff Holdeman, Dobro Slovo Faculty Advisor (jeffhold@indiana.edu).