WELCOME

For all intents and purposes, GTU and the Geography Club are one and the same on the University of Wyoming campus. Anyone can join the Geography Club and students who meet certain eligibility requirements can also become members of GTU. The Geography Club and GTU meet together as a group.

Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) is an academic honor society in the field of geography. There are no secret signs, words, or grips, except that members wear the badge of Gamma Theta Upsilon to indicate their interest in geography and their determination to support and promote the discipline.

The badge below is the Gamma Theta Upsilon key, which signifies the achievement of quality in a field of science. The symbolism of the Society is embodied in this key.

The base of body of the key is a seven-sided shield. Each bevel carries the initial of one of the Earth's continents.  Beginning with Europe at the top, to the right are Asia, Africa, and Australia. On the left side of the key are North America, South America, and Antarctica.

Spread across the key's base are five wavy blue lines signifying the five great bodies of water that have carried voyagers to all the lands of the Earth: the Atlantic, the Indian, the Pacific, the Arctic, and the Antarctic or Great Southern Ocean.

Above the waves is located a white star which is symbolic to Polaris, the great guide to travelers over the vastness of the northern hemisphere oceans.

At the key's top stand the letters Gamma, Theta, and Upsilon. These initials of the three Greek words, Ge (Earth), Thalassa (Sea), and Hypaithrois (Atmosphere), serve as a reminder of the three great environmental domains studied by geographers. The colors of Gamma Theta Upsilon are symbolic of geography's three domains: brown for the Earth, light blue for the sea, and gold for the sunlight or sky.

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ABOUT

The Eta Eta Chapter of Gamma Theta Upsilon was established in 1988 through the initiative of graduate student, Allen Miller, and its first faculty advisor, Dr. Richard Marston. The reason was to establish a local branch of GTU that would serve and benefit Geography students at the University of Wyoming.  The Eta Eta Chapter has been going strong ever since.

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HISTORY

Gamma Theta Upsilon began as a geography club at Illinois State University-Normal, founded by Professor Robert G. Buzzard in the 1920's.  In 1928, Gamma Theta Upsilon was formed as a professional geography fraternity, with this club as its Alpha Chapter.  Within three years, the fraternity had become a national organization, with additional chapters at University of Northern Iowa, Iowa; Sam Houston State Teachers College, Texas; State Teachers College, Pennsylvania; and Southwest Missouri State College, Missouri.  There are now more than 200 chapters and the organization has become an international one.  Region divisions, similar to those used by the Association of American Geographers were established in 1972.

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PURPOSE

Gamma Theta Upsilon recognizes five official purposes:

    1.  To further professional interest in geography by affording a common

         organization for those interested in this field.

    2.  To strengthen student and professional training through academic experiences

         other than those of the classroom and laboratory.

    3.  To advance the status of geography as a cultural and practical discipline for

         study and investigation.

    4.  To encourage student research of high quality and to provide an outlet of

         publication.

    5.  To create and administer funds for furthering graduate study and/or research in

         the field of geography.

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BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

    1.  Membership provides a network where you can become better acquainted with

         other geography students and can meet and talk with geography faculty

         informally.

    2.  Members can improve their expertise in the field of geography by learning things

         not normally dealt with in the classroom.

    3.  Members are eligible to apply for Gamma Theta Upsilon scholarships.

    4.  Membership in an academic honor society is evidence of your dedication and

         competency in your career field.  Some employers give hiring preference to

         honor society members.

    5.  Most chapters sponsor speakers, campus-wide programs, field trips and social

         events and participate in service functions.  Members can participate in

         numerous extra-curricular activities.

    6.  Members receive two free issues of the Geographical Bulletin, after which they

         may choose to renew their subscriptions.