Please see our guides to enrolling students and paying membership fees, accessing student membership certificates, paying annual renewal fees, and applying for NEHS opportunities using AwardSpring.
General Questions
Does our school already have a chapter?
Currently active chapters are shown in the Chapter Directory. Schools that may have had a chapter in the past should contact the NEHS Central Office via email.
What does the NEHS student membership fee include?
The NEHS student membership fee provides each student with benefits throughout their high school careers, including: academic recognition, scholarships, awards and grants, opportunities to attend virtual and in-person literary events, community service projects, and publication opportunities. The cost also includes an official membership certificate and welcome letter.
How can I order membership pins, merchandise, or graduation regalia?l
Membership pins, graduation regalia (honor cords, medallions, and banners), and other merchandise (T-shirts, crewneck sweaters, and stickers) can all be purchased from our official store by Chapter Advisors. All purchases made from our official store support NEHS programming, awards, grants, and scholarships.
Check out the products in our official store.
What is the role of the Chapter Advisor?
Each chapter is guided by one or more Chapter Advisors chosen by the principal. The Lead Chapter Advisor must be a member of the school’s English faculty, and any exceptions must be approved by the NEHS Director. The Chapter Advisor serves as a crucial liaison among the administration, faculty, students, and the Central Office. All communications are directed to and from the Chapter Advisor, not individual members. The Chapter Advisor also holds responsibility for the
- direct supervision of the chapter;
- safe-keeping and maintenance of membership files and the chapter history;
- handling of financial transactions; and
- updating and filing of chapter bylaws and the annual activities report.
How can I add a new co-Chapter Advisor to my chapter?
Please contact the NEHS Central Office to add in new co-Advisors for your chapter.
What name can I give to my chapter?
Individual chapters have the exciting task of choosing their own names, a creative and fun process guided by the Chapter Advisor. This decision is significant, as the name is permanent and should be kept under forty characters, including spaces. Document the chosen name and its rationale in the chapter history, and use it in mailings, announcements, and ceremonies. Consider clever, English-related names inspired by literary influences, such as authors, characters, or settings, or names that honor features of the English language or beloved teachers.
Review the names chosen by other chapters in our Chapter Directory.
What activities can my chapter participate in?
Chapters hold meetings to plan and direct activities that develop a community interested in English. Participation in these programs is one of the most valuable benefits of NEHS membership. Activities are limited only by members’ imaginations and can include invited speakers; book, movie, or play discussions; field trips to literary sites; producing a chapter literary publication; theme parties; tutoring; and sponsoring writers’ workshops. The possibilities are endless.
Read our Chapter Activities guide to find out more.
What is the Chapter Annual Report?
Each spring, chapters are asked to submit a Chapter Annual Report. This report allows chapters to reflect on the past year’s events and plan for the upcoming year. The Chapter Advisor, along with outgoing and incoming officers, should collaboratively complete the report. It becomes a part of the chapter’s permanent file with the Central Office, and a copy should be kept in the local chapter history. The Lead Chapter Advisor will receive a link each year to complete the Chapter Annual Report/Survey.
Does my chapter need bylaws?
Local chapters must adopt bylaws to establish local direction in accordance with the NEHS Constitution. These bylaws are designed by the chapter to implement the NEHS Constitution and provide a written set of rules. Bylaws define the limits of authority, give a sense of order and purpose, and formalize a chapter’s operations and procedures, including membership selection. Bylaws should be simple, include only essential items, and be reviewed and updated regularly to meet local needs. While not approved by the NEHS Advisory Council, bylaws must be consistent with the NEHS Constitution, the National Advisory Council’s policies, and the local school’s policies.
Learn more about bylaws.
What makes a chapter successful?
Every NEHS chapter begins with a passion for the English language arts. To sustain this enthusiasm, chapters should engage in activities and projects, foster a community of like-minded individuals, develop a unique chapter identity, and promote excellence in English studies. Strong, dynamic chapters understand their place within the broader NEHS community and what makes them unique. Setting annual goals, planning events, activating members, and contributing to the school should align with the NEHS mission and purposes. Goals and activities should reflect the diverse needs, interests, schedules, and talents of members, ensuring everyone feels included and valued. Adapting to members’ talents creates an inclusive and supportive environment for all.
Take a look at our Chapter Activities Guide.
What does the NEHS emblem signify and what does the motto mean?
The NEHS emblem features a royal blue globe encircled by a four-sided, curved gold shield, symbolizing the interconnected areas of literature, writing, language, and media studies. The smooth curves represent the creative blending of literacy forms. Within the circle, an open book and pen highlight the power of words. The royal blue background signifies creativity and inspiration, while the gold stands for excellence and nobility of spirit. A torch at the base symbolizes the light of truth in literature and language arts.
The NEHS motto, “gelast sceal mid are,” meaning “duty goes with honor,” underscores the obligation to use one’s gifts in service to others.
The official colors are royal blue and gold, and the white carnation, symbolizing pure truth, is the society’s flower.
To use our logo, check out our Graphics Guidelines.
What leadership opportunities are available to students?
Chapter officers, elected for their dependability, enthusiasm, and vision, are crucial to a chapter’s success. They should be well-instructed by Chapter Advisors and work closely with them. Officers should lead by involving every member in activities, promoting commitment, and reducing inactivity. Typically serving one-year renewable terms, officers form an executive committee with the Chapter Advisor, directing chapter business, setting dues, updating bylaws, planning meetings, and approving events. Their actions, subject to membership review, should align with school policies, complement the overall school program, and serve the best interests of the school community.
Learn more about student leadership opportunities.
NEHS Connect Questions
What is my username?
If you were provided a username prior to January 2026, it is a series of numbers and your last name. If you joined NEHS during or after January 2026, your username is your registered email address.
If you forget your password, you can set/reset your password here. If you have forgotten your username, please contact the NEHS Central Office.
How can I add a new Chapter Advisor to my chapter?
Please contact the NEHS Central Office to add a new Chapter Advisor to your chapter.
Each chapter is required to have one designated Lead Advisor. A Lead Advisor cannot be changed to inactive status until another Advisor is designated Lead Advisor.
I can’t login to NEHS Connect. What should I do?
For administrative management and security reasons, each Chapter Advisor is issued their own unique username. The Chapter Advisor’s account is associated with the email address we have recorded in the NEHS Connect database.
If you have trouble with your login, check the following:
Check to make sure you typed the username and password exactly as written, reflecting upper and lower case letters. Usernames and passwords are case-sensitive.
If you have forgotten your username name, please contact the NEHS Central Office.
If you have forgotten your password, click “Set/Reset Password” and follow the on-screen instructions. A link to reset your password will be automatically emailed to you.
Please check with your school’s IT department to ensure that emails from NEHS Connect are not being blocked.
Please email nehsconnect@niu.edu if you are still having issues.
Why can’t student members and other school staff receive usernames?
For security reasons, only Chapter Advisors have or will be granted NEHS Connect usernames to access their chapter database. In circumstances when another individual is primarily responsible for the enrollment, contact nehsconnect@niu.edu for advice on how to proceed.
Is NEHS Connect case-sensitive?
Yes. Please carefully input all information. Membership certificates are generated from NEHS Connect. As a result, names are printed as the information is shown in the input fields. If a name has been spelled wrong or characters are not typed in the correct case, resulting in incorrect printed certificates, you will have to request a correction.
You should not submit student names in all capital letters.
Can I sort my current chapter members from those who have graduated or are no longer active in my chapter?
Yes. Login to NEHS Connect and click on the “Members” tab. You will be able to filter student members by name, grade, graduation date, status (active, inactive, or graduated), and email address.
Can a member be transferred to another active chapter?
Yes. Current members who have transferred to another high school may be transferred to their new high school’s active NEHS chapter. Please request this via nehsconnect@niu.edu. Include the member’s full name at induction, their original chapter, school name, and the semester/year of induction.
What is the role of the Lead Advisor in NEHS Connect?
The Lead Advisor is the primary Chapter Advisor contact for NEHS membership enrollment. NEHS membership certificates will be emailed to the Lead Advisor. For the initial launch of the database management system, a Lead Advisor has been identified for schools with more than one Chapter Advisor.
What should I do if I need to change the spelling of a student name?
Chapter Advisors should request a name correction via email.
May a Lead Advisor remove a student from the membership list?
Occasionally, student members make decisions that may result in the need to remove that student from the honor society. The NEHS Constitution provides further details. If a student member must be made “inactive,” the Central Office must be notified in order to make the change within NEHS Connect.
How do I update Chapter Advisors in NEHS Connect?
All updates to Chapter Advisors should be sent via email to the NEHS Central Office.
My bulk upload file is not uploading. What should I do?
Please ensure that you are following all the instructions in our step-by-step guide to enrollment and membership fee payment. Common issues include Chapter Advisors having deleted columns or column headings. The only data that should be deleted from the Bulk Upload template is example student data.
How do I create an invoice for student membership fees or annual renewal fee payments?
Upon completion of the student enrollment process and/or the annual renewal process you will be able to select your payment type (check or credit card). Selecting “check” will generate an invoice you can download and submit to your school’s finance office.
When the Central Office receives your payment, whether by check or credit card, a PDF receipt will be emailed to you.
How do I know if my payment has been received?
You will receive email notification that your payment has been received from NEHS. This notification will include next steps (if required) and a PDF receipt.
Where can I find invoices in NEHS Connect?
NEHS Connect provides access to all invoices on the “School Overview” page. Scroll down to see all “Payments.”
