Policy of the Board of Directors

Sigma is committed to the development of scholarship and professional excellence for members and chapters globally. To ensure this development, the organization believes in active involvement of members and chapters in an economically equitable and culturally sensitive manner.

Accordingly, individual members who reside and chapters which operate outside the US are assessed annual dues on a sliding scale that is anchored in the World Bank classifications based on per capita income.

This policy applies to any inducted member, who regardless of national origin, resides outside the US; any inducted member whose permanent residence is outside the US but who is temporarily residing in the US; and chapters and their members who are operating outside the US.

This policy will be evaluated biennially by the Sigma Board of Directors as to financial implications for the organization and effectiveness of the guideline implementation process.

Introduction
Sigma is privileged to have nurse scholar and leader members in more than 100 countries and territories outside the United States.

The Sigma’s commitment to being truly international in scope is demonstrated in several initiatives. These include the sponsorship of international research conferences that attract international participants, the establishment of guidelines for the induction of international nurse leaders, publications that reflect the international orientation of Sigma, the development of the Virginia Henderson Global Nursing e-Repository that is both accessible and useful to nurses worldwide, and surveys to identify the needs of members located outside North America.

The Sigma’s interest in chapter and member development outside North America is reflected in the June 1989 "Statement on the Policy Implications of Sigma Theta Tau Becoming International in Scope," which states that the approach to international chapter development should be one of responsiveness. Thus, the establishment of a society chapter by nursing leaders outside North America is a collaborative effort.

Given the emerging prominence of the nursing profession worldwide and the role of Sigma in facilitating the international exchange of nursing knowledge, Sigma continues to increase its interest in the establishment of chapters outside North America. While international chapter development brings richness and diversity to the organization, it also poses challenges.

World Bank Country Categories by Income

LOW*

Afghanistan
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Central African Rep.
Chad
Congo, Dem. 

Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Republic of the
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gambia, The 
Guinea-Bissau

Korea, Dem. Rep
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mozambique

Niger
Rwanda
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Sudan
Sudan

Syrian Arab Republic
Togo
Uganda
Yemen Rep.


MIDDLE*

Albania
Algeria
Angola
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia&
Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Cameroon
China

Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt, Arab Rep.
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eswatini
Fiji
Gabon
Georgia
Ghana
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Haiti

Honduras
India
Indonesia
Iran, Islamic Rep.Iraq
Jamaica
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kosovo
Kyrgyz Republic
Lao PDR
Lebanon
Lesotho
Libya
North Macedonia
Malaysia
Maldives
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mexico
Micronesia, Fed. Sts.

Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Pakistan
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Russian Fed.
Samoa
São Tomé & Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Solomon Islands
South Africa

Sri Lanka
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & the
Grenadines
Suriname
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Tuvalu
Ukraine
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela, RB
Viet Nam
West Bank & Gaza
Zambia
Zimbabwe


HIGH*

American Samoa
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Bermuda
Brunei
Darussalam
Canada
Cayman Islands
Channel Islands
Chile

Croatia*
Curacao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Faeroe Islands
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Germany
Greece
Greenland
Guam
Guyana
Hong Kong, China
Hungary

Iceland
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy*
Japan
Korea, Rep.
Kuwait
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao, China
Malta
Mauritius
Monaco
Naura

Netherlands
Netherlands AntillesNew Caledonia
New Zealand
Northern. Mariana Islands
Norway
Oman
Panama
Poland
Portugal*
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Romania
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Martin/Saint Maarten
San Marino
Saudi Arabia

Seychelles
Singapore
Slovak Rep.
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Trinidad and Tobago
Turks and Caicos
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Virgin Islands (US)
Updated July 2024 based on Country GNI for 2023 per World Bank; effective until July 2025.
* Members in Croatia, Italy, and Portugal are assessed membership dues at the middle income rate.