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Grow Your Career with the Phi Kappa Phi Career Center

The Phi Kappa Phi Career Center is a true career planning destination. Research careers, get advice and coaching, apply for your dream job, and connect with employers. The Career Planning Portal can help you grow your career with valuable content, including career resources for every stage of your career journey.

Free Resume Evaluation Request a free resume review when uploading your resume to the Phi Kappa Career Center. Visit Careers.PhiKappaPhi.org to create a Career Center account or log in with your existing credentials, and select the Yes toggle to receive a free evaluation.

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Take the first step in creating your career path to your dream job with the Phi Kappa Phi Career Center. Visit Careers.PhiKappaPhi.org to get started today.

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Debating the Resume Benefits Of Belonging to an Honor Societ

Published: Mar 10, 2009

It's a club that boasts former U.S. presidents, corporate chieftains and cultural icons like John Updike, Francis Ford Coppola and Stephen Sondheim. Chief Justice John Roberts is a member, as is Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. (Former nominee Harriet Miers isn't.) Its very name is shorthand for smarts. Just last week, on TV's "Commander in Chief," a character defended herself by saying, "I was Phi Beta Kappa."

But when 21-year-old Shawn Drenning got his invitation to join the group last spring he tossed it in the trash. "I didn't think it would be useful to me," says Mr. Drenning, who graduated from Cornell University.

Phi Beta Kappa may be America's most famous honor society, but these days it's a club not everyone wants to join. Enrollment rates have plummeted at some schools: Last year when Phi Beta Kappa sent out invitations to qualifying undergraduates nationwide, just three-quarters of them responded; at Colorado State University, two-thirds said no. Many members have no idea what the society actually does or what their initiation fees really pay for. Phi Beta Kappa also is facing competition from soundalike societies with lower requirements, including some on the Internet with names like Phi Sigma Theta. (All you need to get in is a friend's recommendation.)

A group that once prided itself on exclusivity is now embarking on a major marketing campaign. One idea, rejected by the group's governing body: a PBK credit card. Last month, the Washington organization hired a chapter-relations officer, who will travel to most of the 270 campus chapters to publicize Phi Beta Kappa. For a new brochure, the group prepared a roster of illustrious names. (But even big brains sometimes get it wrong. The list included Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and actress Sela Ward -- none of whom are actually members. Ms. Ward recalls getting a similar-sounding honor at the junior-college level. "Isn't it a different honor society?" she asks.)

John Churchill, Phi Beta Kappa's national secretary, says the group needs to boost its visibility. "It should not be necessary for anyone to peer at Phi Beta Kappa and ask, 'Who are they?' " he says.

To anyone who graduated more than 10 years ago, the idea that a student would turn down a Phi Beta Kappa invitation may sound ludicrous. Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, it was originally a sometime-drinking, sometime-debating all-male secret society that over time devoted itself to recognizing students who excelled in liberal arts. Charters at Harvard and Yale were followed by Dartmouth, Bowdoin and Brown. For about 100 years, most members attended small, private colleges. Phi Beta Kappa then opened up to many public universities -- though it remained a calling card to the vestibules of power. Chapters usually admit only students in the top 10% of their class.

A 24-Carat Gold Key

An invitation to Phi Beta Kappa typically means this: You get a letter during junior or senior year, with congratulations and a request to pay an initiation fee (generally $50 to $90). If you don't respond, some chapters send a follow-up letter to your parents. Once you enroll, you get two free issues of the society's quarterly newsletter and the lifelong right to list Phi Beta Kappa on your risumi. Some chapters also throw in a certificate. But you have to pay extra for a "golden key," the symbol of Phi Beta Kappa. The 24-carat gold electroplate version costs $29; a fancier 10-carat gold one is $110. For the real enthusiast, there's an array of other Phi Beta Kappa merchandise, offered through its Web site and newsletters, such as a $39 tie printed with little gold keys, and $195 table lamp with a hand-stenciled gold key on a wooden base personalized with the member's name and college.

Phi Beta Kappa says one reason enrollment rates are down is that the undergraduate population is dramatically different from a generation ago, with more foreign-born students or those whose parents didn't attend college in the U.S. Also, there are more Phi Beta Kappa chapters at state schools, where larger campuses make it harder for professors who are members to track down students to explain to them why they should join. "Many of our students have never heard of [Phi Beta Kappa] until they get the letter," says Martha Ratliff, a professor of linguistics at Wayne State University in Detroit, where only 60% of students invited to join Phi Beta Kappa last year said yes.

Meanwhile, there's increasing competition from other honor societies -- ones that students can use to buff their resumes with a lot less work. Gamma Beta Phi, for example, typically invites students to join as soon as they earn 12 credit hours and rank in the top 20% of their class. Membership in Gamma Beta Phi, which also admits students from two-year colleges, has swollen in size to 100,000 from 10,000 in 1984. Another group, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, founded in 1994, which also has looser academic requirements than Phi Beta Kappa, has 218 chapters, up from nine in 1998.

There's also a slew of more dubious honor societies that students can join on the Internet. Phi Sigma Theta's Web site gives no street address or phone number -- just an email address; it lists "universities with participating members," but several of those universities have no record of the group's registering on campus. (The group didn't respond to emails requesting comment.) The National Scholars Honor Society allows students to sign themselves up online and send in a $75 fee -- as long as they agree to the group's "honor code."

"Students are bombarded by honor societies," says Mary Joe Hughes, secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa chapter at Boston College. "They don't know how to distinguish Phi Beta Kappa." Brian A. Carlisle, associate dean of students at the University of California, Los Angeles, says the problem for more exclusive honor societies like Phi Beta Kappa is that students end up listing so many honor societies on their risumis that employers stop looking at them. In 1999, the New York Times stopped allowing couples to mention Phi Beta Kappa in their wedding announcements because people started asking to list other honor societies.

Ignoring the Invitations

Yaniv Larish, a senior at the State University of New York at Binghamton, says he has been approached by six honor societies since he was a freshman. When the invitation arrived from Phi Beta Kappa this summer, he ignored it along with the others and says he didn't think the $55 fee was worth it. "I think it's a big waste of money," he says, adding that his 3.85 grade-point average speaks for itself and wouldn't be bolstered by membership in any club. "When I apply for jobs or medical school they won't look at that," he says.

Phi Beta Kappa itself is reaching out to a wider variety of colleges, and some members say this expansion has weakened its credibility as a brand of excellence. Every three years, the organization authorizes six to 10 more colleges and universities to start chapters and invite students. Among the latest: Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Fla., whose motto is "The Right Climate for Learning" (average SAT score of entering students: 1135) and the State University of New York at Geneseo (average SAT 1282.).

Phi Beta Kappa says that only schools with strong liberal arts and science programs are allowed to establish chapters. "The reality is that the top people at Harvard and the top people at the state schools are just as good," says Scott Lurding, Phi Beta Kappa's associate secretary. "It's not like the floodgates have opened."

Indeed, many recruiters say that the words "Phi Beta Kappa" on a risumi immediately signal that an applicant is smart -- or at least works hard. "It has tremendous cachet," says Jack Mohan, president of Management Recruiters The Boston Group, an executive-search firm.

Phi Beta Kappa, which is largely run by professors who must themselves be members of Phi Beta Kappa, says its mission goes beyond risumi enhancement. The nonprofit group helps pay for distinguished scholars to speak on campuses, gives out book awards, and publishes the quarterly American Scholar magazine. In addition, there are now more than 50 regional Phi Beta Kappa associations -- groups of alumni who hold meetings and sponsor scholarships and awards. Phi Beta Kappa also offers opportunities for social and professional hobnobbing, such as an upcoming swing-dancing event and a sushi happy hour in Washington, where the local association has a division for younger members called "PBK Young Professionals."

But the organization has recognized for years that it has a problem: How to market itself without tarnishing its image of exclusivity. Some leaders wanted to accept a multimillion-dollar offer from a bank to issue a Phi Beta Kappa credit card. A battle ensued, with one contingent arguing that a credit card wouldn't be appropriate because it would entail making money off other people's debt. "It just made me queasy," explains Kathy French, president of Phi Beta Kappa at the University of California, San Diego. In the end, the proposal was scrapped.

Indeed, the group has gone to great lengths to protect its image over the years. In 1988 it sued Compaq Computer Corp. in federal court to stop it from using the slogan "Phi Beta Compaq." There was some concern when St. Vincent & the Grenadines issued a stamp with Mickey Mouse wearing the Phi Beta Kappa key -- and mild amusement when a 1979 copy of Playboy featuring a Phi Beta Kappa cover girl turned up in the society's basement. The group recently denied permission to use its name on a gravestone, but said it was all right to use a translation of the Greek motto that its initials stand for: "Love of wisdom, the guide of life."

New Headquarters

To help pay for operations, Phi Beta Kappa's national office has raised membership fees twice in the past three years, to $50. (Some campus chapters tack on an additional fee.) Its annual budget is $4.7 million, with about half coming from alumni donations, and the rest from merchandise royalties, investment income and fees. It recently moved into new headquarters, a $4 million brownstone with a giant golden key out front.

In an effort to boost enrollment, professors at local chapters have started emailing and calling students several times after initial invitations are sent to convince them of the society's merits. Some even offer to pay the enrollment fee for students who say it's a deterrent. At Boston College, Phi Beta Kappa faculty members send letters to students' parents in hopes they'll exert influence.

Phi Beta Kappa also is dispatching alumni to high schools to spread the word. That's what worked for Dena Pichette, who heard about the society before she entered Wayne State. When she graduated last spring, she immediately accepted Phi Beta Kappa's invitation and says she'd have been willing to pay up to $200 for the honor. Though she has no evidence, she believes the society helped her get into the University of Pennsylvania's chemistry doctorate program this fall. Ms. Pichette also looks at Phi Beta Kappa as a way to make connections in the future with other Phi Beta Kappa members.

One member, actress Glenn Close, says the benefits of Phi Beta Kappa are long-lasting. "Now, when I feel stupid, it actually reminds me that I'm not," she says.

In its new brochure Phi Beta Kappa will send to every student invited to join there's a list of famous members of the honor society. We decided to call some on -- and off -- the list and ask them what it meant to be Phi Beta Kappa... and if they knew where their keys were. Here's what we found:

Name/Job: Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Supreme Court Justice School/Year Admitted: Cornell University/1953 Read Newsletter: Don't recall last time I read it Key Location: N/A Certificate Location: Don't know Comments: The justice says her closest connection with the honor society came in 1973-74 when she lectured at colleges as part of Phi Beta Kappa's annual "visiting scholar" program. "The exchanges with students," says Ms. Ginsberg, "were engaging for me and, I hope, stimulating for the students."

Name/Job: Glenn Close, Actress School/Year Admitted: The College of William & Mary/1974 Read Newsletter: No Key Location: Don't know Certificate Location: In a box in a storage unit Comments: Ms. Close doesn't get the Phi Beta Kappa newsletter, can't remember if she ever did, and -- "oh, dear," she says -- doesn't know where her key is. And the certificate? "The good news is that it is framed, the bad news is that it is in a box in a storage unit." But the award "validated a lot of hard work," the actress says.

Name/Job: Elizabeth Dole, Republican senator from North Carolina School/Year Admitted: Duke University/1957 Read Newsletter: Unfortunately no Key Location: On a bracelet I gave to my mother Certificate Location: Don't know Comments: Mrs. Dole was invited to join her junior year, something only about 10% of members can boast. She says the society's "focus on continuous learning" has helped her to relish the challenges of public-sector roles, from an assistant to President Nixon to Secretary of Labor under President George H.W. Bush.

Name/Job: Vicki Iovine, Playboy cover girl; author ("The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy") School/Year Admitted: University of California Berkeley/ 1976 Read Newsletter: Never in my life Key Location: Lost it Certificate Location: Don't know Comments: Ms. Iovine wore her key pin on her pink bathing suit when she entered Playboy's 25th Anniversary Playmate Hunt in 1978, sent by the LA Herald Examiner to infiltrate Playboy. Then Vicki McCarty, she was named Miss September 1979 and pictured with her key prominently displayed. She lost her own key, but her brother left her his when he died of AIDS. "That one I will never lose," she says.

Name/Job: Peyton Manning, Quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts School/Year Admitted: University of Tennessee/ 1997 Read Newsletter: Every issue Key Location: In a box on my desk Certificate Location: Framed in my office Comments: Mr. Manning has many football awards, but his Phi Beta Kappa certificate and key are prominently displayed in his office. "It's a special recognition," he says. Tennessee geography professor Thomas L. Bell, who runs the Phi Beta Kappa office on campus, recalls the induction ceremony as "very exciting" -- because Mr. Manning's dad, football star Archie Manning, showed up.

Name/Job: Michael Milken, Financier turned philanthropist School/Year Admitted: University of California Berkeley/ 1968 Read Newsletter: Yes Key Location: At home Certificate Location: At home Comments: Mr. Milken says his Phi Beta Kappa newsletter competes with a stack of medical journals he scans every month, but he usually gets around to reading it. His oldest son made Phi Beta Kappa in 1995. "I hope it will be a continuing family tradition," he says.

Name/Job: Pat Robertson, Televangelist School/Year Admitted: Washington & Lee University/1949 Read Newsletter: No Key Location: In a box with some gold coins in my desk Certificate Location: I have no idea Comments: Mr. Robertson's Phi Beta Kappa credentials come up often, he says, especially when he's being introduced as a speaker. "It's one of those things that are tagged to my risumi," he says. He guards his key in a safe spot, but throws the newsletter away. "Maybe if there was something relevant I'd read it," he says.

Name/Job: John Paul Stevens, Supreme Court Justice School/Year Admitted: University of Chicago/ 1941 Read Newsletter: Yes Key Location: N/A Certificate Location: Don't know Comments: Nominated by President Ford to the Supreme Court, Justice Stevens has served for 30 years and at 85 is currently the oldest justice. Asked what Phi Beta Kappa means to him, Justice Stevens replied: "High honor."

Name/Job: John Updike, Writer School/Year Admitted: Harvard/1953 Read Newsletter: Read the last issue Key Location: With my jewels Certificate Location: Don't know Comments: Mr. Updike entered Harvard as a would-be cartoonist, he says, but soon shifted his sights to being a writer "who wore tweed coats and lived in Connecticut and somehow made a living." He made Phi Beta Kappa his junior year (something he says only eight others achieved) and views the honor as meaning "academic distinction." The biographies on his books don't mention the honor.

Name/Job: Francis T. (Fay) Vincent Jr., Director of Time Warner; Former Major League Baseball Commissioner School/Year Admitted: Williams College/1960 Read Newsletter: No Key Location: On a bracelet Certificate Location: Don't know Comments: The Yale Law School grad was president of Columbia Pictures before becoming baseball commissioner in 1989. He says he's "very proud" of his Phi Beta Kappa achievement, "especially as I had to do four years work in three because of a serious injury my freshman year." His key is on a bracelet his mother made, with small footballs and baseballs awarded to his athlete father at Yale.

How to List Honors on a Resume

How to List Honors on a Resume | Resume.comresumeshow-to-list-honors-on-resume

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Should you list honors on your resume?

How to list honors on your resume, where to list honors on your resume.

• Example of resume with honors

In a competitive job market, use all of your experience, accomplishments, and academic honors to help your resume stand out among the other applications. By learning how to showcase your academic honors on your resume properly, you can better show your work ethic and qualifications to possible employers. To find out more about when you should list honors on your resume, as well as how and where to effectively include academic honors when creating your resume, keep reading.

Listing your honors on your resume can help you stand out from other applicants with similar qualifications. Tailor your resume to fit your honors and accomplishments and highlight their relevance to the position and industry. Understanding when and how to add honors can help you create a more competitive resume that stands out to hiring managers.

Here are some examples of times when it is especially beneficial to incorporate academic honors into your resume:

• You’re an entry-level candidate.   If you don’t have a lot of work experience, it’s a good idea to find different ways of showing the qualities that make you an ideal candidate for the position. One of the best ways to do this is to highlight your academic accomplishments to show employers that you can work hard and are committed to excellence.
• The job you are applying for requires a strong academic background.  Some occupations have strict educational prerequisites, which means that you need to emphasize your academic accomplishments. Additionally, many prestigious organizations require your honors. Read the employer’s requirements carefully to see if you need to include your GPA or any specific honors on your resume.
• There is room on your resume.  Your accomplishments, awards, and honors are usually an asset to your resume, but only include them if you have space. Place importance on some of the essential information that employers want to see, such as professional experience. As long as you can keep your resume to one page, it’s helpful to add your honors.

If you have strong academic honors and space, add a select few to help you stand out.

Follow these steps to list honors on your resume correctly and effectively:

• First, be selective about the awards and achievements.  A reasonable number of honors to list is three to five and can include graduation honors, academic honor societies, and awards. Remember to prioritize your best accomplishments because including too many achievements on your resume could distract from your other qualifications.
• Second, format your Latin honors properly.  Graduating with Latin honors is a significant achievement that you should list on your resume. Because they are Latin, you need to write these honors in all lowercase letters and italicize them. For example, magna cum laude .
• Next, provide a brief explanation.  Provide information about what each award means and what is required. This is especially helpful if a distinction or award is uncommon. If you earned an easily recognizable award, such as making the dean’s list, you likely don’t need to explain.
• Then, list the year or years you earned it.  If you earned the honor during a specific period, list the years. For example, if you were part of an honors society for two years, your resume entry could look like, ‘Honors Society, 2016–2018.’ Showing how many years the honor lasted can make it seem more impressive.
• Finally, leave GPA off of your resume.  Unless specifically required by an employer, mentioning your undergraduate GPA on a resume is usually unnecessary. If you decide to mention your GPA, place it in parentheses next to your honors, as cum laude  (GPA 3.8).

Regardless of how much professional experience you have, academic achievements are a great way to communicate your employability to hiring managers. Following these steps will guide you through successfully listing your honors on a resume to showcase your dedication.

When deciding where to place your academic honors on a resume, you have several options, including:

• Create a separate Awards and Achievements section. If you’d like to display several academic achievements on your resume, add a separate section to ensure the hiring manager sees them. You can usually place this section directly below or beside a professional experience section.
• List honors in your education section.  Another option is to create bullet points below each degree in your education section, which provides employers with a brief list of notable dates and achievements. This is most effective if you only have a few listings.
• Use subsections below each degree.  It helps to organize your academic achievements and activities into subsections in your education section beneath each degree. You can relate these aspects of your educational background with one another and create a narrative of your college experience. Using this method, you would make a subsection for your honors and activities and list your most relevant and notable accomplishments.

Wherever and however you decide to list your honors on a resume, make sure that the placement is logical and well-organized. This helps employers learn about your qualifications and work ethic.

Examples of resumes with honors

Read the following examples of resumes with honors listed.

Separate awards section

Here’s an example of honors being listed in a section specifically dedicated to your accomplishments.

Honors and Awards

• Graduated summa cum laude , Hampshire University, 2016
• Recipient, AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship Award, 2015
• Member of Phi Theta Kappa, International Honor Society, 2015–Present
• Active member of Phi Alpha Delta, International Law Fraternity, 2014–Present
• Dean’s list, Hampshire University, 2014–2016

Honors in the education section

Here’s an example of how to list honors in a bulleted list below a degree.

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism | Northwestern University | 2012–2016

• Graduated magna cum laude
• Dean’s list, all semesters
• Member of Spanish Honors Society, 2013–2016

Awards and activities subsections

If you decide to create subsections below each degree, here’s an example that can guide you.

New York University | Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing | May 2018

• Graduated cum laude 
• Member of Creative Writing Honors Program
• Member of the National Latin Honor Society, 2015–2018

Activities:

• Editor of Dovetail , the literary and arts journal
• Captain of the women’s soccer team, 2017–2018
• Vice president of the student body, 2017–2018

If you need help writing a resume, use our data-backed resume builder .

Honor Society Museum

Phi Kappa Phi is a prestigious honor society that recognizes academic excellence in all fields of study. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi has grown to become the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The society’s mission is to promote academic excellence in higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others.

To become a member of Phi Kappa Phi, students must meet certain academic requirements. Undergraduates must be in the top 10% of their class, while graduate students must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Faculty, staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction may also be invited to join.

Phi Kappa Phi has a rich history of promoting academic excellence and service to others. The society has awarded more than $15 million in scholarships and grants to outstanding students and scholars. In addition, Phi Kappa Phi has sponsored numerous service projects, including literacy programs, food drives, and environmental initiatives.

However, like many organizations with a long history, Phi Kappa Phi has also perpetuated social injustice and systemic bias. For much of its history, the society was exclusively for white, male students. It wasn’t until the 1970s that women and people of color were allowed to join. Even then, the society’s membership remained overwhelmingly white and male.

In recent years, Phi Kappa Phi has taken steps to address these issues. The society has launched initiatives to increase diversity and inclusion, including scholarships for underrepresented groups and partnerships with historically black colleges and universities. Phi Kappa Phi has also established a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee to ensure that the society’s policies and practices are inclusive and equitable.

Timeline of Major Events:

1897: Phi Kappa Phi is founded at the University of Maine.

1922: The society begins awarding fellowships to outstanding graduate students.

1972: Women are allowed to join Phi Kappa Phi.

1974: The society begins awarding scholarships to undergraduate students.

1983: Phi Kappa Phi establishes a national office in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

1999: The society launches its first online community for members.

2017: Phi Kappa Phi celebrates its 120th anniversary.

In conclusion, Phi Kappa Phi is a prestigious honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes service to others. While the society has a rich history of promoting scholarship and service, it has also perpetuated social injustice and systemic bias. However, Phi Kappa Phi has taken steps to address these issues and promote diversity and inclusion. As the society moves forward, it will continue to strive for excellence and equity in all aspects of its work.

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The Power of Phi Beta Kappa in the Job Space

By Kaylee White

Many Phi Beta Kappa members include their membership status in their resumes or CVs, but what does this mean to employers? How can Phi Beta Kappa membership help recent graduates as they enter the job field, and how can they get the most out of their Phi Beta Kappa membership?

Alexandra Anderson, senior associate director of the Center for Career and Professional Development at Southwestern University, might be able to shed some light on these questions.

Anderson began her Phi Beta Kappa journey through her induction at the University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with a BA in Spanish and linguistics. Continuing her education at UT Austin, she later earned an MA in Spanish linguistics and an MEd in Higher Education Administration before finding her way to Southwestern University. Anderson has been working in the nationally recognized Center for Career and Professional Development at Southwestern since 2000, advising and preparing students for their careers beyond Southwestern. Not long after her arrival at Southwestern, she became involved as the secretary of the Theta of Texas chapter on campus. 

When considering job applicants, it is not unusual for companies to call the national headquarters of the Society to confirm Phi Beta Kappa membership. 

“For employers who know what Phi Beta Kappa is, it is that mark of distinction that a person is bright and probably worked quite hard,” explains Anderson. “I do think it does carry significance.”

So if being a part of Phi Beta Kappa is important to some employers, how should you highlight membership in a job application? Anderson recommends lifting it up on your resume by putting it near the top of the Honors/Achievements section. She also advises her students to put their membership in context for those who are not as familiar with Phi Beta Kappa. For example, adding a qualifier to “Phi Beta Kappa” like “Most Prestigious National Liberal Arts and Sciences Honor Society” may help highlight the significance of such a distinction. For those pursuing higher education before entering into a career, Phi Beta Kappa membership becomes even more relevant to include in your CV, as it directly reflects excellence in scholarship in your undergraduate studies.

Another advantage of Phi Beta Kappa membership is access to networking opportunities.

“We always talk about with job-seekers that your most powerful job search strategy is through your network of referral possibilities,” says Anderson. “Being a part of this large Phi Beta Kappa network, not only on our campus but at the national level, is just a huge boon to a job-seeker, and one we would definitely recommend.”

Some ways Anderson recommends tapping into this network are being active in campus chapters for graduate students, or through local alumni associations and websites like LinkedIn for job-seekers. While it doesn’t have to be Phi Beta Kappa, a point of connection with a potential employer, mentor, recommender, etc., is key to building a network of support within your field.

“You have to have someone who is willing to give you a break, someone who is willing to trust in your potential instead of your proven track record when you’re new to a profession,” advises Anderson. “And that’s where that shared affinity, which can be around Phi Beta Kappa, is so powerful.”

Kaylee White is a recent graduate of Southwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa there in May 2022. Southwestern is home to the Theta of Texas chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Kaylee is currently working on a Master of Science in psychology at the University of Texas San Antonio.

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Phi Kappa Phi FAQs

How long has phi kappa phi been at penn state university, why join phi kappa phi, who is the president of the penn state chapter of phi kappa phi, where and when is the initiation ceremony, do i have to attend the initiation ceremony to be inducted into phi kappa phi, how will i get my certificate and pin if i do not attend the initiation ceremony, what is acceptable dress for the phi kappa phi initiation ceremony, i read in my nomination letter that only juniors and seniors can be nominated but i am a sophomore. how was i nominated, i lost my nomination letter. where can i get a copy so that i know how to accept my nomination, i enrolled online and there is a problem with how much my credit card was charged and/or my information. who do i contact to correct this, how will i know that i have completed the online enrolled for phi kappa phi, i received a nomination letter, however, i am already a member of phi kappa phi. does this mean that i am no longer a member, i am traveling abroad this semester. can i accept this nomination, is it possible to maintain an active membership while studying abroad, do i need to wait to go through the initiation ceremony before applying for fellowships and awards, how successful are penn state students at receiving fellowships and awards through phi kappa phi.

• Can a student from a campus other than University Park could join and what would their involvement be? Are there meetings that we would need to attend? How does the process work for someone on a separate campus?

Is it possible to belong to more than one honor society?

What are chapter dues, once i pay my initiation fee do i have to pay any additional annual fees for membership in phi kappa phi, after i am initiated how long before i have to pay national and chapter dues, what obligations are there once you become a member of phi kappa phi.

• The national website, Phikappaphi.org, says the 'initiate' fees are $45 dollars and my 'congratulations' letter says that I am required to pay $75 plus $12 dollars per quest. Can you reconcile this information for me?

Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest all discipline honor society at Penn State established in 1900. In 1900, the presidents of the University of Maine, the Pennsylvania State College (now the Pennsylvania State University), and the University of Tennessee pledged their support; and the society thus became national, with three chapters. It was renamed Phi Kappa Phi from the initial letters of the three classical greek words forming its adopted motto: philosophia krateito photon, 'let the love of learning rule humanity.' currently there are over 300 chapters of Phi Kappa Phi scattered from Maine to Hawaii and the Philippines, and from Alaska to Puerto Rico.

• Standards for election are extremely high. Membership is by invitation only to the top 7.5 percent of second-semester juniors and the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students. Because Phi Kappa Phi is highly selective, membership is a stamp of excellence that is recognized by graduate and professional school admissions committees and employers alike.
• Phi Kappa Phi members are eligible to apply for numerous Scholarships and Awards , valued at more than $700,000 annually. The Society's extensive award programs provide everything from $15,000 Fellowships for graduate school to $500 Love of Learning grants for continuing education and professional development.
• Phi Kappa Phi corporate partners provide discounts to members. By partnering with companies such as Apple, Dell, T-Mobile and Liberty Mutual, Phi Kappa Phi is able to offer valuable discounts and services to its members, often at negotiated savings.

Click on the link below and see more reasons to join! http://www.phikappaphi.org/web/About/Why_Join_Phi_Kappa_Phi.html

Dr. Sharon Miller is the current Chapter President. She is a graduate faculty in the Department of Energy and Mining Engineering in the College of Earth and Mineral Science at University Park, research faculty and Director of the Office of Student Development at The EMS Energy Institute. She has been President since 2006.

Details about the Initiation Ceremony (location, directions, etc.) can be found at /initiation.html

No. You are considered a member once you enroll online.

Your certificate and pin will be sent to your permanent address after the initiation ceremony.

Dress should be in keeping with the honor of the ceremony.  Acceptable men's wear would be: shirt and tie, with or without a suit or sport jacket or a suit.  Acceptable women's wear would be a suit (pants or skirt), dress pants or a skirt and a nice top or jacket or a semi-formal dress. Unacceptable dress would include jeans, sandals, sneakers, miniskirts, or bare midriffs.

Your class status is based on the number of credit hours. If are a sophomore in your major but came to Penn State with significant AP credits from high school or transfer credits from another institution then you may be eligible for nomination based on the number of credits you have.

A copy of a "generic" nomination letter can be requested from [email protected] . It contains information on how to enroll online, deadlines and initiation information.

Any problems/questions with online registration should be directed to Kam Lubben at [email protected] (800-804-9880 ext 220). In your email indicate that you are enrolling to the Penn State Chapter (#3). It is their policy to get in contact with you within 24 hours.

Each student receives a confirmation email when they enroll online. It is automatically generated. If you believe that there is an error then contact Kam Lubben( [email protected] )or call 800-804-9880 ext. 220.

No. We cross check the list of students that are nominated each year with those who have been initiated and sometimes we miss someone. You can confirm that you are still a member by going to the national website at www.phikappaphi.org and logging in with you membership ID under "Members Only". If you cannot remember your ID then contact the national headquarters.

Yes. You do not need to attend the ceremony to enroll.

There is no problem maintaining membership in Phi Kappa Phi while studying abroad. Phi Kappa Phi makes you eligible for scholarships, academic services as well as corporate discounts.

No. You are considered an "active" member of Phi Kappa Phi once you enroll online.

Every Penn State student who has been nominated by the Chapter for a National Fellowship has won!!!

Can a student from a campus other than University Park join and what would their involvement be?

All Penn State students are eligible for nomination to Phi Kappa Phi. We plan to have student involvement in academic outreach programs and programs at University Park and to establish student groups at the branch campuses. However at this time we do not have student groups at the branch campuses, as we need faculty to act as advisors. Meetings at University Park are not mandatory. Students interested in getting involved should contact our student vice president.

There is no problem being a member of more than one honor society.

The initiation fee is $90 (This includes national and chapter dues for the first year, initiation materials and lunch for the initiated student). Once you join the annual chapter dues are $5.00 and national dues are $35 per year. For your initiation fee, you will receive a certificate of initiation, a Phi Kappa Phi pin, national and local dues for one year, a one-year subscription to the Phi Kappa Phi quarterly National Forum , an outstanding periodical featuring timely and scholarly articles on topics of interdisciplinary interest, and the bimonthly Newsletter. You also are eligible to apply for awards and scholarships valued at more than $700,000 per year, career assistance and corporate discounts.

Once you join Phi Kappa Phi you are a member for life; we never delete your membership record. To maintain an"'active" membership there is an annual dues fee. You choose to be an active member by paying dues and receiving benefits OR you can remain inactive. The annual National membership renewal fee is $35 and is required to be considered an active member and receive the full benefits of membership for one year. In lieu of making annual dues payments, members may opt to make a one-time Active-for-Life payment ($320), which ensures that they receive the benefits of active membership for a lifetime. Penn State Chapter annual dues are $5.00.

You are a member for life once you enroll in Phi Kappa Phi. You are considered an "active" member for 1 year after you enroll in Phi Kappa Phi. After that time you need to pay annual National and Chapter dues to be "active". You can pay dues online. If you do not pay dues you are considered an "inactive" member.

There are no "obligations" once you join Phi Kappa Phi although there are opportunities to help in building the Penn State Chapter and participating in programs at the National level. Members are encouraged to participate in events here at PSU. Membership in Phi Kappa Phi brings many opportunities in the form of fellowships, resume building services, and job services. There are also corporate discounts that you receive as a member. Membership is also recognition of your academic achievement and can be noted as such on your resume.

The national website, Phikappaphi.org, says the 'initiate' fees are $50 dollars and my 'congratulations' letter says that I am required to pay $90 plus $12 dollars per guest. Can you reconcile this information for me?

The initiation fee is $90 which covers the national organization first year dus fee of $30, national organization initiation fee of $20, and the chapter initiation fee of $40 and includes lunch for the initiate. Your initiation fee also covers your first year of National and Chapter annual dues. The $12 per guest fee covers a lunch buffet for the guest.

Let the love of learning rule humanity.

• Chapter Bylaws
• National Information

Join Our Team!

Don’t just go to work — make a difference. Phi Theta Kappa membership impacts hundreds of thousands of college students across the country and world each year. Supporting these hard-working students is inspiring, challenging, rewarding, and life-changing. 

We are always looking for talented individuals to join our team. Please check back often, as our job openings change quickly.

Job Openings

Employee benefits, medical coverage – bcbsms.

• $5,000 Calendar Year Deductible
• Maximum Out of Pocket $7,350
• Up to $4,850 reimbursed after employee pays $2,500
• $50 Physician Co-pay
• Network Provider 80% – 20% coverage
• 100% Annual Healthy You Checkup
• Unlimited lifetime maximum benefits

 Prescription Drug Coverage

• $100 calendar year deductible
• $15 Co-pay – Category 1
• $35 Co-pay – Category 2
• $75 Co-pay – Category 3
• $100 Co-pay – Category 4

Dental Coverage – Principal Financial Group

• $50 calendar year deductible
• Type I 100%
• Type II 80%
• Type III 50%
• $1,000 Maximum Per Calendar Year

Life Insurance – Cigna

Long term disability – cigna.

• 60% Replacement/Month to Max of $7,500/90 Day Elimination Period

Short Term Disability – Cigna

• 60% Replacement/Week to Max of $1,500/14 Day Elimination Period
• 100% of employee premium paid by Phi Theta Kappa
• Employees are eligible for benefits on date of hire

Vision Coverage – United HealthCare

• Specialty Benefits
• $10 exam co-pay
• $10 materials co-pay
• Exam every 12 months, Lenses every 12 months, Frames every 24 months

(Voluntary; premium is paid by employee)

AFLAC – Section 125 Plan

• Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Day Care

(Voluntary)

401k Retirement Savings Plan

• Contributions are tax deferred
• 100% employer match up to 5% of salary
• Fully vested at time of enrollment

Student Loan Repayment Program

• New Year’s Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Spring Break – One Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth Day
• Independence Day
• Fall Break – Three Days
• Winter Break – Nine Days

Annual Leave/Sick Leave

• Annual Leave -11.25 hours per month accrued (225 max)
• Sick Leave – 7.5 hours per month accrued (495 max)

Healthy Workplace Benefits

• Time off for Healthy You! Exam – up to three hours per year (requires supervisor notification).
• Up to $100 per year reimbursement for athletic equipment
• Time off to participate in wellness activities – employees can take up to 30 minutes, three times a week, to exercise by arriving at work later or leaving earlier than usual. Employees should continue to work 7.5 hours per day but shorten lunch periods to allow time to work out (requires supervisor notification and approval).

Employee Assistance Program – Cigna

Life Assistance Program services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with confidential support, guidance, and resources.

LifeLock® Identity Theft Protection

• Computer Technician

• Join Honors
• Honors Courses

Phi Kappa Phi

News: our chapter 325 has been named a silver circle of excellence chapter for 2022-2023..

Phi Kappa Phi is more than a line on a résumé. The nation’s oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society initiates more than 30,000 members a year on 300 campuses in the United States and the Philippines.

More than 1.25 million members have joined its ranks since Phi Kappa Phi’s founding in 1897 at the University of Maine. It is a global network of the best and brightest, a community of scholars and professionals building an enduring legacy for all generations.

Texas State University was awarded Chapter 325 by the Phi Kappa Phi Governing Board in Spring of 2013.  The chapter was installed on October 30, 2013 at 3:30 PM in the Wittliff Collections. The inaugural class of student members was initiated into the society on April 3, 2014.

Please see our national website for information on upcoming dates and facts about Phi Kappa Phi. To contact our chapter directly, please send us an email .

Texas State PKP Chapter Awarded 4 of 15 National Dissertation Fellowships ($10,000) in 2023!

Petra Banks is a Ph. D. candidate in Applied Anthropology at Texas State University. Her research explores skeletal trauma patterns and fracture behavior from known and experimental blast events.

Justin Goldstein is a Ph. D. candidate in Applied Anthropology at Texas State University. His research focuses on developing new identification processes for long-term unidentified individuals, particularly through novel cortical bone histology methods.

Sojung Huh is a Ph. D. candidate in Geographic Education at Texas State University. Her research explores the profession of geography teachers' knowledge, skill and wisdom to effectively teach sustainable development in the US geography curriculum.

Emilie Wiedenmeyer is a Ph. D. candidate in Applied Anthropology at Texas State University. Her research focuses on how musculoskeletal markers in the human skeleton react and adapt to lived experiences and can be interpreted, after death, as distinct biological signatures for forensic identification purposes.

Chapter 325 Member Awarded a 2023 Graduate Research Grant ($1500)

Elisabeth Cuerrier-Richer, a Ph. D. student in Applied Anthropology at Texas State University, will use funds from the award to support her dissertation research in Latin America where she will study Hispanic cranial variation.

Award Opportunities

Pioneer awards.

50 awards at $1,000 each. Designed to encourage and reward undergraduate members for developing the research, engagement and leadership skills necessary to become a successful scholar. DEADLINE TO APPLY : JUNE 1, 2024

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi currently awards 54 Fellowships of $8,500 each, six at $20,000 each, and two at $35,000 each to members entering the first year of graduate or professional study. Each active Phi Kappa Phi chapter may select one candidate from among its local applicants to compete for the Society-wide awards.  

Dec. 15, 2023:   Application portal opens , Late March/Early April 2024: Applicants must apply through their local chapter. Chapter deadlines vary, typically two weeks prior to the national deadline. Check with your chapter : April 15, 2024, National deadline: Summer 2024: Recipients will be notified.

DISSERTATION FELLOWSHIPS

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi annually awards fifteen Dissertation Fellowships of $10,000 each to active members who are doctoral candidates and are completing dissertations. At the 2022 Biennial Convention, Phi Kappa Phi designated one of the fellowships as The Missy Hopper Dissertation Fellowship to honor Dr. Hopper’s many years of exceptional volunteer leadership. Dissertation Fellowships support students in the dissertation writing stage of doctoral study. Awards are for 12 months of dissertation writing. All pre-dissertation requirements should be met by the application deadline, including approval of the dissertation proposal.

Oct. 1, 2024:   Application portal opens .   Nov. 30, 2024:  Application deadline.   March 1, 2025: Recipients will be notified

LOVE OF LEARNING AWARDS

Love of Learning Awards help fund post-baccalaureate professional development for active Phi Kappa Phi members to include (but not be limited to): Graduate or professional studies, doctoral dissertations, continuing education, career development, travel related to teaching/research/learning, etc. Two hundred awards, at $1,000 each, are distributed each year. DEADLINE TO APPLY : JUNE 30, 2024

STUDY ABROAD GRANTS

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. One hundred twenty-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year.

Dec. 15, 2023: Application portal opens March 15, 2024: Application deadline May 1, 2024: Recipients will be notified May 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025: Study Abroad program must begin during this time

GRADUATE RESEARCH GRANT

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi annually awards 20 grants of up to $1,500 to active members attending graduate school. These grants provide funding for research in support of career development opportunities.

Oct. 1, 2023:   Application portal opens. Nov. 30, 2023:  Application deadline.   Feb. 15, 2024:  Recipients will be notified

2023-2024 Officers

President - Dr. Kambra K. Bolch, Associate Dean, University College

President Elect - Dr. Marian Houser, Faculty, Communication Studies

Secretary - Dr. Louie Dean Valencia, Faculty, History

Treasurer - Dr. Lucy Harney, Chair, World Languages and Literatures

Graduate Education Officer -  Dr. Andrea Golato, Dean, Graduate College

Initiation Officer - Dr. Heather C. Galloway, Dean, Honors College

Student Liaison Officer - Ms. Melanie Liddle, Staff, Honors College

Student Vice President: Crosville Williams

Student Vice President: Chloe Downey

Student Vice President : Zoie Gualandi

Awards and Grants Opportunities

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi's ongoing commitment to excellence is reflected in its awards and grants programs. More than $1 million is awarded each biennium to outstanding students, Phi Kappa Phi members, and chapters through the Society's various awards competitions Click here for information on these opportunities or click on the links below for specific opportunities :

• Study Abroad Grants
• Love of Learning
• Literacy Grants
• Dissertation Fellowships
• Ray Sylvester Distinguished Service Award
• Scholar & Artist Grant
• Excellence in Innovation Award

Upcoming Deadlines

November 30, 2023

• Graduate Research Grants
• Fellowship 

Chapter deadline: March 1, 2024

National deadline: April 15, 2024

April 1, 2024

• Love of Learning Awards

June 30, 2024

December 2023 (TBD)

• Scholar and Artist Awards

February 1, 2024

• Distinguished Service Award

Eligibility

Graduate students.

All degree seeking students who have completed 18 hours of graduate work at Texas State and are in the top 10% of their class.  At Texas State, this currently means students must have an overall graduate GPA of 4.0.

All undergraduate seniors who have completed at least 90 hours and are in the top 10% of their class.  Students must have completed 24 hours at Texas State. The GPA to stay in the top 10% is not constant and is calculated each semester by college.  The minimum overall GPA for the Fall 2023 invitation list is given below.

• 3.71 - College of Applied Arts
• 3.73 - McCoy College of Business Administration
• 3.81 - College of Education
• 3.85 - College of Fine Arts and Communication
• 3.81 - College of Health Professions
• 3.81 - College of Liberal Arts
• 3.74 - College of Science and Engineering
• 3.48 - BGS/Academic Affairs

All undergraduate juniors who have completed at least 72 hours and are in the top 7.5% of their class.  Students must have completed 24 hours at Texas State. The GPA to stay in the top 7.5% is not constant and is calculated each semester by college.  The minimum overall GPA for the Fall 2023 invitation list is given below:

• 3.82 - College of Applied Arts
• 3.83 - McCoy College of Business Administration
• 3.85 - College of Education
• 3.91 - College of Fine Arts and Communication
• 3.86 - College of Health Professions
• 3.91 - College of Liberal Arts
• 3.88 - College of Science and Engineering
• 3.60 - BGS/Academic Affairs

Org. Fall Meetings

Chapter dues.

The local chapter dues for faculty and staff who are already members can be paid by going to  this link to Phi Kappa Phi.   Chapter dues are $30 annually.

 A $300 chapter life membership is also an option.

Chapter Bylaws