FAQs about Phi Beta Kappa 1. What is Phi Beta Kappa? The Phi Beta Kappa Society is the nation's oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors organization. It was founded in 1776
and since that time it has become the most well known of all college honors societies. Its aim is to honor academic excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. It is the honors society that is unique to the College of Arts and Sciences, committed to honoring outstanding scholarly achievement.
2. What does Phi Beta Kappa do? Our campus organization recognizes academic excellence and encourages the intellectual life of the campus by hosting a fall reception honoring sophomores in HTC and the
College of Arts & Sciences who achieved academic success during their freshman year, by sponsoring the visit of a nationally recognized scholar to campus to give a public lecture and to meet with various classes, by electing juniors and seniors to membership, and by awarding the Thomas M. Wolfe Phi Beta Kappa awards to the third and fourth year initiates with the highest g.p.a.The national organization sponsors the Visiting Scholar program to bring prominent scholars to college campuses, maintains a comple
mentary list of speakers, the Fellows Lectureship program, publishes The American Scholar, a highly regarded journal in the liberal arts, as well as The Key Reporter, a newsletter for all members, awards research scholarships at the Ph.D. level in Classics and French, works on joint projects with the high school National Honor Society, participates in honoring Presidential Scholars, honors scholarship through a series of awards, including the Award for Distinguished Service in the Humanities,
the Sidney Hook Memorial Award, and Phi Beta Kappa book awards, and generally works for greater recognition of the importance of the liberal arts and sciences in today's society. The national is also an affiliate of the American Council of Learned Societies, the only college honors organization to be affiliated. For a more complete list of national activities, see the national website: http://www.pbk.org/.
3. What does Phi Beta Kappa stand for? The motto of Phi Beta Kappa is "Love of Learning, the Guide to Life." The organization is committed to lifelong learning and participation in intellectual life after college. Love of Learning implies broad intellectual interests, intellectual integrity, and tolerance. As Dr. Evan Williams of Lewis and Clark College puts it: "For me, the other societies are a reward for a good grade-point average, whereas Phi Beta Kappa is much more than that. It implies a lifelong commitment."
4. What's in it for me? Although Phi Beta Kappa is the most well known of all honors organizations, membership is not just a matter of self esteem, an item for a resume, or a mention in job interviews. It implies a lifelong commitment to using one's learning for the benefit of others. It also represents membership in a community of scholars, "a fellowship of learners rather than of the learned."
5. How do I participate in the life of Phi Beta Kappa? By election to membership, one is invited to participate
in the life of the chapter, including the visit of the PBK visiting scholar, attendance at annual meetings, and the welcome of new initiates at the annual spring initiation. After graduation, one can participate in two ways: membership in a college chapter for those who remain in the academic world and membership in an association in major cities. There are currently 50 associations in cities such as Cleveland, New York, and Chicago. Further details about joining an association is available at the national website, http://www.pbk.org/.
6. How do I become a member of Phi Beta Kappa? One must be elected from one of the 262 chapters on American campuses. Most chapters, such as that at Ohio University, elect only undergraduates. We screen the DARS reports of potential candidates during spring quarter of each year. We require breadth and depth in the liberal arts and sciences, including high g.p.a., 75% course work in College of A&S courses, hours in humanities/social sciences and the natural sciences, the College's foreign language requirement, and a residency requirement on the Athens campus.
7. What is the PBK "Key"? The "key" is actually a gold medallion wore by members of the Society as an emblem of the Society. It bears the historic date 1776, plus the mottos of the society. The name of the member and the school and date of initiation is engraved on the key. Keys may be purchased from the Society's jeweler, Hand and Hammer. See their
website: http://www.hand-hammer.com/page11.htm or access this page through the national website: http://www.pbk.org/. Only members of Phi Beta Kappa are permitted to wear the emblem. (Purchase of the key is optional for members, but many desire a visible symbol of their membership.)
8. Where can I get further information about PBK? From Stacia Stutzman, Chapter Secretary, Lambda of Ohio Chapter, Phi Beta
Kappa, Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships. Phone: 740-593-9125 Email: pbk@ohio.edu | |
