On Oct. 25, 2023, Meredith College is set to install a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. According to its website, Phi Kappa Phi is the “oldest and most selective multidisciplinary collegiate honor society,” founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and initiating “approximately 25,000 members'' yearly across more than 325 campuses within the United States, as well as U.S. territories and the Philippines. The organization's mission is “to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service to others.” Phi Kappa Phi also awards $1.3 million each year to its members through “study abroad grants, graduate fellowships, funding for post-baccalaureate development, member and chapter awards, and grants for local, national and international literacy initiatives.” Phi Kappa Phi also provides opportunities for awards, career and financial literacy resources, and discounts and promotions to its members according to its website.
Dr. Betty-Shannon Prevatt, the advisor listed for the Meredith chapter, outlined the process of membership, stating that in the spring, invites for membership will be issued to “the top 7.5% of juniors and top 10% of seniors and graduate students.” Dr. Prevatt added that membership will not be determined by a GPA cutoff, but by class rank. Membership dues are set at $77 for one year with the option to pay for two years in advance for $110, three years for $145, or lifetime membership for $535. All of the information regarding dues can also be found on their website.
The process of establishing this chapter was initiated by Meredith President Dr. Jo Allen, a member of Phi Kappa Phi herself. President Allen joined the honor society during her doctorate program. While the process of introducing the honor society at Meredith was slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Prevatt explained that it was “reinitiated in the spring 2023, which is when [she] became involved.” President Allen says that she is excited for the opening of the chapter, specifying that while Meredith is home to a number of honor societies, Phi Kappa Phi is one that is “open to all.” Additionally, President Allen believes that a nationally recognized honor society will lead to less people seeing the societies and “thinking [of them as] Greek life,” which Meredith itself does not participate in. Because Phi Kappa Phi is national, students will not govern the organization. However, Prevatt noted that “students, once inducted, are able to serve in student officer roles” while faculty and staff fill the officer roles. According to Prevatt, “In other chapters across the country, students are usually the ones spearheading the efforts to design service activities and scholarly presentations around the issues and organizations that are important to the student community.” Dr. Prevatt also explained that “chapters engage in service projects each year to give back to their community and sponsor academic or scholarly presentations on campus.” Although students will not be governing the organization, Prevatt assured that members will still have plenty of say about its activities.
Phi Kappa Phi looks to be an addition to the many honor societies and organizations available to students and faculty that Dr. Prevatt and President Allen have shared in a positive manner, but there is already an organization that meets these criteria: Kappa Nu Sigma. President Allen said she believes that the two organizations will serve “two different communities,” with Kappa Nu Sigma specifically being for Meredith and Phi Kappa Phi representing a larger, national organization. While there is a belief that the societies will likely share an overlap of members, President Allen believes they will remain separate. Dr. Kelly Roberts, the advisor for Kappa Nu Sigma, stated that “[she is] excited for the possibility of inducting students into Phi Kappa Phi” and is “pleased to see all of the benefits of membership in a national society that promotes academic excellence.”
Once students start being initiated in the spring, students may begin to access Phi Kappa Phi’s resources and connections. In the words of Phi Kappa Phi’s motto: “Let the love of learning rule humanity.”
By Lola Mestas, Junior Copy Editor
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