The Phi Beta Kappa Society Votes to Establish New Chapter at the University of South Florida

WASHINGTON, DC — The Phi Beta Kappa Society voted to establish four new chapters on August 3 at the meeting of its 45th Triennial Council in Boston, Massachusetts. The Society awarded new chapters to Phi Beta Kappa faculty at Chapman University, Orange, Calif.; Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.; and The University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla.

The Triennial Council is the legislative body of the Society, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. The Council convenes every three years to carry out the business of the Society, including granting new chapters after a rigorous, multi-year application process administered by the Society’s Committee on Qualifications. The Phi Beta Kappa Senate must approve prospective chapters before the entire Triennial body votes.

The addition of these four chapters will bring the total number of Phi Beta Kappa chapters at colleges and universities to 290 nationwide. The founding members of each new chapter will organize the official chapter installation and first induction ceremonies for new members at their institutions in the coming months.

“Earning Phi Beta Kappa distinction reflects achievement in the liberal arts and sciences broadly and signals the value of a challenging academic program and meritocratic success at the highest level,” said Secretary Frederick M. Lawrence, head of Phi Beta Kappa’s national office. “With the establishment of these chapters, we are delighted to acknowledge the accomplishments of these institutions in fostering robust environments where the liberal arts and sciences flourish and freedom of inquiry and expression is essential. We look forward to a lively partnership.”

Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities. Phi Beta Kappa members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates.

The Society operates under the conviction that a strong liberal arts and sciences education creates opportunity, drives ingenuity and innovation, and makes a strong investment in America. Through recognition of academic excellence, Phi Beta Kappa works to instill in students and the nation at large the value of a broad-based, liberal arts and sciences education at both a personal and professional level. The new chapters at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, Mississippi State University, and the University of South Florida will join Phi Beta Kappa in carrying out this mission.

About The Phi Beta Kappa Society

The Phi Beta Kappa Society, founded on Dec. 5, 1776, is the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. It has chapters at 286 colleges and universities in the United States, nearly 50 alumni associations, and more than half a million members worldwide. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates. The mission of the Phi Beta Kappa Society is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence. WASHINGTON, DC, August 3, 2018 — The Phi Beta Kappa Society voted to establish four new chapters on August 3 at the meeting of its 45th Triennial Council in Boston, Massachusetts. The Society awarded new chapters to Phi Beta Kappa faculty at Chapman University, Orange, Calif.; Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.; and The University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla. The Triennial Council is the legislative body of the Society, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. The Council convenes every three years to carry out the business of the Society, including granting new chapters after a rigorous, multi-year application process administered by the Society’s Committee on Qualifications. The Phi Beta Kappa Senate must approve prospective chapters before the entire Triennial body votes. The addition of these four chapters will bring the total number of Phi Beta Kappa chapters at colleges and universities to 290 nationwide. The founding members of each new chapter will organize the official chapter installation and first induction ceremonies for new members at their institutions in the coming months. “Earning Phi Beta Kappa distinction reflects achievement in the liberal arts and sciences broadly and signals the value of a challenging academic program and meritocratic success at the highest level,” said Secretary Frederick M. Lawrence, head of Phi Beta Kappa’s national office. “With the establishment of these chapters, we are delighted to acknowledge the accomplishments of these institutions in fostering robust environments where the liberal arts and sciences flourish and freedom of inquiry and expression is essential. We look forward to a lively partnership.” Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities. Phi Beta Kappa members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates. The Society operates under the conviction that a strong liberal arts and sciences education creates opportunity, drives ingenuity and innovation, and makes a strong investment in America. Through recognition of academic excellence, Phi Beta Kappa works to instill in students and the nation at large the value of a broad-based, liberal arts and sciences education at both a personal and professional level. The new chapters at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, Mississippi State University, and the University of South Florida will join Phi Beta Kappa in carrying out this mission. ### About The Phi Beta Kappa Society The Phi Beta Kappa Society, founded on Dec. 5, 1776, is the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. It has chapters at 286 colleges and universities in the United States, nearly 50 alumni associations, and more than half a million members worldwide. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates. The mission of the Phi Beta Kappa Society is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence. WASHINGTON, DC, August 3, 2018 — The Phi Beta Kappa Society voted to establish four new chapters on August 3 at the meeting of its 45th Triennial Council in Boston, Massachusetts. The Society awarded new chapters to Phi Beta Kappa faculty at Chapman University, Orange, Calif.; Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mississippi State University, Starkville, Miss.; and The University of South Florida, Tampa, Fla. The Triennial Council is the legislative body of the Society, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. The Council convenes every three years to carry out the business of the Society, including granting new chapters after a rigorous, multi-year application process administered by the Society’s Committee on Qualifications. The Phi Beta Kappa Senate must approve prospective chapters before the entire Triennial body votes.

The addition of these four chapters will bring the total number of Phi Beta Kappa chapters at colleges and universities to 290 nationwide. The founding members of each new chapter will organize the official chapter installation and first induction ceremonies for new members at their institutions in the coming months.

“Earning Phi Beta Kappa distinction reflects achievement in the liberal arts and sciences broadly and signals the value of a challenging academic program and meritocratic success at the highest level,” said Secretary Frederick M. Lawrence, head of Phi Beta Kappa’s national office. “With the establishment of these chapters, we are delighted to acknowledge the accomplishments of these institutions in fostering robust environments where the liberal arts and sciences flourish and freedom of inquiry and expression is essential. We look forward to a lively partnership.”

Phi Beta Kappa celebrates and advocates excellence in the liberal arts and sciences. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities. Phi Beta Kappa members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates.

The Society operates under the conviction that a strong liberal arts and sciences education creates opportunity, drives ingenuity and innovation, and makes a strong investment in America. Through recognition of academic excellence, Phi Beta Kappa works to instill in students and the nation at large the value of a broad-based, liberal arts and sciences education at both a personal and professional level. The new chapters at Chapman University, Loyola Marymount University, Mississippi State University, and the University of South Florida will join Phi Beta Kappa in carrying out this mission.

About The Phi Beta Kappa Society

The Phi Beta Kappa Society, founded on Dec. 5, 1776, is the nation's most prestigious academic honor society. It has chapters at 286 colleges and universities in the United States, nearly 50 alumni associations, and more than half a million members worldwide. Noteworthy members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 U.S. Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates. The mission of the Phi Beta Kappa Society is to champion education in the liberal arts and sciences, foster freedom of thought, and recognize academic excellence.

For more information about The Phi Beta Kappa Society, visit www.pbk.org.

For more information about The Phi Beta Kappa Society, visit www.pbk.org. For more information about The Phi Beta Kappa Society, visit www.pbk.org.