University of Southern Mississippi Recognized as a Phi Kappa Phi Circle of Excellence Silver Chapter
Thu, 12/10/2020 - 11:48am | By: Alyssa Perez
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi—the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines—recently recognized The University of Southern Mississippi chapter of Phi Kappa Phi as a Circle of Excellence Silver Chapter. The award is given to chapters that exceed expectations in chapter operations and who demonstrate sustainability and vitality as a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi.
The Circle of Excellence program was introduced in 2018. The program recognized 67 chapters this year, including 26 with the Silver distinction. Phi Kappa Phi currently has chapters on more than 325 select campuses in the United States and the Philippines.
“Phi Kappa Phi is proud to recognize these chapters with the Circle of Excellence award. Our chapters are the lifeblood of our Society and we are delighted to celebrate their success,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Mary Todd.
The Circle of Excellence Silver honor is given to chapters who scored a 90-94 out of 100 on a criteria scale that evaluates chapter health indicators. By receiving the Silver distinction, the Southern Miss chapter is recognized as a thriving organization that holds annual initiations, upholds the Society Bylaws, regularly attends chapter training opportunities and submits a chapter-endorsed nominee to the Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship Program.
"We are thrilled to receive this Circle of Excellence award. For more than 50 years, our chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi has been rewarding and promoting academic excellence at Southern Miss," said chapter president Ellen Weinauer, Dean of The University of Southern Mississippi’s Honors College. "We are grateful for the support of the national office and the recognition of our ongoing work."
Chapters achieving the Circle of Excellence Silver distinction receive:
- a commendation letter from the Society sent to chapter officers and campus administration
- special recognition on the Phi Kappa Phi website
- specially-designed logo for use in chapter communications
- a $100 cash award
To learn more about the Circle of Excellence program, please visit www.phikappaphi.org/2021Excellence.
About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate
honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 30,000
students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters
on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States and the Philippines.
Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students
and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved
scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society'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." For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.