Phi Beta Kappa

See also Wikipedia's article about "Phi Beta Kappa".

Phi Beta Kappa is an academic honor society.

History

Phi Beta Kappa was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, and subsequent chapters were opened at other schools, including Columbia. Notably, while Columbia is the oldest institution of higher education in New York State, its chapter of Phi Beta Kappa is only the fourth-oldest, which is why it is referred to as "New York Delta".

Induction

Each year, ten percent of the senior class is elected to membership (roughly corresponding to those who receive the Latin honors of magna and summa cum laude. Two percent are elected in December, with the remainder inducted in mid-May just prior to Commencement.

During the induction ceremony, new members receive plaques and, if they have elected to pay for them, Phi Beta Kappa inscribed keys. The inductees then inscribe their signatures in the books that have held the names of Columbia Phi Beta Kappa inductees since 1900. Core Curriculum pioneer John Erskine is the most conspicuous signature appearing on the 1900 page.

External links

• Phi Beta Kappa info on Columbia College homepage