IUP's chapter of Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society has been recognized as a Chapter of Excellence by the national organization.
The chapter is the only one in Pennsylvania and one of only eleven in the nation receiving this honor for recognizing and promoting academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engaging the community of scholars in service.
Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest honor society for all academic disciplines, with three hundred chapters throughout the nation.
IUP's chapter was founded in 1993. Since that time, several IUP students have received competitive Phi Kappa Phi scholarships, including national fellowships for graduate study, study abroad scholarships, and Love of Learning awards.
By receiving the Chapter of Excellence distinction, the chapter is recognized as an organization that meets frequently, holds annual initiations, and applies frequently for Phi Kappa Phi's select scholarships, grants, and fellowships.
“This is a very prestigious honor, reserved for the best and most active chapters of Phi Kappa Phi,” Dennis Giever, Criminology Department faculty member and Phi Kappa Phi chapter president, said. “I want to recognize the outstanding efforts of immediate past president Marveta Ryan-Sams for her work in helping the IUP chapter to achieve this designation.”
Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi inducts about thirty thousand students, faculty and professional staff members, and alumni annually. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and the top 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty and professional staff members and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify.