The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA — The Board of Directors of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi unanimously approved The University of Texas at San Antonio’s petition for a chapter at its fall meeting in Baton Rouge, La., on Friday, Sept. 23.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective honor society for all academic disciplines. Each year, approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni are initiated into the Society. Its chapters are on more than 300 campuses nationwide. UTSA will become chapter 317.

“Phi Kappa Phi is synonymous with academic excellence, and we are honored to join the ranks of universities that host a chapter,” said UTSA President Ricardo Romo. “This is an important step forward for our community as we build a Tier One research university.”

Phi Kappa Phi’s South Central Regional Representative David Silva, who attended a site visit to UTSA earlier this month, said, “I was most impressed by how far UT San Antonio has developed in its short history, not only in terms of its enrollments, but more importantly, in terms of the quality of its academic offerings. The community should be extremely proud of this important academic resource.”

John Frederick, vice president for academic affairs, and Charlin Jones, assistant director for The Special Events Center at UTSA, were instrumental in bringing Phi Kappa Phi to the University and will be working with national Society volunteer leaders and staff members to coordinate next steps: determining the chapter’s initial leadership, providing chapter training, creating chapter bylaws, and organizing the installation ceremony.