The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

FAQ - Invitation

What are the criteria for electing students to membership in Phi Kappa Phi?

According to the Society Bylaws, the top 7.5 percent of last-term juniors, having completed at least seventy-two semester hours, the top 10 percent of graduating seniors, and the top 10 percent of graduate/professional students are eligible for membership. (Eligibility may be determined separately for each academic program or unit within a member institution, per the bylaws.) Chapters are strongly encouraged to elect juniors to membership.

Can a chapter invite juniors who fall below the top 7.5 percent of their class if not all of the top 7.5 percent accept the invitation to join? Can a chapter invite seniors who fall below the top 10 percent of their class if not all of the top 10 percent accept the invitation to join?

NO.

In calculating the top 10 percent of seniors, can students who are already members be subtracted before applying the percentage cutoff?

No. No student who is below the top 10 percent line should be elected to membership. Subtracting seniors who are already members would have the effect of lowering that standard. It is essential to maintain the integrity and significance of Phi Kappa Phi membership. (Be certain to purge the names of those who have accepted membership prior to sending the next invitation to membership mailing.)

If all 7.5 percent of non-transfer second semester juniors accept membership, won't only 2.5 percent of seniors be eligible for election?

No, unless your university has an unusual distribution of students.

If a student declines the first invitation to membership, should the chapter re-invite the student a second time?

Yes, if the student remains eligible.

What if a student graduates in the top 10 percent of his or her class but did not make the top 10 percent of seniors at the time of election?

This situation, while uncommon, may happen more often at universities that have only one chapter initiation per year. Aside from the possibility of inducting the student as an alumnus or alumna, the Society Bylaws have no specific remedy. Depending on local circumstances, however, a chapter may choose to have a bylaw that permits, within the "top 10 percent rule," a review of meritorious but excluded students during the next chapter election.