HISTORY
Phi Theta Kappa was established by the presidents of the Missouri junior colleges for women in 1918. The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship among associate degree students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa provides opportunity for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate to exchange ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholarship, and for stimulation of interest in continuing excellence.
The honor society began with six chapter members under the name of Kappa Phi Omicron at Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri, in 1910. Beta Chapter of Kappa Phi Omicron was established at Lindenwood College, St. Charles, Missouri, in 1911. The societies continued until the spring of 1918. By that time, honorary groups had sprung up in many colleges. At a meeting of the presidents of the Missouri junior colleges for women in 1918, it was decided to organize a new honorary society, chapters of which would have a common character, standard, and similarity of organizations.
The name Phi Theta Kappa was chosen, and the Society was incorporated in Missouri as a national organization.
For the first 6 years, Phi Theta Kappa confined it's activity to women's junior college, but in 1924 through constitutional amendment the field of activity was enlarged to cover all junior colleges. In 1925, Iota chapter at Synodical College, Fulton, Missouri, was added, and 1926 marked a further expansion with the addition of Kappa, Lambda, and Mu Chapters. These were the first coeducational colleges granted a chapter, and Mu Chapter, at Miami, Oklahoma, was the first organized outside the state of Missouri.
By 1928, Phi Theta Kappa had grown to fourteen chapters in six states. In that year a petition was drawn up by the Phi Theta Kappa Grand Council to be submitted to the American Association of Junior Colleges, asking that Phi Theta Kappa be recognized as the national honor society for junior colleges. Official recognition was given to Phi Theta Kappa in 1929 by the American Association of Junior Colleges at the annual meeting of the Association November 18 and 19, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Immediately following AAJC official recognition, the society entered the period of growth and expansion not to be equaled again until the growth in the early 1960's, which paralleled the growth of American community and junior colleges. The society was led during this dynamic period by Margaret James Mosal, Phi Theta Kappa's first elected national president (1930) and the Society's chief officer from 1935-1985.
In 1935, the National Secretary was the only member of the national staff, and administered all affairs of the organization, which then included 72 chapters in 20 states. The Society grew steadily until the 1960's, when it more than doubled in number of chapters and number of inductees. During that decade the Society establishedthe first Headquaters building and added considerably to the national growth of the organization.
Dr. Mosal retired as Executive Director in 1985, after 50 years of service and a distinguished career that brought her numerous honors, including the AACJC Leadership Award, the Annie Jump Cannon Education Award, and in Mississippi, the Governor's Outstanding Mississippian Award.
In 1985, Rob A. Risley, former National President and Director of
Alumni Affairs, was selected to serve as the Society secondExecutive Director. Since
becoming Director, Risley continued the long established traditions of the Society while
also providing progressive leadership.
The international headquarters was automated in 1986, affording the opportunity to expand
services to the membership. Since 1985, record numbers of chapters have been chartered
each year and more than 200,000 members have been inducted.
In 1987, the first chapter in Europe was chartered in Munich, Germany, at the University
of Maryland - Munich campus. Phi Theta Kappa boasted chapters in all 50 states in 1988
when Alpha Xi Beta Chapter was chartered at Clark County Community College, North
Las Vegas, Nevada.
The first Canadian chapter,Alpha Tau Delta, was chartered in 1991, resulting in Phi Theta Kappa becoming the International Hohor Society of the Two-Year College.The Society's first Asian chapter, Beta Eta Eta, chartered at the Minnesota State University campus in Akita, Japan, in 1998. The Society's 1,000th chapter was chartered at Mount Royal College i Alberta, Canada, in 1992, and the Society's one-millionth member was inducted in 1993.
Phi Theta Kappa's membership benefits dramatically increased in the decade of the 1990s. Member benefits added since 1990 include the Golden Key membership pin, 3.5 PLUS annual journal, and a number of scholarship and programming opportunities.
During the 1990s the Society made a serious commitment to increasing the numbers of member-designated senior institution scholarships by developing new senior institution partners. By mid-1999, more than 430 senior institutions offered transfer scholarships in axcess fo $29 million annually, designated exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members.
The Guistwhite Scholarship Program was established in 1991, and by 1998 had disbursed more than $430,000 in scholarships awards to Phi Theta Kappa members. Ten members are chosen annually to receive scholarships of $5,000 for baccaureate studies. Since 1996, 10 Guistwhite Finalists have been selected to receive stepends of $1,000 each.
Phi Theta Kappa also initiated partnership programs with other agencies to develop scholarship and stipends for Society members. In 1991 the All-USA Academic Team Program was launched, selecting 20 students annually for international recognition and scholarship awards as members of the All-USA Academic First Team. Second and Third Teams are also chosen, with members receiving extensive recognition. In 1994, the first All-State Academic Team Programs were established, recognizing All-USA Team nominees in their home states. All-State Team Programs are now in pace in 35 states, all offering extensive recognition, and many providing scholarships and stipends to the honorees.
Since 1992 the National Dean's List has automatically nominated Phi Theta Kappa members for its prestigious publication of collegiate honor students. Members who submit nomination materials to the National Dean's List are eligible for the scholarships awarded only to Phi theta Kappa members.
Phi Theta Kappa continued to expand its publications and avenues of communications. A Society web site, www.ptk.org was established in 1996. In 1998 Phi Theta Kappa began circulating a weekly e-mail update, the Golden Key News Brief, which take their name from one of the Society's oldest printed publications. A Phi Theta Kappa On-line Forum was added to the web in 1999. The forum address is http://forums.ptk.org/~phithetakapa. The Society's first On-Line Live Forum was held in 1999.