Election and induction

The KU chapter of Phi Beta Kappa elects only undergraduate students, and the majority of those elected have senior standing. A small number of exceptional juniors are elected each year. Election occurs in the spring each year, and induction occurs on the morning of Commencement.

Eligibility

All students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with at least 100 credits in residence in the KU College and a GPA above 3.65 are considered for election. There is no application procedure. The review committees look for students whose academic records demonstrate intellectual and scholarly accomplishment that encompasses the goals and values of a liberal arts education. Students should:

  • Have completed the fourth semester of a foreign language, or demonstrated equivalent language skills
  • Go beyond minimum program requirements, demonstrating depth and breadth in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences
  • Demonstrate a range of intellectual interests by completing courses beyond those required for the major.
  • Concurrent with Phi Beta Kappa’s aim of promoting Liberal Arts and Sciences education, most eligible members are students in the College. Students in professional schools may also be eligible if they meet other eligibility requirements. Deficiencies or deviations from the common eligibility requirements should be small and should be compensated for in other areas of the student’s academic record.

Election

Elections take place in the spring each year. Committees made up of KU faculty and staff members of Phi Beta Kappa review transcripts from eligible students to make their selection, and students are notified in March of their election.

Honorary Members

Each year, Kansas Alpha elects an honorary member. In 2024, we were excited to bestow honorary membership on Dr. Jennifer Raff from the Department of Anthropology.  Other recent honorary members include Dr. Charlie Bankart (Senior Internationalization Officer), Dr. Mary Klayder (English and Honors lecturer), Dr. Sarah Crawford-Parker (Director of the University Honors Program), and Chancellor Douglas Girod.

Induction

The Kansas Alpha Chapter hosts its induction ceremony on Commencement day at KU. The ceremony features brief remarks from the chapter's president, a graduating senior, and an honorary faculty or staff inductee. We finish with plenty of time for everyone to continue on to the main campus Commencement ceremony.

To keep costs low, we do not use cords or stoles. Phi Beta Kappa products are available for purchase through Hand & Hammer. If you have questions, please contact us.