Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776, is America’s most prestigious honor society, promoting academic excellence across the liberal arts and sciences. The Wheaton Phi Beta Kappa chapter was founded in 1932 and is officially called Kappa of Massachusetts. Kappa is the tenth letter of the Greek alphabet and our chapter is the tenth one established in the Commonwealth. Membership is highly selective and by invitation only. To be considered, students must be current juniors or seniors who are declared Eliza Wheaton Scholars with outstanding scholarly achievement.
Requirements and recognition
To be elected to the Wheaton College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, students must demonstrate academic rigor and scholarly achievement inside and outside of their major. To ensure both depth of study and breadth of intellectual interest, candidates must be declared Eliza Wheaton Scholars, who embrace the liberal arts education that Phi Beta Kappa celebrates. Students must have completed the Eliza Wheaton Scholar pathway or be scheduled to complete the pathway during the semester their candidacy is considered.
Students are elected to the Wheaton College chapter of Phi Beta Kappa three times a year – in October, February and May. The election committee is composed of Wheaton faculty and staff who are members of the national Phi Beta Kappa Society. They promote the ideals of free inquiry and the love of learning that the society stands for and follow these ideals in their own lives.
The committee carefully considers summaries of transcripts, excluding candidates’ names, and elects roughly three to four percent of the graduating class at each election meeting. The total number of students elected is no more than 10 percent of each graduating class. There is no application or nomination process. The committee automatically reviews academic records of the highest-achieving eligible students at each election meeting.
New members are asked to pay a one-time registration fee of $85, which covers the cost of lifetime membership in the national Phi Beta Kappa Society. The Wheaton Phi Beta Kappa chapter pays the fee if there is a financial need. This national designation gives students academic and professional recognition as well as opportunities for lifelong learning, networking and professional development. Members also are eligible for monetary prizes and fellowships. More information can be found on the Phi Beta Kappa website. In addition to participating in the national society, members may participate in activities sponsored by Wheaton Phi Beta Kappa or their nearest Phi Beta Kappa association.
After each election meeting, students are informed of the chapter’s decision in writing. Those who are elected and accept membership in Kappa of Massachusetts will be inducted at a ceremony which is held within a week of the election meetings in October and May. February inductees are invited to participate in the May induction ceremony, which typically occurs the Friday before Wheaton Commencement. Participation in the induction ceremony is required for membership.
Students elected in October who are unable to participate in that month’s induction ceremony will be invited to the May induction ceremony. Similarly, students elected in May but unable to attend are welcome to return for a subsequent induction ceremony, after graduating.
Scholarships
The Wheaton chapter of Phi Beta Kappa awards the following three scholarships annually for graduate study. Applicants do not need to be a chapter member to apply.
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- The Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship: awarded annually since 1934
- The Ruth Redding Graduate Scholarship, honoring Ruth Redding, a member of the Class of 1934
- The Grace F. Shepard Phi Beta Kappa Scholarship, established in memory of Miss Grace F. Shepard, who taught English at Wheaton and for whom Shepard Court is named.
Check out our full list of graduate scholarships offered at Wheaton College, along with information about application requirements and deadlines.
Events
We provide our members with opportunities to engage with some of the nation’s most acclaimed high achievers across the arts and humanities, sciences and social sciences, business and technology, and many other fields. Through academic and social events and guest lectures, we enrich the educational experience for our members and provide ongoing learning and networking opportunities.
Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholars
The Wheaton chapter invites many Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholars to engage with our members through compelling lectures and meetings with students. Guest lectures have been presented by scholars including:
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- Susan Birren (Professor of Biology and Neuroscience, Brandeis University)
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- Jill Lepore (David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History, Harvard University)
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- David B. Grusky (Barbara Kimball Browning Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University)
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- Ronald Graham (Professor of Computer and Information Science, University of California, San Diego).
Herbert Ellison Speaker Fund
In addition to visiting scholars, we support public lectures and events on campus sponsored by the Herbert Ellison Speaker Fund. Here are some of the past presentations:
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- Joe Goodkin, “ The Blues of Achilles”
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- Alberto Cairo, “Visual Trumpery: How to Fight Against Fake Data and Visualizations—From the Left and From the Right”
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- Joseph Ewoodzie, Malcolm O. Partin Assistant Professor of Africana Studies and Sociology at Davidson College, “Break Beats in the Bronx: Rediscovering Hip-Hop’s Early Years”
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- Lisa Feldman Barrett, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University “How Emotions are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain”
Chapter Officers
President and Treasurer
John Partridge, Professor of Philosophy
Vice President
Kirk Anderson, Professor of French Studies, Emeritus
Secretary
Leah Niederstadt, Associate Professor of Museum Studies, History of Art
Co-Chair, Committee for the Encouragement of Scholarship
Joel Relihan, Professor of Greek, Latin and Ancient Mediterranean Studies
Co-Chair, Committee for the Encouragement of Scholarship
Geoffrey Somes, Library Services Office Manager
Inquiries can be emailed to [email protected].
Giving to Wheaton Phi Beta Kappa
Wheaton Phi Beta Kappa is financially independent of Wheaton College and operates through the generosity of its donors, including the many alumni members of the chapter. Donations are tax deductible and the chapter provides tax receipts for contributions of $250 or greater.
Donations fund the three scholarships awarded by Kappa of Massachusetts each year, the $85 registration fee for those with a financial need, and chapter-sponsored events, including guest lectures and the induction ceremonies. Donations can be sent via our secure online donation page or mailed directly to: Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa of Massachusetts, Wheaton College, 26 East Main Street, Norton, MA 02766.