Iota Chapter Election Procedures
Membership in Phi Beta Kappa is by invitation only; there is no application procedure. New members are elected each spring by the current members of the Iota chapter, at the recommendation of the nominating committee. As a general rule, the chapter tends to elect approximately 10% of each graduating class. Particularly strong candidates are elected as juniors; the rest as seniors. The principal criteria for selection are academic achievement, broad liberal scholarship, humanistic values, leadership potential, co-curricular activity, and personal character. Faculty members are invited each year to write letters of recommendation for students for whom the nominating committee desires more information than is generally available in College records.
New members are notified by mail in April. They and their families are invited to attend the formal induction ceremony and keynote address on the Saturday afternoon of commencement weekend, followed by a reception. New members receive a membership certificate, and sign the Iota Chapter's member role book, which dates back to the early years of the chapter. The distinctive is available for purchase by members.
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