Facts
- Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Phi Eta Sigma is the nation’s oldest and largest honor society for first-year college and university students in all disciplines.
- Inspired by the past and dedicated to the future, the Society’s mission is to encourage and reward academic excellence among freshmen in institutions of higher learning.
- The three Greek words appearing on our crest form the motto of the organization: “Knowledge is Power.”
- Phi Eta Sigma was voted membership into the Association of College Honor Societies in 1937. Only two societies have had longer continuous membership.
- Those elected to membership include those who have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale at the end of any first year, full-time curricular period, provided they have carried a normal academic load acceptable toward a bachelor’s degree and rank in the upper 20 percent of their class.
- Since its founding, more than 900,000 scholars have been inducted into Phi Eta Sigma.
- Phi Eta Sigma chapters are chartered on 353 campuses across the United States.
- Hundreds of college and university faculty and staff volunteers share their time to serve as advisers to local chapters.
- Approximately $225,000 in scholarships is awarded annually by the national organization, and many additional thousands are awarded by local chapters.
- An important strength of Phi Eta Sigma is its form of government. It is governed by a Constitution and Laws generated by student delegates attending national conventions. At the biennial conventions, student delegates also elect the national officers and Executive Committee members.
- Phi Eta Sigma conducts a biennial national convention with attendee expenses, excluding transportation, paid by the national office for a chapter adviser and student delegate from each chapter.
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