Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for community college students. It was founded in 1918 by two-year college presidents in Missouri. The founders were seeking to recognize scholastic achievement by their students, and to establish a common purpose and standard for honors organizations on their different campuses.
Since its founding in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa has recognized the academic achievements of students in associate-degree programs. The International Honor Society has grown from 8 charter chapters in Missouri to more than 1,100 chapters located in all 50 of the United States, Canada, Germany, and U.S. territorial possessions. Nearly 100,000 of the most outstanding two-year college students are inducted into membership in Phi Theta Kappa each year.
Phi Theta Kappa offers students opportunities for engaging in scholarly activities, earning academic scholarships, providing service to the community, developing and practicing leadership skills, and enjoying fellowship with other scholars.
The name "Phi Theta Kappa" as taken from the initial letters of the Greek words meaning "wisdom", "aspiration", and "purity."
Phi Theta Kappa's purpose is to first and foremost recognize scholarly achievement among two-year college students. In addition to this, members have opportunities for personal growth through involvement in a variety of programs centered on the Society Hallmarks of Scholarship, Leadership, Service and Fellowship. Many Phi Theta Kappa programs also promote civic engagement, by encouraging participants to think of chapter programming in terms of its impact on the college campus and in the community.
Scholarship Hallmark
Programs primarily focus on educating chapter members, other chapters, the college's student body and the community about important issues raised by the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Study Topic. Chapter programming related to the Scholarship Hallmark should also recognize and encourage the academic achievements of members, students and faculty.
Leadership Hallmark
Programs encourage chapters and members to assume roles as leaders in their chapters, colleges, and communities as well as on regional and/or international levels of the Society. In addition to assuming leadership positions, chapters are encouraged to foster the development of leadership skills among others through their programming.
Service Hallmark
Chapter initiatives related to the Service Hallmark should be primarily focused on the International Service Program. Other Service Hallmark activities include both service to the college and community outside the scope of the International Service Program, and activities that stress to others the value of and need for providing service.
Fellowship Hallmark
Phi Theta Kappa is truly a fellowship of scholars. As such, the hallmark of Fellowship is an intrinsic part of all Society programs. Chapters promote development among inactive chapters, facilitate communication between chapters and offer a balance of social and scholarly events.
Members of Phi Theta Kappa may apply for more than $36 million in transfer scholarships, provided exclusively to Society members by more than 600 senior institutions.
FREE enrollment in The Transfer Database, used by hundreds of senior colleges and universities to recruit Phi Theta Kappa transfer students.
Members may connect to find cutting-edge services, programs and resources selected especially to meet their needs. The benefits, available to members free of charge, include:
All members of Phi Theta Kappa receive the prestigious Golden Key Membership Pin.
All members of Phi Theta Kappa receive the impressive Certificate of Membership.
All members of Phi Theta Kappa receive a wallet-size Identification Card.
Members of Phi Theta Kappa may affix the Society's Gold Diploma Seal, denoting Society membership, to their two-year college diploma.
Members of Phi Theta Kappa have their membership in the international honor society noted on their transcript.
Civil Service Jobs Benefit
Members applying for GS5 federal jobs and who completed a baccalaureate degree with superior academic achievement, as defined by the Federal Office of Personnel Management, would be upgraded to a GS7 classification, meaning an increase in starting salary over the GS5 grade. GS5 federal jobs are entry level jobs requiring completion of a baccalaureate degree or four years of study beyond high school.
Members of Phi Theta Kappa may wear the Society's golden monogrammed Honors Stole and Tassel, at college commencement exercises, available through purchase, contingent on college policy.
3.25 cumulative GPA or higher. Only courses taken within the last 5 years of which the Student is applying will be used to calculate the students GPA.
Completion of at least 12 units of coursework in the South Orange County Community College District (SOCCCD).
ASIVC card with a current semester ASG stamp.
$75.00 membership fee for a lifetime membership.
We are the Irvine Valley College's Phi Theta Kappa chapter. We are a 5 star chapter and rank in the top 25 Internationally. At the April 2009 International Convention in Dallas, we won 7 international awards thanks to the valiant combined efforts of last year's members (current this years officers) and last year's officers. We participate in several community projects and have created several unique projects as well. To get a better idea of what we're doing, visit our Projects page.
We are a very unique chapter in that we constantly encourage our members to become project managers and associates and to even create their own unique and innovative projects. We are also very inclusive, and are more than happy to include regular members in our officer meetings. Overall, our key goal is to help our members build leadership qualities and characteristics that will prepare them to become strong, skilled citizens well prepared for their futures.