Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

The Central Piedmont Phi Lambda chapter is dedicated to local community service and service to our college community through education and hands-on activities. From scholarships to service and leadership experience, Phi Theta Kappa is a great way to learn the skills that will make you a valuable employee and an asset to your community.

Phi Theta Kappa is open to any student at Central Piedmont who:

• is currently registered for at least one curriculum (111 or higher) class in the current semester;
• has completed 12 hours of curricular classes at Central Piedmont;
• achieves a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Cumulative GPA includes all curricular courses completed throughout a student's career at Central Piedmont. President's and Dean's list honors relate to the GPA earned for a semester and do not qualify a student for PTK eligibility if the student's cumulative GPA is below 3.5.

If you are eligible to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa, you will receive an invitation email (sent to your Central Piedmont student email) from our chapter. In the email you will find details about how to participate in our chapter's activities.

Shortly after receiving the email from our chapter, you will be sent an invitation email from Phi Theta Kappa headquarters. In that email you will find a personal invitation code and a link to an application for PTK. Once you complete the application you will need to submit the one-time dues payment. You membership fee covers the regional and international cost for membership, golden key pin, and membership certificate.

We assess eligibility for Phi Theta Kappa every fall and spring semester and issue invitations to students who meet the eligibility requirements by the fourth week of the semester. The invitation to join is valid only in the semester it is offered. Once the enrollment period closes, you must wait for the next one to open to join. Be aware that your eligibility may change if your GPA changes.

If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact a Phi Theta Kappa advisor.

If you are a Phi Theta Kappa member who was inducted at a different school, you are welcome to participate in events with our chapter. However, your records remain with your original school unless you transfer your membership. Officially transferring your membership to our chapter may be important if you would like Phi Theta Kappa noted on your Central Piedmont transcript, your Central Piedmont degree/diploma, or if you want to become an officer on the executive committee at Central Piedmont.

If you were already inducted into Phi Theta Kappa at another community college and wish to request to transfer your membership, complete the membership transfer form (PDF) in order to have Phi Theta Kappa listed on your Central Piedmont transcript or have Phi Theta Kappa noted on your Central Piedmont diploma.

Phi Theta Kappa International headquarters mails membership packets to the address you provide on your application form. Their headquarters may be experiencing some delays during this time. You will receive an email from Phi Theta Kappa with directions to create a login to their website once they have you on record as a member. You will receive your certificate and your Phi Theta Kappa golden key pin approximately eight weeks after you accept your membership. If you have not received your packet after this time, please email member services.

Benefits of Phi Theta Kappa include:

• Golden Key of Phi Theta Kappa Membership pin
• Membership certificate
• Recognition of Phi Theta Kappa on your Central Piedmont diploma upon graduation
• Privilege of wearing the monogrammed golden honors stole and tassel at graduation
• "Member of Phi Theta Kappa" included on official Central Piedmont transcript
• Access to "PTK Connect" for opportunities to apply for (mostly transfer) scholarships that are exclusively for Phi Theta Kappa members
• Automatic enrollment in the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Database, which is made available to four-year and senior-level institutions that actively recruit transfer students

Phi Theta Kappa has a number of scholarships available for members. A list of scholarships is available on the organization's website. There are no PTK scholarships specific to Central Piedmont or to community colleges in general, instead the majority of the scholarships are for academic careers at 4 year institutions.

The majority of Phi Theta Kappa scholarships are transfer scholarships awarded universities to PTK members. Among regional schools that offer transfer scholarships are: Johnson and Wales University, Queens University of Charlotte, Wingate University, Gardner-Webb University, High Point University, and Appalachian State University. You can find a complete list at PTK Connect on the PTK website.

Phi Theta Kappa also offers scholarships available to members nationally regardless of school. These are highly competitive and have intensive applications. You can find more details, including requirements, applications, and dates at the PTK site.

One scholarship available for Central Piedmont students is offered by the State Employees' Credit Union Foundation. For a complete listing of all available scholarships for Central Piedmont students, please visit the Financial Aid website.

There are many opportunities to engage in service, both on campus and in the community. The Service-Learning Center maintains an up-to-date listing of all the community agencies that work with Central Piedmont students. You can focus on service with animals, women's issues, the elderly, the disabled, health and wellness, education, and more.

Annual Project: Adopt-A-Street

Our chapter of Phi Theta Kappa has adopted Elizabeth Avenue through the Charlotte Adopt-a-Street program. Each semester, we clean the sidewalks along Elizabeth Avenue from the bridge near McDowell Street all the way up to the Hospital. Pick-up sticks, buckets and bags are provided.

Phi Theta Kappa general meetings are being held every other Thursday from 2:00-3:00 p.m. in the Parr Center on Central Campus. The room locations may vary. We send current and eligible members details of meetings to their Central Piedmont student emails.

Have questions or need to get in touch with someone from Phi Theta Kappa at Central Piedmont?

Advisors

• Whitney Williams, Student Engagement Advisor
• Beau Bowers, Faculty Advisor

Location: Central Campus, Worrell Building, Room 1114

Phone: (704) 330-6744

In support of our continued excellence, Phi Theta Kappa has established four ideals (we call them hallmarks): Scholarship, Leadership, Fellowship, and Service. The following is a condensed summary of the activities in which members of the Phi Lambda chapter of Phi Theta Kappa participate.

Scholarship

Members must remain enrolled in at least one curriculum-level class per semester, accumulate an overall 3.5 GPA to get in, then maintain an overall GPA 3.25 to stay in. They are also encouraged to participate in events hosted by our chapter. Millions of dollars in scholarships are available for members for transfer institutions.

Leadership

There are service events and on-campus opportunities to get involved through the Phi Lambda chapter. In addition, each year, new officers are elected from the general membership. Phi Theta Kappa members are in the top 1% of the school and are a part of the largest student organization at Central Piedmont. Phi Theta Kappa members are also encouraged to participate in the annual Student Leadership Conference and the Student Leadership Academy.

Fellowship

Meetings are conducted on campus every week to discuss and plan upcoming events and activities and the current honors topic. Opportunities to socialize with other members are scheduled throughout the year.

Service

There are numerous agencies and several on-campus activities where members can perform service through out the year. Ongoing chapter activities include Fall Fest/International Spring Fest, Student Resources Day, and other Student Life and Service-Learning sponsored events. Some projects may revolve around the year's International Service Project.

The purpose of Phi Theta Kappa shall be to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students. To achieve this purpose, Phi Theta Kappa shall provide opportunity for the development of leadership and service, for an intellectual climate for exchange of ideas and ideals, for lively fellowship for scholars, and for stimulation of interest in continuing academic excellence.” Phi Theta Kappa 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. The founders chose to model their new Society after the prestigious senior honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. The name “Phi Theta Kappa” was taken from the initial letters of the three Greek words meaning “wisdom,” “aspiration,” and “purity.” Eleven years later, Phi Theta Kappa was officially recognized by the American Association of Junior Colleges on November 19, the date now traditionally observed as the Society’s Founders Day.

Review the Phi Theta Kappa constitution (PDF).

Central Piedmont has strict dress guidelines for graduation. Currently, PTK graduates are allowed to wear the PTK stole and/or tassel. These items are not included in your membership dues. They may be purchased from the PTK online store or from the advisors.

Phi Theta Kappa has a number of other regalia items for sale, but none of these are approved for graduation and you will be asked to remove them at graduation. Cords and other regalia for academic excellence at Central Piedmont are provided by the school and can be obtained from the bookstore when you receive your cap and gown.