Phi Theta Kappa International
A Brief History
Phi Theta Kappa is the officially recognized honor society for two-year colleges on a national level. Phi Theta Kappa members may participate individually in a variety of personal and professional development initiatives or participate in activities on the chapter, regional and/or international levels. Members choose the level of engagement that fits best.
Phi Theta Kappa traces its beginnings to a Society that originated with six charter members under the name of Kappa Phi Omicron at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, in 1910. The Society continued to grow and in the spring of 1918 was one of many honorary groups in Missouri. At a meeting of the presidents of the Missouri junior colleges for women in 1918, it was decided to organize a new honorary society, chapters of which would have a common character, stand, and similarity of organization. The name Phi Theta Kappa was chosen, and the Society was incorporated in Missouri as a national organization.
Phi Theta Kappa’s Center for Excellence is headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. Here the President and CEO, Dr. Lynn Tincher-Ladner , and her staff work to provide the support and direction needed to fulfill the purpose and mission of the Society.
Phi Theta Kappa's Mission
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’s mission is two-fold;
- Recognize and encourage the academic achievement of two-year college students and;
- Provide opportunities for individual growth and development through members’ active participation in programs centered around Phi Theta Kappa’s Hallmarks; Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Fellowship.
Scholarship
Scholarship is the first Hallmark of Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa celebrates and promotes academic excellence and this is its core mission.
Leadership
Leadership is the second Hallmark of Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa offers many opportunities for members to develop leadership skills.
Service
Service is the third Hallmark of Phi theta Kappa. Performing service in the college or community helps members develop leadership skills and makes their college or community a better place.
Fellowship
Fellowship is the fourth Hallmark of Phi Theta Kappa. Fellowship helps the other three Hallmarks function more smoothly.
Membership
Phi Theta Kappa is the officially recognized honor society for two-year colleges on a national and international level with 1,285 chapters on college campuses in all 50 of the United States, plus Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, Peru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. More than 3 million students have been inducted since its founding in 1918, with approximately 134,000 students inducted annually.
Membership is organized into four Divisions. Each division contains various Regions. And within each Region are various numbers of chapters found in all 50 chapters
of the United States, plus Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, Peru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions.
Missouri Region is divided into three Districts, Phi, Theta, and Kappa, and is proud to be the home of 26 chapters. Each of the 25 chapters in the Missouri Region are lead by five regional officers elected from the various chapters within the region. The Regional Coordinator and Co-Coordinator help guide the Missouri Region officers and act as liasons between the Missouri Region chapters and PTK International. For more information on the Missouri Region officers and the Missouri Region Coordinators please go to the Missouri Region website.
Alpha Tau Chapter
Alpha Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa is currently one of 26 chapters on college campuses in the Missouri Region.
Alpha Tau is one chapter located among all five campuses of Moberly Area Community College. The Alpha Tau chapter leadership team is composed of one chapter president who oversees the activities of the entire chapter. One vice-president is located at each of the five campus sites of Moberly Area Community College. The vice-presidents oversee site meetings and site activities, and assist the chapter president in conducting chapter activities. Five chapter advisors help coordinate and guide the chapter officers and members through each year’s activities.
The Alpha Tau Chapter is within the Kappa district of the Missouri Region and is represented regionally by our Vice President for Kappa.
The objectives of our chapter like the entire Honor Society is to promote scholarship, develop character and leadership, and cultivate fellowship among our student members. We provide various activities and events throughout the year to help members realize these objectives.
To be eligible for membership in the Alpha Tau Chapter, a student must have at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average and have completed 12 semester credit hours of associate degree coursework. For a complete list of eligibility requirements, see the chapter by-laws. A letter of invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa is sent to eligible students during the fall and spring semesters as well as over the summer.
If you’ve been invited to become a member of the Alpha Tau Chapter your academic excellence has already been recognized. Accepting that invitation and becoming an active member is your way of providing yourself the opportunity to interact with other like-minded individuals in scholarly fellowship, to further develop your leadership skills, and through your continued academic pursuits, develop better means to serve others as well as yourself.
The Alpha Tau Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa was chartered in 1931 as part of an international scholastic honor society for two-year college students.
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