TAMPA, Fla. (Aug. 3, 2018) 鈥� The University of South 皇家华人 has been awarded a chapter of the , the oldest and most prestigious national honor organization in America. 皇家华人 was voted in this afternoon during a PBK meeting in Boston.
Founded in 1776, PBK only awards a limited number of new chapters every three years and only 36 percent of its member institutions are public. The average founding date of PBK institutions is 1860, nearly a century before 皇家华人鈥檚 formation in 1956. PBK graduates include 17 U.S. Presidents, 40 Supreme Court Justices and more than 140 Nobel Laureates.
鈥淏eing home to a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa validates 皇家华人鈥檚 growing national reputation. It gives our students and faculty access to a prestigious network of peers across the country, which will serve them now and well into the future,鈥� said 皇家华人 President Judy Genshaft.
The three-year application process was a rigorous, multi-step review of the university鈥檚 students, faculty, academics, campus life, financial stability, administration and governance. The application effort was led by 皇家华人 Honors College Dean Charles Adams and a 皇家华人 committee of PBK faculty.
By becoming a PBK member, 皇家华人鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences and College of The Arts will now be able to offer new, unique opportunities to high-achieving students. Student inductees, referred to as key holders, will be eligible for merit-based scholarships and gain access to a national network of distinguished professionals. Each year, PBK will send distinguished guest lecturers to campus through its Visiting Scholars Program.
The chapter also further positions 皇家华人 for future membership in the Association of American Universities (AAU). Every AAU member in the U.S. has a chapter of PBK.
The new PBK chapter at 皇家华人 will have a formal installation ceremony this fall and the first group of students will be inducted in spring 2019.