Membership

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Students do not apply for Phi Beta Kappa.  The membership committee meets every spring to elect students who have distinguished themselves through academic achievement in the liberal arts.  Grades are just one of the indicators of this achievement.  The membership committee also evaluates achievement based on breadth of study in the liberal arts, on evidence of broad cultural interests, and on evidence of an intellectually rigorous course of study that may include, for example, independent research, directed inquiries, honors research, or upper division work outside of the major.  Prospective inductees are also expected to be of sound moral character and integrity.  Students are notified of election by letter in the second half of the Spring semester.

The following describes the minimum requirements for a student to be considered for election.  Fulfillment of these requirements in no way guarantees election.  The Gamma Chapter may elect up to 10% of the senior class and up to 2% of the junior class. The national organization requires that senior inductees have a GPA of at least 3.6; Junior inductees must have a GPA of at least 3.8.  However, in practice, the average GPA for inductees at Rhodes is much higher than this.  For eligibility, students must also have fulfilled a minimum number of credits in liberal subjects as well as a minimum number of credits at Rhodes.  Seniors graduating in 2009 must have at least 60 credits earned at Rhodes and 90 credits in liberal subjects.  To be inducted as a junior in 2009, a student must have at least 90 credits at Rhodes and 72 hours in liberal subjects.

Although the honor bestowed by membership in the Society recognizes academic achievement, the qualifications for election to Phi Beta Kappa are entirely independent of the academic policies of Rhodes College, and it should not be assumed that fulfillment of the requirements for graduation render one automatically eligible for election to Phi Beta Kappa.