Outstanding Chapter Growth in the Past Triennium

Phi Kappa Phi Forum, Winter 2005

Not since the early nineties has The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi experienced such a large increase in the number of chapters. During the 2001-2004 triennium, eleven chapters were installed, bringing the total number of chapters to 294. In early 2005, another installation will bring the total to 295.

The driving force behind this noteworthy expansion has been the Board of Director's commitment to a goal of at least six new chapters for the 2001-2004 triennium. That commitment, combined with a streamlined chapter-petitioning process, resulted in the projected goal being surpassed nearly two-fold.

"These new chapters provide added vitality for the Society," notes President Paul J. Ferlazzo. "With new chapters comes the opportunity to involve even more students and faculty in the life of Phi Kappa Phi."

Slippery Rock (PA) University is among the eleven new chapters. The speaker for its first initiation on November 4, 2004, was Dr. David Scobey, director of the Arts and Citizenship Program at the University of Michigan. He complimented the university on its having earned a chapter: "A chapter of Phi Kappa Phi reflects the Society's confidence in both the quality of the faculty and the quality of the educational experience that the university provides its students. The quality of the educational experience that the university provides its students is also a measure of the intellectual achievement and seriousness of SRU's students."

"Our new chapters are receiving strong support from their universities," said President Ferlazzo. North Carolina A&T University is a good example. "Our chapter received a competitive grant from the university to host a lecture series for the 2004-2005 academic year," relates Ray J. Davis, PhD, chapter president at North Carolina A&T State University (Chapter 291), installed in 2003. "This series has provided outstanding name recognition for Phi Kappa Phi on our campus."

The Board's strategic-planning retreat held in October 2004 identified the continued addition of new chapters as a priority. This goal was among the reasons that the Chapter Relations Department at the Society's headquarters has been expanded to include an additional Chapter Relations Director, Marcus Watson. His focus will be on the Northeast, South Central, and part of the Western regions. He joins Kathy iVlarcel, whose primary responsibilities now will be the Southeast, North Central, and part of the Western regions.