Why Join?

If you have been invited to join Phi Beta Kappa, congratulations! You were chosen for this recognition by the faculty and staff of the Goucher PBK chapter, based on your academic excellence and integrity as a Goucher student. We urge you to accept this honor because:

• It is an honor extended only to outstanding students. Only 10% of all four-year colleges in the U.S. have earned the right to house a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, and no more than 10% of students at those colleges are selected for membership.
• It gives you access to networks that open doors to career opportunities and learning experiences. PBK and its local alumni associations support both digital and in-person networking with accomplished professionals, and also provide a range of career resources.
• It links you to a community of PBK alumni, including our local alumni association in Baltimore, with opportunities for social events and learning opportunities.
• Phi Beta Kappa membership is a valuable addition to your resume, and one that can give you a competitive edge in the marketplace.
• You will join a long list of notable Phi Beta Kappa members, past and present, including Nobel Prize awardees, leading artists and authors, and national leaders.
  
  

Criteria for Membership

In keeping with Phi Beta Kappa’s mission to promote excellence in liberal-arts education and lifelong inquiry, students elected to membership must show high academic achievement as well as a record of breadth in their studies. Because Goucher’s core graduation requirements are wide-ranging and interdisciplinary, we believe that all Goucher students with a record of excellent academic achievement will have taken advantage of our broad liberal-arts education—including the study of fine arts, complex interdisciplinary problems, cross-cultural and international experiences, and perspectives on race and power.

Students are evaluated during their final semester on the basis of their cumulative GPA, which is recalculated to include graded transfer courses. In addition, to be eligible for consideration, the number of courses that students have chosen to take on a pass/no pass basis (rather than for a letter grade) must be less than 10% of their total credits.

Students graduating in August and December are typically evaluated for election to PBK in the spring following their graduations.

Because (by national rules) no more than 10% of the graduating class may be elected in any one year, the number of electees varies somewhat from year to year, depending on the overall number of graduates, but has recently been between 20 and 25.

Process & Timeline

Students do not need to apply for election to Phi Beta Kappa. The academic records of eligible students will be reviewed by the faculty and staff members early in the spring semester, and those elected to join the society will receive an invitation prior to Spring Break. There is a one-time membership fee, payable to the national organization; in cases of financial hardship, assistance may be available.

The induction ceremony is typically held one to three days prior to Commencement. Students are encouraged to invite their families and friends, as well as professors who had a meaningful role in their academic success at Goucher. New inductees will be able to buy stoles and cords to add to their graduation regalia if they choose.

Frequently Asked Questions