About Phi Beta Kappa
Since its founding, Phi Beta Kappa has honored excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and has inducted more than 500,000 scholars, including U.S. presidents, Supreme Court justices, and Nobel laureates. Each year, the Society and its affiliates raise and distribute more than $1 million to support students and scholars through lectureships, awards, summer institutes for teachers, and visiting scholar programs.
Through both national and local initiatives, Phi Beta Kappa chapters and associations work with the national office to champion liberal arts scholarship and intellectual curiosity.
Theta of Michigan Chapter
Western Michigan University was granted a Phi Beta Kappa chapter in 1997, and the Theta of Michigan Chapter was officially installed on February 22, 1998. WMU carries forward this distinguished tradition by recognizing the university’s most accomplished students in the liberal arts and sciences.
Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ) stands for Philosophia Biou Kybernētēs—“love of learning is the guide of life.” At WMU, this principle is reflected in the university’s commitment to academic excellence, intellectual exploration, and the enduring value of a liberal arts education.
Chapter Officers
The Theta of Michigan Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa is led by faculty and staff members who support the Society’s mission and oversee chapter activities at Western Michigan University.
Chair and Associate Professor of Spanish
Western Michigan University
(269) 387-2955
Senior Associate Dean and Director of Teacher Education
Western Michigan University
(269) 387-4478
Historian
Maps Specialist, University Libraries
Western Michigan University
(269) 387-5047
Send an email
Chapter governance and membership
Below you’ll find detailed information about the Theta of Michigan Chapter’s governance documents and membership guidelines, including the chapter bylaws, constitution, and membership criteria.
The following bylaws were approved by the Resident Members on February 25, 2003.
Article I. Officers and organization
Section 1. The membership of the chapter includes:
a. Charter Members: the Phi Beta Kappa members of the faculty to whom the charter was granted;
b. Resident Members: members of Phi Beta Kappa who are members of the faculty or staff of Western Michigan University;
c. Members in Course: all members of the chapter elected as undergraduates or as graduate students;
d. Alumni/ae Members: graduates of Western Michigan University elected in recognition of scholarly achievement after graduation;
e. Honorary Members: non-graduates of Western Michigan University chosen on the same basis as alumni members.
Section 2. Members of the chapter who hold faculty or staff positions at Western Michigan University shall constitute the resident membership, together with members in course on campus. Other members of the chapter shall have full membership privileges, except the privilege of voting on candidates for election to membership and on amendments to these bylaws.
Section 3. The officers of the chapter shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Historian. The term of office for the President and Vice President shall be for one year. The term of office for the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Historian shall be for three years. Officers shall be elected by majority vote at the annual meeting. The President and Vice‑President shall be ineligible for election to more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
Section 4. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the retiring President, the elected officers, and one additional member appointed by the President. The appointed member may be an undergraduate or graduate student member of the chapter. The Executive Committee shall have authority to conduct the affairs of the chapter between meetings, subject to instruction from the chapter and save as otherwise specifically provided in these bylaws.
Section 5. The Committee on Members in Course shall be composed of six resident members, at least four of whom shall be members of the teaching faculty, and the Secretary of the chapter ex officio. Two members of the committee shall be appointed by the President each year for a term of three years, except that the first year two members shall be appointed for one year, two for two years, and two for three years. Members of the committee shall be chosen predominantly from teachers of liberal subjects. The chapter shall determine any participation of undergraduate members in course.
Section 6. The Committee on Alumni/ae and Honorary Members shall be responsible for considering persons proposed for election to alumni/ae and honorary membership. The committee shall be composed of three resident members of the chapter appointed by the President, one appointed each year to serve for a term of three years, except that the first year one shall be appointed for one year, one for two years, and one for three years.
Section 7. The retiring President shall appoint annually a Nominating Committee which shall present to all resident members at least one week before the annual meeting nominations for officers for the ensuing year. Other nominations may be made from the floor.
Section 8. An Auditing Committee of three resident members shall be appointed annually by the President to review the accounts of the Treasurer and make a report at the annual meeting.
Section 9. Special committees shall be appointed by the President or the Executive Committee.
Article II. Meetings
Section 1. Arrangements for the annual meeting and for other regular meetings shall be made by the Executive Committee. At the annual meeting, the normal order of business shall be as follows:
1. Call to order
2. Reading of the minutes of the preceding annual meeting and of intervening business meetings
3. Report of the Executive Committee
4. Report of the Treasurer
5. Report of other committees
6. Unfinished business
7. Consideration of communications from the Society
8. New business
9. Election of officers
10. Adjournment
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President or the Executive Committee, and shall be called upon written request by four members. At the special meeting no business shall be transacted other than that stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 3. Written notice of meetings shall be sent by the Secretary to all resident members of the chapter at least three weeks in advance of the meeting. The notice shall state the purpose of the meeting and the business to be considered
Section 4. A quorum at meetings shall consist of ten resident members.
Section 5. Any vote shall be by secret ballot if requested by one or more of the members present.
Section 6. Members of other chapters living in the area who do not qualify for membership as defined in Article I, Section 1, of these bylaws may be invited to any meeting, but they shall not participate in the transaction of business.
Article III. Election and admission of new members
Section 1. Members in course shall be elected primarily on the basis of broad cultural interests, scholarly achievement, and good character. Juniors and seniors who are enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences or the equivalent and candidates for the liberal bachelor's degree may be considered under the following conditions:
a. The candidate shall be majoring in liberal subjects and studies and be taking a degree program, at least three-fourths of which is in liberal work.
b. The candidate shall have completed at least three full semesters of work in residence at Western Michigan University and be fully registered for the fourth semester.
c. For election as a junior, the candidate shall have completed at least one academic term of the Junior year of college work. The caliber of his or her work should be of exceptional distinction, including, for all graded work, a quality point ratio of at least 3.75, where the grade "A" carries 4.0 quality points, the grade of "BA" 3.5 quality points, the grade "B" 3.0 quality points, the grade of "CB" 2.5 quality points, the grade "C" 2.0 quality points, the grade of "DC" 1.5 quality points, and the grade "D" 1.0 quality point. The minimum quality point ratio for election as a senior shall be 3.25.
d. Grades earned in applied or professional work shall not be counted in computing the quality point ratio for purposes of eligibility. Applied and professional work shall be understood to include all training intended to develop skills or vocational techniques.
e. Weight shall be given to the breadth of the program of each candidate as shown by the number and variety of courses taken outside his or her major. Weight shall also be given to balance and proportion in the candidate’s degree program as a whole.
f. Candidates shall have demonstrated a knowledge of mathematics and of a foreign language at least minimally appropriate for liberal education.
Section 2. Students electing a combined curriculum in such fields as law, medicine, dentistry, or engineering may be considered if, before transferring to professional school:
a. They complete at least the same number of hours in liberal work as are required for candidates in Article III, Section 1 (a);
b. They have completed at least half the requirements for a liberal major; and
c. They meet all of the other conditions stated in Article III, Section 1 (b-f).
Section 3. Subject to other provisions of the constitution of the chapter and these bylaws, students who complete their college course at the end of the spring session, the summer session, or the fall semester and become eligible at that time may be considered with the eligible group of the next academic year.
Section 4. The number of undergraduates elected from any class, including those who may be elected as juniors, shall ordinarily not exceed ten percent, and in no case shall exceed fifteen percent, of the undergraduates expected to receive the liberal bachelor's degree in that class. A maximum of one‑fifth of the members elected from any class may be elected on the basis of junior standing.
Section 5. Election to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is wholly within the discretion of the members of the chapter, subject only to the limitations imposed by the constitution and bylaws of the chapter, and no right to election shall adhere to any student solely by reason of fulfillment of the minimum quality point ratio for election to membership in course.
Section 6. Graduate students shall be elected to membership in course only in strict accord with the provisions of the constitution of the chapter. The number of graduate students elected in any year shall ordinarily be limited to a maximum of five percent of the candidates for doctor's degrees in liberal fields.
Section 7. Nominations for membership in course shall be made by the Committee on Members in Course. Election shall be by secret ballot and shall require an affirmative vote by three‑fourths of the chapter members present. Candidates may also be nominated from the floor; but in such cases an affirmative vote by four‑fifths of the chapter members present shall be required for election. Elections shall continue until ended by the passage of a motion from the floor or until a quota, determined in advance of the balloting, has been reached.
Section 8. Nominations for election to alumni/ae membership shall be referred to the Committee on Alumni/ae and Honorary Members. No nomination for alumni/ae membership shall be brought before the chapter for action unless favorably reported by the committee. The committee shall be guided by criteria defined in Article III, Sections 5 and 6, of the chapter constitution, and committee recommendations shall include a written statement of the qualifications of each nominee. Election shall be by secret ballot; four negative votes shall serve to reject. No more than two alumni members may be elected in any year, nor more than four in any triennium.
Section 9. Procedures for the nomination and election of honorary members shall be the same as for alumni/ae members, except that two negative votes shall serve to reject. A statement of the qualifications of each candidate elected to honorary membership shall be sent to the Secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, as provided in Article III, Section 10, of the chapter constitution. No graduate of another institution having a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa shall be recommended for election unless the parent chapter has been notified and has raised no objection within a two‑month period. A substantial explanation should accompany any negative response from the parent chapter. No more than two honorary members may be elected in any triennium.
Section 10. Provision shall normally be made for initiating new members in course. In its discretion, the Executive Committee may waive the initiation of an alumnus or honorary member.
Section 11. Since good character is a qualification for membership, any member of the chapter found, after being given due notice and an opportunity to be heard, to have lost this qualification may be expelled from Phi Beta Kappa by a four‑fifths vote of the chapter members present at the annual meeting. The name of any member so expelled shall be reported to the Secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, with a statement of the grounds for the action.
Article IV. Fees
Section 1. The initiation fee for members in course and for alumni members shall be determined by the Executive Committee. It shall cover, as a minimum, a ticket to the initiation banquet and the registration and Council Fund payments to the Society. The chapter shall be responsible for registration and Council Fund payments for honorary members, who shall pay no initiation fee.
Section 2. Payment of the initiation fee shall be regarded as formal acceptance of election and shall be made before initiation.
Section 3. Members in course and alumni/ae members shall be encouraged to purchase a key and requested to take out an initial subscription to The American Scholar at the special introductory rate for new members.
Section 4. Resident members of the chapter, exclusive of professors emeriti and undergraduate members, shall pay annual dues at a rate set by the Executive Committee and reported to the chapter.
Section 5. Special assessments may be levied against resident members by majority vote of the members present at any meeting, provided that written notice of the intention to propose such an assessment is given in the announcement of the meeting.
Section 6. Registration and Council Fund payments shall be forwarded by the secretary to the treasurer of the Phi Beta Kappa Society in accordance with Article IV of the Bylaws of the Society.
Article V. Amendments
Amendments to these bylaws, not inconsistent with the Constitution and other lawful regulations of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, may be adopted by a two‑thirds vote of the chapter members present at any regular meeting, either upon motion presented and tabled at the preceding regular or special meeting, or upon condition that written notice of the proposed changes has been sent to all chapter members at least three weeks in advance of the meeting. All amendments shall be subject to the approval of the Senate of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
(Approved February 25, 2003)
- This society is a constituent member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, an unincorporated organization (hereinafter, "Phi Beta Kappa Society"), or its successor-in-interest, and shall be known as the Theta of Michigan Chapter or as the Western Michigan University Chapter.
- This chapter is under the general supervision and control of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. The purpose of Phi Beta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship, friendship, and cultural interests, and to support excellence and integrity in the pursuit of the arts and sciences. Chapter activities encourage liberal education, scholarship, and concern for the responsible uses of knowledge. Individuals elected to membership commit themselves to advancing the goals of Phi Beta Kappa.
- The membership of the chapter shall consist of charter members, members in course, alumni/ae members (if any), honorary members (if any), and resident members. Foundation members, elected only at the founding of a chapter, shall be classified as alumni/ae or honorary members.
- With a view to maintaining the historic character of Phi Beta Kappa, members of the Committee on Members in Course shall be chosen predominantly from teachers of liberal subjects. (Here, as elsewhere in this constitution, liberal subjects and studies shall be considered to be those designed principally for knowledge or understanding or appreciation of the natural and social world in which we live, as contrasted with training intended to develop skill or vocational techniques.) The chapter shall determine any participation of undergraduate members in the Committee on Members in Course.
- Only those persons shall be elected to membership whose qualifications have been carefully investigated. The members in course shall be elected primarily on the basis of broad cultural interests, scholarly achievements, and good character. The number of undergraduates elected from any class, including any who may be elected in their junior year, shall ordinarily not exceed 10 percent and in no case shall exceed 15 percent of those expected to receive liberal bachelor's degrees in that class. Only those students whose work has been definitely liberal in character and purpose shall be eligible to election as members in course, this requirement being satisfied ordinarily by a proportion of three‑fourths of liberal studies. They shall also be completing at least two years of residence in the sheltering institution and must have obtained a minimum average grade specified in the chapter bylaws. A limited number of undergraduates of outstanding ability may be elected in their junior year.
- The chapter shall be responsible for determining the work or courses which are to be considered liberal in character in accordance with the Stipulations of the Council on eligibility for election of undergraduate members in course. The chapter may take into consideration the results of a candidate's performance in honors work and comprehensive examinations and also the opinions of teachers and administrative officers concerning the character, capacity, scholarly achievements, and breadth of interest of each student under consideration.
- If graduate students in course are elected, they must be completing, with an unusually high record, at least two years of graduate study leading toward the Ph.D. degree, must meet the same standards as to liberal studies as are applied to undergraduates, and shall ordinarily be graduates of institutions not having a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa and the possessors of a superior standing in their undergraduate work.
- Graduates of the institution of not less than ten years' standing who, by contributions in the fields of the humane sciences and letters or by works of pure literature, have since graduation given clear evidence of the possession of distinguished scholarly capacities, may be elected to alumni/ae membership. The number elected in any triennium should be strictly limited by the chapter bylaws.
- Men and women, not graduates of the institution, who, by contributions in the fields of the humane sciences and letters or by works of pure literature, have given clear evidence of the possession of distinguished scholarly capacities, may be elected to honorary membership. No graduate of another institution having a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa shall be elected unless the consent of that chapter has been obtained. The number elected in any triennium should be strictly limited by the chapter bylaws.
- Members of Phi Beta Kappa who are, or who become, members of the faculty or staff of the institution shall thereby become resident members of this chapter with full privileges in the conduct of its affairs. Other members of Phi Beta Kappa in the vicinity may be invited to any meeting of the chapter.
- The chapter may make further limitations or restrictions concerning any class of members other than resident.
- Since good character is a qualification for membership, any member found, after being given due notice and an opportunity to be heard, to have lost this qualification may be expelled from Phi Beta Kappa by a four‑fifths vote of the members present at a regular annual meeting of the chapter.
- A citation of the qualifications of each person elected to alumni/ae or honorary membership shall be entered upon the minutes and submitted for record to the Secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. A full report of all members elected, expelled, or recorded as having resigned or died shall be sent annually to the secretary of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
- This chapter shall send a delegation to represent it at each meeting of the Council of Phi Beta Kappa and shall contribute its share to the financial support of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
- This chapter shall, by suitable bylaws, provide for the election of officers, the selection of members, the conduct of its meetings, and such other matters as may be deemed proper, provided that said bylaws shall contain nothing inconsistent with this constitution or with the constitution and bylaws of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, and provided further that said bylaws and any amendment thereto shall not become effective until approved by the senate.
- This constitution is based on the Model Chapter Constitution, effective October 2000, which may be amended only by the Council of Phi Beta Kappa. Amendments to this constitution must be approved by the senate of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
This chapter is organized and is to be operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code §501(c)(3) (references herein to the Internal Revenue Code, hereinafter "IRC," include the corresponding section(s) of any future United States tax code).
No part of the net earnings of this chapter shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its directors, officers, members, trustees, or other private persons, except that the chapter shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth herein. No substantial part of the activities of the chapter shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any of the provision herein, the chapter shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under IRC §501(c)(3), or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under IRC §§170(c)(2), 2055(a)(2), or 2522(a)(2).
Upon the dissolution of this chapter, after paying or making for the payment of all of the lawful debts and liabilities of the chapter, the assets shall be distributed to one or more of the following categories of recipients, as the chapter shall determine:
- A nonprofit organization or organizations which may have been created to succeed the chapter, as long as such organization or each such organization shall qualify as an organization described in IRC §505(c)(3); and/or
- The Phi Beta Kappa Society, provided that it shall qualify at the time of distribution as an organization described in IRC §501(c)(3); and/or
- A nonprofit organization or organizations having similar aims and objectives as the chapter and which may be selected as an appropriate recipient of such assets, as long as such organization or each such organization shall qualify as an organization described in IRC §501(c)(3); and/or
- The Federal government, or to a State or local government, but only if such assets will be used for public purpose.
(Approved Feb. 25, 2003)
Membership stipulations
(Extracted from the chapter constitution)
The purpose of Phi Beta Kappa is to recognize and encourage scholarship, friendship, and cultural interests, and to support excellence and integrity in the pursuit of the arts and sciences. Chapter activities encourage liberal education, scholarship, and concern for the responsible uses of knowledge. Individuals elected to membership commit themselves to advancing the goals of Phi Beta Kappa.
Only those persons shall be elected to membership whose qualifications have been carefully investigated. The members in course shall be elected primarily on the basis of broad cultural interests, scholarly achievements, and good character. The number of undergraduates elected from any class, including any who may be elected in their junior year, shall ordinarily not exceed 10 percent and in no case shall exceed 15 percent of those expected to receive liberal bachelor's degrees in that class. Only those students whose work has been definitely liberal in character and purpose shall be eligible to election as members in course, this requirement being satisfied ordinarily by a proportion of three‑fourths of liberal studies. They shall also be completing at least two years of residence in the sheltering institution and must have obtained a minimum average grade specified in the chapter bylaws. A limited number of undergraduates of outstanding ability may be elected in their junior year.
General criteria for consideration for election to Phi Beta Kappa
- Students must be a candidate for a bachelor's degree in Western Michigan University's College of Arts and Sciences. Students electing a combined curriculum in a professional field may be considered if, before transferring to the professional school they have completed all the requirements for the bachelor's degree in the College of Arts and Sciences, except that they only need to have completed one-half the requirements for the major.
- Students must complete the requirements for the College of Arts and Sciences Liberal Education Curriculum. In particular, students must have satisfied the LEC Proficiencies 1 through 6, and must have taken a course in the Distribution Area 6 (Natural Sciences with Lab).
- Students must complete a minimum of 91 credits out of the total of 122 credits required for graduation in the liberal arts and sciences. Credits earned in technical and professional courses may not be included in the 91 credits.
- Transfer students should complete a minimum of 61 credits at WMU. Transfer students currently enrolled in WMU may be considered provided they have senior status and at least 45 credits have already been completed at WMU.
- The GPA (cumulative GPA for courses at WMU adjusted to exclude physical education, military science, technical and professional courses) should meet the following minimums:
- Juniors need a minimum of 75 credits earned at WMU and a 3.8 GPA at WMU
- Seniors need a minimum of 95 credits earned at WMU and a 3.5 GPA at WMU
- Transfer students with a minimum of 45 credits earned at WMU need a 3.8 GPA at WMU
- Transfer students with a minimum of 60 credits earned at WMU need a 3.7 GPA at WMU
- Transfer students with a minimum of 75 credits earned at WMU need a 3.6 GPA at WMU
- Transfer students with a minimum of 91 credits earned at WMU need a 3.5 GPA at WMU
6. Students who have demonstrated additional scholarly accomplishments through the Lee Honors College, the Study Abroad Program, a directed research project, or other significant activity shall be given special consideration for election into Phi Beta Kappa. In exceptional cases, students with a GPA below 3.5, but not below 3.25, may be considered.
Additional considerations
- In a given year, approximately 10 percent of the graduating senior class of students in the College of Arts and Sciences may be elected into Phi Beta Kappa. Only 20 percent of the students elected into Phi Beta Kappa may be elected in their junior year.
- Students are elected to Phi Beta Kappa only in the spring semester. Eligible students who have graduated in the previous summer I session, summer II session, or fall semester may be considered for election along with the current class of graduating seniors.
- Graduate students who have completed at least two years of graduate study at WMU leading toward the Ph.D. in a field in the College of Arts and Sciences may be elected into Phi Beta Kappa provided:
- Their graduate GPA is at least 3.8.
- Their undergraduate work would have qualified them for consideration for election into Phi Beta Kappa.
- Their undergraduate institution did not have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at the time of their graduation. In a given year, not more than 5 percent of doctoral students in fields in the College of Arts and Sciences may be elected into Phi Beta Kappa.
(Revised Nov. 17, 2003)
