Academic Honor Societies

We are proud that so many Honors College students are invited to join national honor societies

Academic Honors Societies students in auditorium

Commonwealth Honors College provides support for two national honor societies: Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Beta Kappa. There are campus contacts for each one. For more information on invitations to each society and their induction ceremonies, please see each society’s website.

We encourage our students to take advantage of these opportunities.

Phi Kappa Phi 

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and largest all-discipline honor society. Its chapters are on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. Each year, approximately 30,000 members are initiated. 

Campus Contacts 

  • Interim President: Dr. Elena Carbone | ecarbone [at] umass [dot] edu (ecarbone[at]umass[dot]edu)
  • Secretary and Treasurer: Jennifer D. Bennett | jdb [at] honors [dot] umass [dot] edu (jdb[at]honors[dot]umass[dot]edu)

Phi Beta Kappa 

Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa has celebrated excellence in the liberal arts and sciences and championed freedom of thought for more than two centuries. Its campus chapters invite for induction the most outstanding arts and sciences students at America’s leading colleges and universities. The Society sponsors activities to advance these studies — the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences — in higher education and in society at large. 

Learn more on the Phi Beta Kappa website.

Campus Contact