History of the Eta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at UMBC
Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society.
In 1998, UMBC was among only seven colleges and universities in the United states to be offered Phi Beta Kappa chartership (selected from 47 that applied).
The installation of the Eta Chapter of Maryland of the Phi Beta Kappa Society took place on March 16, 1998 in UMBC’s University Center Ballroom.
Honorary memberships were given to Jo Ann E. Argersinger, Provost of UMBC; Robert P. Burchard, Professor of Biological Sciences; Daphne D. Harrison; Director of the Center for the Humanities; Freeman A. Hrabowski, III, President of UMBC; Albin O. Kuhn; the first chancellor of UMBC; Jane B. Meyerhoff and Robert E. Meyerhoff, philanthropists; Angela Moorjani; chair of Modern Languages and Linguistics; and Richard F. Neville, former Dean of Arts and Sciences at UMBC. Dr. Jay M. Freyman, director of the Honors College, was named president of the Eta Chapter.
On May 26, 1998, the first class of UMBC’s Phi Beta Kappa members were inducted into the honor society during an early afternoon ceremony in the University Center Ballroom. Qualifications included a minimum 3.5 GPA, 90 credits in both liberal arts and sciences (36 of which must have been received at UMBC), and no more than ten percent of the eligible pool of students could be offered membership to the society.
The installation of a chapter always includes a passage taken from an early ritual:
“Let this Chapter confer new distinction on the ancient and illustrious association of which it is a member. May this star shine with unsurpassed brilliancy in the splendid constellation which has poured out so pure a radiance over the literacy character of our country.”
UMBC is one of about 290 colleges and universities in the United States to be honored with Phi Beta Kappa status. To be considered, an institution must demonstrate that it is dedicated to the highest academic standards and committed to fostering excellence in the liberal arts.
