Most chapters at Phi Beta Kappa schools
 

Phi Beta Kappa has a very select standard for placing its chapters so it is a pretty good gauge for determnining which institutions are the likeliest to have the brightest students that we would all want in our organizations. Here is a list of the sororities and fraternities which have the most chapters at Phi beta Kappa schools:

(1) Kappa Kappa Gamma 109, (2) Delta Gamma 99, (3) Pi Beta Phi 97, (4) Kappa Alpha Theta 95, (5) Delta Delta Delta 90, (6) Chi Omega 89, (7) Alpha Chi Omega 87, (8) Alpha Phi 74, (9) Kappa Delta 64, (10) Gamma Phi Beta 61, (11) Alpha Delta Pi 57, (12) Delta Zeta & Sigma Kappa 44, (14) Zeta Tau Alpha 40, (15) Sigma Delta Tau 38, (16) Alpha Omicron Pi 37, (17) Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Xi Delta & Phi Mu 31, (21) Phi Sigma Sigma 22, (22) Delta Phi Epsilon 16, (23) Sigma Sigma Sigma 13, (24) Alpha Sigfma Alpha 8, (25) Theta Phi Alpha 4 & (26) Alpha Sigm Tau.

(1) Sigma Chi 117, (2) Sigma Alpha Epsilon 112, (3) Sigma Phi Epsilon 110, (4) Pi Kappa Alpha 95, (5) Kappa Sigma & Lambda Chi Alpha 85, (7) Phi Delta Theta 84, (8) Sigma Nu 83, (9) Beta Theta Pi 79, (10) Alpha Epsilon Pi 78, (11) Phi Gamma Delta 74, (12) Delta Tau Delta 70, (13) Tau Kappa Epsilon 69, (14) Alpha Tau Omega 66, (15) Phi Kappa Psi 64, (16) Theta Chi 57, (17) Kappa Alpha 56, (18) Pi Kappa Phi 54, (19) Delta Upsilon 52, (20) Delta Chi 50, (21) Sigma Pi 49, (22) Sigma Alpha Mu 48, (23) Phi Kappa Tau 39, (24) Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Kappa Epsilon & Zeta Beta Tau 37, (27) Delta Sigma Phi 35, & (28) Chi Phi & Phi Sigma Kappa 33.

Among the sororities, it appears that Alpha Epsilon Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma & Sigma Delta Tau have the highest percentage of their chapters at the more elite institutions. With the fraternities, Alpha Gamma Rho, Delta Tau Delta, Delta Upsilon, Phi Gamma Delta & Phi Kappa Psi have the highest percentage.

VERY interesting. What is Phi Beta Kappa's criteria? I remember hearing years ago that the size of the campus library was part of their equation. I'd be interested to know how many schools rated "competitive" do not have a Phi Beta Kappa Chapter.

How about the NPHC groups?

Starting a Chapter

http://staging.pbk.org/AM/Template.c...ContentID=2045

You read my mind.

These threads never include NPHC groups. Maybe they will in another highly accomplished 100 years.

At least you don't have to worry about your group getting a typo.

For the purpose of this discussion, please define "elite." Thanks.

"I'd rather you omit than not edit."

I counted 90, but I'll let it slide. ;)

Here is a listing of all colleges and universities with Phi Beta Kappa chapters
http://staging.pbk.org/AM/Template.c...chapterdir.cfm

This is an application for an educational institution to be considered for PBK. It asks various questions regarding tenured faculty, terminal degree percentages, etc. http://staging.pbk.org/AM/Template.c...ContentID=1750

For personal membership: "The ideal Phi Beta Kappan has demonstrated intellectual integrity, tolerance for other views, and a broad range of academic interests. The Phi Beta Kappa Society recognizes three types of members: members in course, alumni members, and honorary members. Membership in the Society is for life.

Members in course are elected on the basis of their academic records as college seniors, juniors, or — rarely — Ph.D. candidates. To be eligible for election, students must have pursued a broad program of study in the liberal arts and sciences and met other academic criteria as required by the electing chapter. Typically, no more than 10 percent of the candidates for degrees in liberal arts and sciences are elected. Each year, about one college senior in a hundred, nationwide, is invited to join Phi Beta Kappa."

I want to go on record as saying that, even though my school has a chapter, I do have a problem with calling a school "elite" just because the instituation has a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. I say this knowing a few members, and just because one meets their criteria, it doesn't make them Einstein.

I imagine it's "elite" as defined by Phi Beta Kappa's criteria. The list of campuses where they have chapters is quite impressive...the flagship state schools like Univ. of Michigan, Tennessee, Wyoming; the strong academic private schools like Northwestern, Stanford, Vanderbilt; and the highly selective small schools like Sewanee (Univ. of the South), Millsaps, Birmingham-Southern.

Thanks for this link. :)

Some of these schools are great and would be considered "elite" by nonPBK standards.

However, some of these colleges and universities aren't considered "elite" by nonPBK standards. In fact, I would chuckle if people from some of these colleges and universities called themselves "elite."

There are definitely academically elite institutions that do not have Phi Beta Kappa chapters. USMA, USNA, USAFA are absent as well as Caltech, arguably one of the finest engineering schools in the country. PBK doesn't recognize many programs that lead to professional degrees such as engineering (which knocks out the 4 I mentioned).

I also see many schools on that list that are not exactly known for their academic prowess.

Did you count active only or active and inactive combined?

Ole Miss received their Phi Beta Kappa Chapter in 2001. We are the only Public University in the State of Mississippi to have a chapter. Millsaps (private) has had their chapter since 1989.

It's just active. (Which I agree with -- no use counting where you have a closed chapter for this list.)

So this thread sucks. :p

Me too.

I'm laughing at the notion that all schools that have PBK chapters are "elite".

There's at least 17 PBK chapters in PA (I didn't count too closely). They're not at "bad" schools, but most of those schools are not what anyone could be considered "elite".

A good exercise in correlation does not equal causation.

The OP seems to constantly be striving to find some sort of measuring stick by which to compare GLOs and figure out how they all measure up.

While history is interesting, this isn't really historic. It's like the which sorority is the best because it has more fireplaces in its house. (anyone remember that one?). Two things which really aren't related in any way, and particularly aren't related in terms of success.

And that never plays well here where any mention other than "no matter the letter we're all Greeks together" is rebuffed.

oldu, I appreciate your time and effort and find your threads interesting and informative.

If you find this concept so offensive, why are you still here instead of posting at Fratty?

(I think I know the answer, but I'll throw it open to see some other opinions.)

There's a middle ground to be had. And, as 33girl said, if you don't like it here and want to discuss how you and your GLO are better than everyone else, why don't you find an appropriate venue for that?

You can discuss and compare sororities without putting down those other than your own, acting like one is better than another. It's all subjective.

I don't think all comparisons are subjective.

Look at grades. Panhellenics around the country publish the collective grades of all active chapters on their campus. It's not the be-all-end-all, but it's an example of an objective comparison and I don't see anything wrong with that.

I would include the NPHC groups if I could locate a good chapter listing for each organization. They do not seem to be listed on the national sites. How about someone be energetic enough to do one of those "all the chapters ever" lists for each of the NPHC fraternities & sororities. By the way I do these kinds of postings because I think it is healthy for us to constantly compare our success (or lack of) with others. Good healthy competition is what makes us better.

I like oldu's posts. I don't think he/she's putting down or ranking any of the groups. Oldu is simply stating facts. Look at AEPhi. They are not one of the "larger" NPC groups yet they are careful where they put their chapters and it shows by the fact that they are at so many PBK schools.

You are both missing the point. Just because a school has a PBK chapter, doesn't mean it is of higher caliber than a school that doesn't - or a place where Greeks would necessarily succeed. Wilson College, for example. I don't think the home of the Women With Children program is going to be a hotbed of Greek life. I don't think sororities and fraternities are going to be falling over themselves to be colonizing at some of these schools just because there is a PBK chapter.

Phi Beta Kappa is an academic honor society. Their governing board that charters and oversees their chapters at various educational institutions isn't going by the percentage of students that pledged a social GLO.

Which is exactly why this thread is pointless.

It doesn't matter if every kid in the school is smarter than Einstein if they all think Greeks are the Devil. Maybe there are chapters at some of these schools, but maybe they also are the size of a baby pea and constantly struggling to stay open. Some of these schools are places we've discussed on here as terrible risk management risks. Just having a chapter at a PBK-possessing school doesn't make the GLO "stronger" if the chapter is a terrible ROI.

NPHC isn't a factor in any of your threads.

And, no, I won't be the one getting Delta's chapter listing for the purpose of this discussion because this topic isn't that interesting. ;)

This is an interesting line of reasoning and perhaps you have the inside scoop.

Generally speaking, social/service GLOs and universities have a decision making process that determines where chapters are. This process is usually independent of where PBK thinks is worthy and also independent of what places are considered "elite" by whatever standards.

The flaw in that theory, though, is basing their % of PBK chapters only on chapters that are open now. In reality, they've chartered more chapters than that so they might not be as "careful" as it appears.

Agreed.

*ring ring*

Receptionist: Hello, _______ Sorority/Fraternity, Inc. May I help you?

oldu: Yes, this is oldu. I am conducting research into Greek Lettered Organizations and I was wondering if you had available a listing of your collegiate chapters and where they were founded?

Receptionist: (could only say yes, no, or instruct you on how to purchase a history book)


That's pretty simple, right?

But message board compilations are much more reliable than the official source!!!!

And, for oldu, how exactly does this thread compare "success"? What is successful about having a GLO chapter of a totally unrelated in intent or purpose honorary society? One has nothing to do with the other.

Oh noooooooo...not to have to research NPHC chapters!!!! :eek:


There actually was an unofficial website that listed NPHC organization chapters. It's one of those sites you happen upon but it's hard to find when you're actually looking for it.

Like, OMIGOSH, and to have to make the same phone call NINE WHOLE TIMES?????

I have never seen the site you're referring to, but I've always wanted to work on a project like that..... I mean seriously, it would be a lot of upfront work, but very easy to maintain once its up (as long as you don't include websites)

I know the ones here in MN wouldn't call themselves elite. And one of my alma maters is listed and I KNOW it is not elitist.

After reading the list the premise of this thread seems to be dubious.

Whew! We have some rude and angry people on this site. I hope their manners are better when they can't hide behind anonymity. If a subject isn't interesting to you, why not just pass and find one that is.

I don't know if it was accurate or if it was an exhaustive list. I stumbled upon it years ago and it probably doesn't exist anymore.