Phi Theta Kappa
Purpose
Phi Theta Kappa is the only national honor society for students of two-year (junior and community) colleges. Once eligible students have applied and are accepted, they pay a one-time membership fee which entitles them to membership and access to PTK benefits for life.
Members are encouraged not only to achieve continuing academic distinction but also to develop leadership and service habits.
Since 1968, the chartered chapter at Arizona Western College is Sigma Beta. While Sigma Beta is not part of Honors, it is run (housed) within the AWC Honors program.
Standards of Excellence
To be eligible for membership in the Sigma Beta chapter a student must:
- Have completed a minimum of 12 credits of college course work (6 credit hours for certification technical programs), and must be currently enrolled in 6 credit hours at Arizona Western College.
- Have at the time of application a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher at Arizona Western College. Thereafter a student must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (at minimum). Students falling below this level will be placed on probation for one semester; remaining below the minimum threshold will result in the removal of the student’s name from the chapter and International rolls of Phi Theta Kappa.
How to Join Phi Theta Kappa
- If you have received an email invitation from PTK international that included a code: Go to ptk.org and complete the membership application with your code and pay your $70 fee. Our local chapter of Sigma Beta will receive notification of your new membership.
- If you have not received a personal invitation from PTK international, AND meet the membership requirements, send an email to honors@azwestern.edu requesting membership. Please attach a copy of your unofficial transcript to the email. We will verify your eligibility and send your information to PTK international to obtain a code for you. Once you have your code, you can go to ptk.org and click on "join". Follow the directions and pay your $70 fee.
- At the end of each semester in winter and spring, there will be an induction ceremony held to celebrate new Phi Theta Kappa members.
Benefits
- Students may participate in the weekly meetings, as well as the social and service activities, of Sigma Beta.
- Scholarship opportunities are available by exploring the national Phi Theta Kappa website, www.ptk.org.