Hiram College has local chapters of many nationally organized honor societies. Each of these in its own right reflects the seriousness of academic pursuits. Together they exemplify the liberal arts tradition of honoring academic excellence in Hiram College students.
Phi Beta Kappa membership has long been recognized as the highest distinction an individual can receive for scholarly excellence in undergraduate studies in the liberal arts and sciences. It is a distinctive honor for an institution to be awarded a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. Since the founding of Phi Beta Kappa in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, only 280 additional colleges and universities have been deemed worthy of sheltering a Phi Beta Kappa chapter.
The Hiram College Chapter, designated Mu of Ohio, was instituted in the spring of 1971 and elected its first class of twenty seniors and two juniors in May of that year. The Chapter is an organization that exists independently of the College and is composed of professors, staff, and students. Admission to Phi Beta Kappa always represents a judgment by the Chapter about the quality of a student’s work at Hiram. Students who wish to be considered for Phi Beta Kappa must take courses in a broad range of liberal studies, including substantive work in the humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences. The national organization of Phi Beta Kappa requires that all candidates study mathematics and a foreign language to a level commensurate with a liberal education.
Criteria for membership in the Hiram chapter include a GPA of 3.7 or above (though students with GPAs of 3.6 or above who have extraordinary breadth may be considered); effective for the graduating class of 2015, the foreign language requirement is four semesters or through 10400. For students graduating before 2015, the foreign language requirement remains at 10300; and at least one college-level mathematics course (determined by consultation with members of the Mathematical Sciences Program to exclude MATH 10100-19700). Courses of a pre-professional or vocational nature (i.e., accounting and related courses, music or theater performance, education methods courses, studio art, practica) cannot be considered in determining eligibility for Phi Beta Kappa. Any questions should be directed to the Chapter secretary.
Alpha Society membership is one of Hiram’s highest scholastic honors. Its members receive public recognition each year. Membership is limited to students who have completed 12 or more hours of graded coursework at Hiram College and whose cumulative grade-point average is 3.75 or better. Please note that the credit hours for a course taken P/NC do not count toward the 12 hours of graded coursework.
Dean’s List is awarded each semester to students who, during the semester, complete 12 or more hours of graded coursework at Hiram College with a semester grade-point average of 3.6 or better. Please note that the credit hours for a course taken P/NC do not count toward the 12 hours of graded coursework.
Kappa Delta Pi is a national education honor society of men and women devoted to the teaching profession. The purpose of Kappa Delta Pi is to promote excellence in and recognize outstanding contributions to education. Students who have reached junior standing, have maintained a 3.25 or better cumulative and education grade-point average, and have at least 12 semester hours of professional education courses are eligible for membership.
Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, was established at Hiram College in 1962. Juniors and seniors selected to membership hold responsible positions on the campus, have gained the respect of the student body for the quality of their achievements, and rank in the top 35 percent of their class.
Phi Alpha Theta is the national history honor society. Hiram College's chapter, Alpha Iota Pi, was established in 2001. Membership is open to students who have achieved a minimum of a 3.1 average in at least 12 semester hours of history courses, have attained a minimum of a 3.0 average in all other courses, and are in the top 35 percent of their class.
Lambda Pi Eta is the official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association. Hiram Colleges chapter, Zeta Lambda, was established in 2011. Membership is determined by an overall GPA of at least 3.00, a GPA in communication courses (equivalent of 12 semester credit-hours) of at least 3.25, junior standing, and a ranking in the top 35 percent of the class.