Southern Connecticut State University has added a new marker of academic distinction to its campus: a chapter of Phi Kappa Phi, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious interdisciplinary honor societies.
The university’s Chapter #365 was officially installed during a ceremony on March 5, marking a significant step in Southern’s continued growth in graduate education and scholarly recognition. To be eligible, an institution must be a regionally accredited four-year college or university with an established reputation of excellence and an expressed commitment to upholding the values of the society.
Southern’s chapter began with a focused rollout for graduate students, with plans to include undergraduates in the future.
“This is about celebrating scholarly excellence at the highest levels of study,” said Dr. Rabia Hos, dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, who helped lead the chapter proposal. “Phi Kappa Phi allows us to formally recognize the remarkable work our graduate students are doing and connect them to a nationally respected academic network.”
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi recognizes academic excellence across all fields of study, distinguishing it from discipline-specific honor societies. Membership is by invitation and based on outstanding academic achievement, placing students among a national community of high-performing scholars.
The effort to establish the chapter began after Jessica Jensen, associate dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies, connected with Phi Kappa Phi representatives while attending a national meeting through the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS), a leading organization that supports graduate education and advocates for advanced study nationwide. Southern is a CGS member, and that national engagement helped spark the proposal, which received support from university leadership.
“We are honored to install our 365th chapter at Southern Connecticut State University. This milestone reflects the continued growth of Phi Kappa Phi and our mission to celebrate academic excellence in every academic field. We look forward to partnering with SCSU to empower high-achieving students and connect them to a lifelong network of opportunity,” said Society Executive Director Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer.
The launch of Phi Kappa Phi comes as Southern continues to expand its presence in graduate education networks. The university recently joined a Northeastern regional graduate school consortium spanning the U.S. and Canada and has been invited to moderate a graduate student experience panel at an upcoming conference at Concordia University in Montreal.
A group of Southern graduate students, including both master’s and doctoral students, will attend as panelists, sharing their experiences with peers from across the region.
