5 Star Chapter

5 Star Chapter Goals

Phi Theta Kappa chapters have five levels of engagement that progress from local, campus involvement to regional involvement to international involvement.

Using the Five Star Chapter Development Plan as a guide to success, chapters can enhance their working relationship with the college administration by becoming active on the campus and in the community.

One Star Level-Recognizing Academic Excellence; Chapter Foundations

The chapter can work on multiple levels of the Five Star Chapter Plan at the same time. The chapter should complete the following requirements at the One Star Level:

1. Organize a membership recruitment campaign. Campaigns should include but not be limited to: creating awareness of Phi Theta Kappa on campus among students and faculty, inviting eligible students, conducting informational meetings about benefits, holding an induction ceremony, and reporting members. Chapters are encouraged to allow online membership acceptance. Visit the membership campaign website for additional resources. (Updated by Headquarters when inductees accept online or are reported in 2015.)

2. Submit the Chapter Annual Report to Headquarters. The report was emailed to all contact advisors in February 2015. (Updated by Headquarters after the report has been received and reviewed.)

3. Chapter's bylaws are approved and on file with Headquarters. (Updated by Headquarters if bylaws have been submitted and approved.)

Two Star Level-Organized Chapter Activities and Getting Started with Honors in Action

The chapter must fulfill all One Star Level requirements and the following Two Star Level requirements to reach the Two Star Level. Activities may be completed in any order.

1. Chapter advisor(s) and officers review the Five Star Chapter Plan requirements and set a Five Star goal.

2. Chapter conducts at least two membership recruitment campaigns during 2015. Chapter advisor opens a second enrollment period at the beginning of the second membership campaign. (Updated by Headquarters when two enrollment periods are opened in 2015.)

3. Advisor reports new chapter officers for 2015. (Updated by Headquarters when 2015 officers are reported.)

4.Verify on the chapter directory that the college president, chapter administrator, and chapter advisor information is current, and report any changes.

5. Provide a structured orientation for new officers, advisors and committee chairs at the beginning of each academic term.

6. Chapter and/or chapter officers meet twice each month.

7. Chapter advisor(s) and chapter president each have the 2014/2015 Honors Program Guide.

8. At least two chapter members set research objectives and goals and conduct research for one theme of the Honors Program Guide, Frontiers and the Spirit of Exploration.

9. Chapter advisor(s) and officers meet with college president or other administrator to develop and discuss goals of the chapter.

Three Star Level-Developing an Honors in Action and a College Project

The chapter must fulfill all One Star, Two Star, and Three Star Level requirements to reach the Three Star Level. Activities may be completed in any order.

  1. Develop an Honors in Action project plan that includes the chapter's:
    • project objectives and goals
    • process that will be used for meeting the goals
    • leadership roles of individual chapter members and of the chapter as a group in meeting these objectives
    • groups with which the chapter will collaborate
    • leadership development activities and/or events for training and preparing the chapter officers and members for their leadership roles
    • service or action event(s) for the college/community
  2. Publish chapter news in at least one of the following ways:
    • Publish a newsletter
    • Maintain a chapter website or Facebook page
    • Submit chapter news to a publication
  3. Implement a College Project which is determined by the chapter and college president or other administrator.
    • Mentor incoming freshmen
    • Help with college graduation
    • Serve as college ambassadors
    • Promote Community College Completion
    • Other
  4. Chronicle chapter activities for historical purposes. Examples include keeping an Honors in Action journal, maintaining a notebook of chapter meeting minutes and/or newsletters, saving copies of Hallmark Awards entries, etc.
Four Star Level-Increased Presence on Campus and in the Region

The chapter must fulfill all One Star, Two Star, Three Star, and Four Star Level requirements to reach the Four Star Level. Activities may be completed in any order.

  • Chapter representative(s) attend at least one official regional meeting.*
  • Chapter is involved at a regional level in at least one of the following ways:
    • Campaign for regional office
    • Host/assume leadership role at a regional meeting
    • Participate in a Regional Honors in Action Project
    • Collaborate with at least two other chapters for an activity or event that is conducted online or in person
  • Share the chapter's Honors in Action research with the campus or community (e.g., hosts an event that includes a formal presentation, writes an article for a publication, creates a display in the library or other resource center, etc.)
  • Host a Phi Theta Kappa awareness event for your chapter on the college campus. Elements of your awareness event could include sharing benefits of membership like scholarship opportunities, Honors in Action,CollegeFish.org, and/or Competitive Edge.
  • Enter at least one category in the regional awards program. Chapters submitting an entry in Phi Theta Kappa'sHallmark Awards will automatically be entered in their regional awards program. (Updated by Headquarters in February 2016 after the Hallmark Awards deadline OR the chapter may check off as complete if only submitting awards on the regional level.)
Five Star Level-Further Involvement in the Region and in International Activities and Events

The chapter must fulfill all One Star, Two Star, Three Star, Four Star, and Five Star Level requirements to reach the Five Star Level.

    • Submit at least 3 entries in the 2016 Hallmark Awards including the Honors in Action Project Award, College Project Award, and at least one other individual award. (Updated by Headquarters in February 2016 after the Hallmark Awards deadline.)
    • Chapter representative(s) participates in AT LEAST ONE of the following and is committed to sharing knowledge gained from participation with the chapter.
      • Attend NerdNation 2015, OR
      • Attend 2015 Honors Institute, OR
      • Attend 2015 Advisor Institute, OR
      • Submit an entry in the 2015 Honors Case Study Challenge.