Binghamton University student Disi Chen inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society

2013 Apr 30

Binghamton University student Disi Chen from Lyon Falls, New York was inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society.

Founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois, Phi Eta Sigma is the nation's oldest and largest honor society for first-year college and university students in all disciplines. Inspired by the past and dedicated to the future, the Society's mission is to encourage and reward academic excellence among freshmen in institutions of higher learning. The three Greek words appearing on their crest form the motto of the organization: "Knowledge is Power."

Those elected to membership include those who have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale at the end of any first year, full-time curricular period, provided they have carried a normal academic load acceptable toward a bachelor's degree and rank in the upper 20 percent of their class. Since its founding, more than 975,000 scholars have been inducted into Phi Eta Sigma.

Phi Eta Sigma chapters are chartered on 365 campuses across the United States.

Hundreds of college and university faculty and staff volunteers share their time to serve as advisers to local chapters. Approximately $285,000 in scholarships is awarded annually by the national organization, and many additional thousands are awarded by local chapters.

An important strength of Phi Eta Sigma is its form of government. It is governed by a Constitution and Laws generated by student delegates attending national conventions. At the biennial conventions, student delegates also elect the national officers and Executive Committee members. Phi Eta Sigma conducts a biennial national convention with attendee expenses, excluding transportation, paid by the national office for a chapter adviser and student delegate from each chapter.

Binghamton University is one of the four university centers of the State University of New York. Known for the excellence of its students, faculty, staff and programs, Binghamton enrolls close to 15,000 students in programs leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Its curriculum, founded in the liberal arts, has expanded to include selected profession and graduate programs.