UNIVERSITY, MS —Hannah Watts, of Columbia, MS, majoring in Public Policy Leadership and English Education, was among the 87 University of Mississippi students who were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest and most prestigious undergraduate honors organization in the liberal arts. The university held an induction ceremony on April 5, 2024, in the Johnson Commons Ballroom on campus.
"Induction into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society is very selective and recognizes outstanding academic achievement across the liberal arts and sciences," said Jonah W. Jurss, associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry and 2024 president of the Beta of Mississippi chapter.
"In fact, it is one of only two honors societies that is listed on UM transcripts for students that have earned the distinction. We are proud to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at UM as only about 10% of U.S. colleges and universities have a chapter."
Phi Beta Kappa membership is an honor conferred upon fewer than 10% of each graduating class. Students do not apply for membership but are elected by the chapter after a review of the academic records of each eligible candidate.
Election is based on good character and a distinguished record of scholarly performance in courses that demonstrate a broad exposure to the liberal arts, i.e., the fine arts, humanities, languages, mathematics, natural sciences and social sciences, as well as substantial work in areas outside the major.
While students are usually selected for membership during their senior year, juniors or graduate students may also be chosen.
The University of Mississippi chapter of Phi Beta Kappa was chartered on April 6, 2001, and is in an elite group of fewer than 300 colleges and universities in the nation that shelter a chapter.
The University of Mississippi, affectionately known as Ole Miss, is the state's flagship university. Included in the elite group of R1: Doctoral Universities - Highest Research Activity by the Carnegie Classification, it has a long history of producing leaders in public service, academics and business. Its 16 academic divisions include a major medical school, nationally recognized schools of accountancy, law and pharmacy, and an Honors College acclaimed for a blend of academic rigor, experiential learning and opportunities for community action. Recognized among the nation's most beautiful, Ole Miss' main campus is in Oxford, which is routinely acknowledged as one of the country's best college towns.
