Phi Beta Kappa

Introduction

This page will be used for posting answers to frequently asked questions. It is being updated for the Spring 2019 initiation class. The presiding officer and others involved in the ceremony are yet to be determined for 2019; for 2018, they were:

• President: Steve Nowicki
• Vice President and Guide: Michelle Connolly
• Member At Large and Historian: Betsy Alden
• Secretary-Treasurer: Michael Gustafson

Selection Criteria

Phi Beta Kappa at Duke elects members in the Spring semester each year. The nomination committee looks at current Duke students with 18 or more graded Duke credits and also looks at alumni who have graduated in the previous three cycles (May, August, and December of the previous year). The nomination committee has the following guidelines as provided by our local bylaws:

• Students with 18-23.5 graded Duke credits are “early decision” – we can elect 1% of what’s thought of as the “Junior Class” at that time – usually 17-20 people – based on GPA.
• Students with 24 or more graded credits but no degree are “regular decision” – we elect about 5% more of a class based on GPA.
• Duke students who have earned degrees within past year are in the “deferred” category – we elect them the first Spring following their graduation based on:
  • Cumulative GPA matching or exceeding “regular decision” noted above
  • GPA over semesters in which last 24 credits were taken matching or exceeding RD above
  • GPA over semesters in which last 16 credits were taken “markedly superior” to RD above
  • If there is still space, Magna Cum Laude + Graduation with Departmental Distinction. This is limited to 2% of a class, rank-ordered by GPA
• Students must have a clean conduct record; students who have been found responsible for conduct violations are considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Phi Beta Kappa at Duke does not publish GPA cutoffs, but you can make an estimate based upon the information provided in the "Class Rank Percentiles" section at Academic Honors and Recognition given that 1% of juniors are elected and 5% of seniors are elected.

Clarification on "Member Type"

For "Member Type," please put "Senior." *Technically*, if you currently have between 18 and 23.5 graded Duke credits you are a "Junior" but we don't typically worry about that. If you already graduated, you were elected based on things at the end of your senior year so you are still "Senior."

Information for Initiates

• Arrival
  • Initiates should arrive at Page Auditorium on Thursday, May 9th, 2019, no later than 5:45 PM in order to get in the class picture.
  • Initiates who have their own graduation gown should bring the gown; you should not bring the cap or the hood.
  • Initiates who do not have their own gown can borrow one from a collection that will will bring with us to page. Please arrive a little earlier to get a robe.
• The Ceremony
  • After the picture, we will line everyone up in alphabetical order either just outside the lobby (good weather) or in the lobby (bad weather) before marching in. We will also teach you the handshake (and yes, there is one, though no, it isn't so much a secret any more). Please make sure that both the guide and the secretary know that you are there - they will be walking around with a checklist.
  • As the ceremony begins, the invited faculty and staff will process in first, followed by the executive committee and guest speaker. You won't see any of this, because you'll still be hanging out alphabetically in the lobby...
  • Once we are all set, the guide will lead you in - the first among you alphabetically will be standing in the aisle as the guide presents you to the assembly, the rest will still be in the lobby; the guide will then...for lack of a better term...guide you to your seats, where you'll remain standing until the president asks you to be seated
  • When you come up to sign the roll book and receive your certificates, an usher will direct each row, in order, to stand up and make way to house left (from the audience perspective) and the foot of the stairs to the stage.
  • The guide will call out each name - when your name is called, you will ascend the stage, sign the roll book, shake the president's hand and receive your certificate, nod at the secretary, shake several other people's hands, descend the stage, and retake your seat -- we're not going to attempt the infamous Whole Row Sits Back Down Together move...in part because it blocks the cameras from the audience members behind you.
  • After that, there's a bit more to tell you about the chapter, then we will be adjourned.
  • Pretty much, at each stage in the game someone will be there to give instructions so no worries about that - I just thought I would send along the executive summary.

Information for Duke Faculty and Staff Guests

• Duke faculty and staff are asked, if possible, to come in academic regalia (gown and hood; cap optional). In the absence of academic regalia, business attire would be excellent.
• Duke faculty and staff should arrive no later than 6:15 PM in order to form up before the start of the ceremony. Faculty and staff will be directed to the lower lobby of Page.
• There is no real order to the faculty and staff, except those in academic regalia will be in the front of the line and those not will be in back.
• At the start of the ceremony, the secretary will lead the faculty and staff to their seats, which are the first rows in the center and then the first rows on the house right side of the auditorium; faculty and staff will remain standing as the executive committee comes in. At this point, the president will ask all to rise for the presentation of the candidates.
• From that point forward, the faculty and staff will follow the general cues for the audience.
• There is no formal exit procession at the conclusion of the ceremony; everyone generally heads to the reception.

Information for Other Guests

• Initiates' other guests should arrive no later than 6:15 PM to be seated in time for the ceremony to begin.
• While there is no formal dress code, guests have generally worn business attire or business casual attire.
• Guests will generally enter through the main doors of Page Auditorium and then go down the stairs to the main seating area. There is also an accessible entrance on the house right side of the building - just let the secretary or someone working at Page know.
• Initiates may bring as many guests as they like.

General Information

• The ceremony lasts for about 90 minutes.
• After the ceremony, there will be a reception on the main floor of the Bryan Center. The easiest way to get there will be to exit through the side doors of Page Auditorium rather than going all the way back upstairs.
• Parking: best place to park is the Bryan Center (PG IV) lot. More information on parking is available at Duke Parking's Visitor Page.