The Five Star Chapter Development Program Requirements
Now that you have an understanding of the Five Star Chapter Development Program and the significance participation can have on your chapter through awards and recognition, all you need are the stepping stones.
| One Star
Level | Two Star Level
| Three Star Level | Four Star
Level | Five Star Level |
One Star
Level
The One Star Level standards emphasize the organization of the chapter and the
orientation of members and advisors. Chapters can work on multiple levels of
the Five Star Program at the same time. The chapter should complete the following
activities at the One Star Level:
1. Your chapter officers and advisor(s) review the Five Star Chapter Development Program requirements and determine a goal for your chapter to reach within the year. The goal should be submitted on the Chapter Update Form by April 30, 2008, on Phi Theta Kappa’s website at www.ptk.org/fivestar/.
2. Your chapter advisor and chapter president should each have the 2008-2010 Honors Program Guide. If they do not have the Program Guide, contact Headquarters at 601.984.3504.
3. Your chapter's bylaws have been approved and are on file at Headquarters. It is not necessary to revise or resubmit your chapter's bylaws on a yearly basis. Check your chapter's record in the online Chapter Directory to determine the date your chapter bylaws were approved by Headquarters. For more information, contact Membership Services Special Projects Coordinator Kimberly Wooten at 601.984.3522.
4. Your chapter submits new officer names and addresses in PAM, Phi Theta Kappa's Personal Assistant Manager for Advisors, at www.ptk.org/PAM. Include their email addresses to ensure officers receive important updates by email.
5. Your chapter provides a structured orientation for any new officers, advisors and committee chairs at the beginning of each semester or quarter. Review chapter calendar and budget as part of the orientation. PLEASE NOTE: Officers and advisors are encouraged to participate in Phi Theta Kappa's online conference center and electronic mailing lists.
6. Your college president or the president's representative sends a letter to students informing them of their eligibility to become a member, encouraging them to carefully consider this opportunity, and inviting them to an informational meeting for prospective members. A Phi Theta Kappa Member Benefits Brochure, available free of charge from the Recognition Services Department, should be enclosed with each letter.
7. Your chapter employs strategies to gain positive visibility and greater public awareness on your campus by either:
A) Promoting the importance of Phi Theta Kappa membership to college faculty by providing a list of eligible students, along with Phi Theta Kappa’s Faculty Awareness Flyer at www.ptk.org/chapters/facultyflyer.pdf to faculty during your membership campaign,
OR
B) Displaying a Member Benefits Brochure or Phi Theta Kappa posters on one or more campus bulletin boards,
OR
C) Sending a news release announcing new inductees to at least one community or campus newspaper. Chapters are encouraged to utilize Phi Theta Kappa promotional ads found on our website at www.ptk.org/advisor/ads.htm.
OR
D) Participating in one or more activities during "Phi Theta Kappa Week", November 17 - 21, 2008.
8. Your chapter conducts an informational meeting for prospective members prior to induction. A member recruitment video and PowerPoint Presentation are available on the Chapter Resources DVD sent to all chapter advisors. For more information, visit www.ptk.org/advisor/campaign.
9. Your chapter promotes membership acceptance by employing one of the following strategies:
A) Conducting a phone-a-thon to eligible students,
OR
B) Sending a reminder email to eligible students who have not accepted membership, including a link to Phi Theta Kappa's Key Advantage Web Slide Show for promoting membership,
OR
C) Utilizing the online membership acceptance feature in PAM,
OR
D) Providing more than one opportunity for prospective members to attend an informational meeting during each recruitment campaign.10. Your chapter conducts at least one induction ceremony during the year. For guidelines, see the Chapter Resource Manual or visit www.ptk.org/chapters/resources/members/inductplan.htm. To ensure new members gain access to important benefits and services in the members-only section of the Society’s website (getconnected.ptk.org ) as soon as possible, report your members via PAM, Phi Theta Kappa’s Personal Assistant Manager for Advisors (www.ptk.org/pam). All members should be reported and international/regional fees submitted to Headquarters within 30 days of collecting student fees.
11. Your chapter meets at least once a month during the academic year. During chapter meetings, advisors and members discuss chapter business and items of interest from Phi Theta Kappa's electronic communications, website, and publications.
12. Your chapter advisor submits the Chapter Annual Report to Headquarters. Advisors responsible for primary correspondence with Headquarters will receive an email about the easy-to-complete, online Chapter Annual Report each spring. The Annual Report is due June 30 each year.
13. For the 2008 program year, your chapter submits its Five Star Chapter Update Form online by April 30, September 30, November 30 and February 6, 2009. Five Star Forms can be found at www.ptk.org/fivestar/.
Two Star Level
Two Star Level standards emphasize more formal planning, service to the
college and community, and participation in the Honors Study Topic and International
Service Program. The chapter must fulfill all One Star Level standards and the
following Two Star Level requirements to reach the Two Star Level. Activities may
be completed in any order.
1. Your chapter meets at least twice a month during the academic year. Your chapter can have:
A) one chapter officer meeting and one general chapter meetingOR
B) two general chapter meetings.2. Your chapter holds an induction ceremony at least twice during the year. One induction can be held during a regularly-scheduled chapter meeting; however, at least one induction ceremony should be a more formal event. For guidelines, see the Chapter Resource Manual or visit www.ptk.org/chapters/resources/members/inductplan.htm.
3. Your chapter implements at least ONE activity using the current Honors Study Topic. The activity must involve more than one member.
4. Your chapter officially registers as a Chapter of Service and implements at least ONE activity using the current International Service Program. Visit the Chapters of Service Directory at http://www.ptk.org/service/track-your-chapters-progress to determine if your chapter is already registered. The activity must involve more than one member.
5. Your chapter assumes the responsibility of working with another chapter OR your chapter collaborates with one or more campus or community organizations in sponsoring an event consistent with the mission of Phi Theta Kappa. Many regions have "adopt-a-chapter" programs that pair chapters to work together. Please check with your Regional Coordinator to determine which chapter has been assigned to work with you.
6. Your chapter advisor and officers meet with the college president (or another appropriate administrator) to discuss goals of the chapter.
Three Star
Level
Three Star Level standards emphasize further development of Honors Study Topic and
International Service Program activities, and also the implementation of a college
project designed to promote the goals of your college. 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. Your chapter implements an additional Honors Study Topic project for a total of two projects. Each activity must involve more than one member.
2. Your chapter implements an additional International Service Program project for a total of two projects. Each activity must involve more than one member.
3. Your chapter publishes a newsletter OR maintains a chapter website OR submits chapter news to a publication and sends this published information to your Regional Coordinator and to the Chapter Programs Department at Headquarters.
4. Your chapter implements a College Project, which is determined by the chapter and college president. Your chapter must submit the College Project Form to Headquarters when the project is completed. Explore ideas on how to complete the College Project.
5. Your chapter chronicles its activities for historical purposes. Examples include maintaining a notebook of chapter newsletters and/or meeting minutes, compiling a chapter yearbook, keeping a file of Hallmark Awards entries that detail the chapter's activities, or using another form of record-keeping for posterity.
Four Star
Level
Four Star Level standards emphasize greater participation at the campus and
regional levels. 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.
1. At least one chapter representative attends at least one official regional meeting during the calendar year (January - December).*2. Your chapter assumes a leadership role in your region by:
A) campaigning for a regional office
ORB) hosting or assuming another leadership role at a regional meeting
ORC) hosting a fellowship event that includes representatives of at least two other chapters and includes a service, scholarship or leadership component.
3. Your chapter implements one additional Honors Study Topic activity for a total of three projects. The activity must involve more than one member. At least one of your three Honors Study Topic projects must incorporate the Leadership and Fellowship Hallmarks.
Example: For The Paradox of Affluence, organize a presentation by your college president about the comparative affluence of community colleges and four-year institutions. From your research, prepare position papers for use by your college administrators when they visit local and state representatives.
4. Your chapter implements one additional International Service Program activity for a total of three projects. The activity must involve more than one member. At least one of your three International Service Program projects must incorporate the Leadership and Fellowship Hallmarks.
Example: By establishing a recycling program on campus (Leadership) and sharing the responsibilities of sustaining the program with other campus organizations (Fellowship), your chapter has met this requirement for the Service Program project.
PLEASE NOTE: Your Honors Study Topic and International Service Program projects should reach out to as many individuals as possible, including your campus, community, and region.
5. Your chapter enters at least two chapter Hallmark Awards (Scholarship, Leadership or Service) in your 2009 regional awards competition.
*Guidelines for Far-Away Chapters to Meet Level Four, Activity #1
If a chapter is more than 500 miles away from all regional meeting locations scheduled January-December, then the Regional Coordinator may substitute one of the following activities for the chapter to fulfill Level Four, Activity #1.
Alternatives:1) The chapter officer(s) must participate in a conference call, online chat or teleconference with one or more regional officers and/or the Regional Coordinator. The purpose of the call will be to discuss Phi Theta Kappa programs and specific ways the chapter can get involved.
OR2) In addition to the Honors Study Topic and International Service Program projects required in the Five Star Program, the chapter must host a "mini-conference" for their chapter members and invite speakers to address both the Honors Study Topic and the International Service Program. The speakers can be members of the two-year college faculty or the community.
Five Star
Level
Five Star Level standards emphasize increased participation at the regional and
international levels. The chapter must fulfill all One Star, Two Star, Three Star,
Four Star and Five Star Level requirements to reach the Five Star Level. Activities
may be completed in any order.
1. Your chapter implements one additional Honors Study Topic project for a total of four projects. At least two of your four Honors Study Topic projects must incorporate the Leadership and Fellowship Hallmarks.
2. Your chapter implements one additional International Service Program project for a total of four projects. At least two of your four International Service Program projects must incorporate the Leadership and Fellowship Hallmarks.
3. Your chapter enters the Scholarship, Leadership and Service award categories in the 2009 regional awards competition.
4. Your chapter enters at least four 2009 International Hallmark Awards (Scholarship, Leadership, Service and at least one individual category).
5. Your chapter participates in one of the following:
A) International Convention
B) International Honors Institute
C) All four broadcasts of the 2008 Honors Satellite Seminar Series.
