The Golden Key
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and regional officers.

USA TODAY
Phi Theta Kappa's Partner in Promoting Educational Excellence

Since 1990, Phi Theta Kappa and USA TODAY have worked together to expand educational opportunities for two-year college students. Now in its second decade, the partnership between Phi Theta Kappa and USA TODAY has provided more than $650,000 in cash scholarships, has developed new avenues for honors programming implementation and civic involvement, and inspired affiliate initiatives that have benefited thousands of Society members. The entire community college arena has been enriched by the joint ventures between USA TODAY and Phi Theta Kappa.

The relationship began when USA TODAY agreed to co-sponsor and provide financial support and media coverage to the All-USA Academic Team. The success of that program led states to establish their own Academic Teams, and also gave USA TODAY a lasting respect for community college students and their role in higher education. Currently USA TODAY also sponsors the Honors Case Study Challenge and The Community College Readership Program.

"USA TODAY saw the need early on for a national recognition for community college students," said Phi Theta Kappa Executive Director Rod A. Risley. "The outstanding media coverage that USA TODAY has provided to two-year college students has underlined the important role that our institutions play in the higher education arena and has brought increasing awareness of and appreciation for the two-year college mission."

USA TODAY's contributions through their continuing coverage of community college education have also heightened public awareness of the opportunities for excellence offered by two-year institutions.

In recognition of USA TODAY's efforts in support of two-year colleges, the nation's newspaper received the first Alliance for Excellence in Education Distinguished Partner Award in 2003.

USA TODAY/Phi Theta Kappa initiatives include:

• All-USA Academic Team
  The nation's top two-year college students have been awarded with $650,000 in scholarships through the All-USA Academic Team. Since its inception in 1990, more than 780 students have been named to the Team. Nominees for the All-USA Academic Team - some 1,500 per year - are also heavily recruited by senior colleges and universities.

• All-State Academic Teams
  The success of the All-USA Academic Team has inspired 34 states to host recognition programs for the All-USA nominees from each college. Students earn more than $26 million in scholarships and stipends in participating states.

• Positive Media Coverage
  In addition to annual full-page coverage of the All-USA Academic Team, USA TODAY also devotes space to national education issues relating to two-year colleges. USA TODAY was the first national media to acknowledge that community college honors programs are factors motivating elite senior institutions to recruit community college students.

• Case Study Challenge
  The research-based Case Studies were initiated by USA TODAY and Phi Theta Kappa to furnish students with an alternative way to showcase their critical thinking and analytical abilities. Four cash awards of $500 are presented to chapters and members annually, and winning entries are published on USA TODAY's website.

• Readership Program
  USA TODAY and Phi Theta Kappa developed The Community College Readership Program to encourage two-year college populations across the nation to develop consistent newspaper readership habits. Portions of fees generated by the program support the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Fund.

Copyright 1996-2003 by Phi Theta Kappa, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The name, logo and various titles have been registered with the U.S. Patent Office.

This page last modified -- Thursday, 01-Apr-2004 08:45:36 CST (cwe)