Accepting Phi Theta Kappa membership marks a monumental step in a student's academic career. Therefore, the occasion of officially accepting membership should be marked by solemnity, purpose, and dignity.

When planning your chapter's next induction ceremony, remember this event often creates the first and lasting impression of Phi Theta Kappa for new members and their guests as well as college faculty and administrators. Try implementing these tips to allow new members to shine at your next induction.

At the conclusion of each school term and after candidates have been certified by the registrar, an induction ceremony may be held. Most chapters at colleges on the semester system host two inductions per year - one in the fall and one in the spring. It is not necessary for both inductions to be formal events. Inductees may be sworn in at a regularly-scheduled chapter meeting.

Whether your chapter hosts one induction ceremony per year or five, the key to successfully spotlighting new members is choosing an induction date and time when most inductees, faculty, guests and members can attend. It is best to plan your ceremony for an evening or weekend.

Once a date is chosen, select an induction site that will exhibit the importance of this event. Inductions are often held in chapels, college auditoriums, reception rooms, or outdoors depending upon the degree of formality desired and the size of the group expected.

An invitation letter stating the induction time, date, and location should be sent to candidates for membership, college faculty, administrators, board members and specials guests. In the candidate letter, indicate whether guests are welcome and the type of dress desired. Also, include the name and telephone number of the chapter officer candidates may contact with questions about the ceremony.

Now that your chapter has the basics of the induction ceremony down pat, what can you do to make the induction ceremony extra special for membership candidates?

Silence can be deafening, especially when it occurs as candidates walk to the induction table, light candles, receive membership certificates and return to their seats. To fill this silence try a technique used by the chapter at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Before the ceremony, the chapter has each new member complete an induction information form with biographical information and specifics about what led them to membership in Phi Theta Kappa. The information from the form is read by the chapter advisor during the ceremony to fill the silence as students walked to the stage.

"Last year's president started this tradition to enhance the feeling of pride that the chapter family has in its new members,"says chapter president June Custer. "The presentation of who the member is and what he or she has surmounted gives an added depth of intimacy to the ceremony. It gives all the members a feeling of the Phi Theta Kappa family tie of fellowship. "

The chapter at Olympic College in Bremerton, Washington, fills the silence during their ceremony with music by the string quartet of their local symphony. The induction day is complete with a superb reception with plenty of time for Phi Theta Kappa fellowship. "It really makes for a nice afternoon," says chapter president Jerry Hebert.

For the chapter at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada, the induction ceremony is an event which involves all chapter members not just new inductees. "I asked previous inductees if they could assist with the induction. This left the officers free to socialize more and answer questions which made the inductees feel warmly welcomed," says chapter president Kathleen Piirto Shipman. "We also had one of our inductees who worked in the multi-media services for the college, videotape the whole event. This gave the inductees the opportunity to purchase the video for themselves to show to friends and family who were not able to attend," says Piirto Shipman, adding that the sale of the videotapes is also a chapter fundraiser.

To make sure your next induction ceremony is a shining success, refer to the 1998-99 Chapter Officer Manual for more induction ideas including a complete script of the induction ceremony and an outline of each officer's role. Officer Resource Packets, which include the Chapter Officer Manual, may be purchased by contacting the Recognition Services Department at 800.946.9996.

Induction Materials