Phi Chi Theta
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Phi Chi Theta ( or PCT) is one of the largest
co-ed Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to t ...
professional A professional is a member of a profession or any person who works in a specified professional activity. The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skil ...
business
fraternities A fraternity (from Latin ''frater'': "brother"; whence, "brotherhood") or fraternal organization is an organization, society, club or fraternal order traditionally of men associated together for various religious or secular aims. Fraternity in ...
in the
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. Phi Chi Theta was founded as a women's business fraternity on , in
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
,
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
. Today, Phi Chi Theta comprises 41 collegiate and alumni chapters across the United States. While most chapters are now co-ed, there are some which have only women as members.


History

Phi Chi Theta was formed by the merger of two competing women's business fraternities in 1924. Both Phi Theta Kappa and Phi Kappa Epsilon were founded in 1918, but recognizing the benefits of cooperation, on , each of the two organizations sent three delegates to form Phi Chi Theta. These six women became the founders of the fraternity: The meeting was hosted at the
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and took over two days with the founding chapters to be ''New York Alpha'' (
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
), ''Colorado Alpha'' (
University of Denver The University of Denver (DU) is a private university, private research university in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1864, it is the oldest independent private university in the Mountain States, Rocky Mountain Region of the United States. It is ...
), ''New York Beta'' (
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...
), ''Oregon Beta'' (
University of Oregon The University of Oregon (UO, U of O or Oregon) is a public research university in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in 1876, the institution is well known for its strong ties to the sports apparel and marketing firm Nike, Inc, and its co-founder, billion ...
), ''Gamma'' (
Oregon State University Oregon State University (OSU) is a public land-grant, research university in Corvallis, Oregon. OSU offers more than 200 undergraduate-degree programs along with a variety of graduate and doctoral degrees. It has the 10th largest engineering co ...
), ''Delta'' (
Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...
), ''Epsilon'' (
University of Pittsburgh The University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) is a public state-related research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The university is composed of 17 undergraduate and graduate schools and colleges at its urban Pittsburgh campus, home to the universit ...
), and ''Zeta'' (
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).


Early organization

At first, chapters were only given to universities whose business school were members of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. This was changed in Chicago at the 1934 Biennial Meeting where they decided to accept chapters in Rank A universities as long as the number of chapters from those school does not exceed twenty percent of the total number of Collegiate Chapters that existed. This were further changed in June 17-20th, 1948 at the twelfth Biennial Meeting located at the Willard Hotel. It was changed so that chapters in business schools of Rank A universities would not surpass forty percent of the total number of Collegiate Chapters. In Boston during the 1952 Biennial Meeting, this was again changed to accept chapters in universities accredited by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business or the Regional Accrediting Association as long as the courses of Business Administration is approved. In 1962, the last portion of the bylaw was changed to included study of Business ''or Economics'' making Phi Chi Theta the first professional fraternity for women in Economics. The second Biennial Meeting was in New York at the Pennsylvania Hotel on June 18 to 19, 1926 with Mrs. James L Dohr as president. The chapters installed at this meeting were ''Eta'' (
University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant u ...
), ''Iota'' (
University of Wisconsin–Madison A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. Universities ty ...
), ''Kappa'' (
University of North Dakota The University of North Dakota (also known as UND or North Dakota) is a public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It was established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of ...
), ''Lambda'' (
University of Kansas The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
), ''Mu'' (
University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...
), ''Nu'' (
University of Indiana Indiana University (IU) is a system of public universities in the U.S. state of Indiana. Campuses Indiana University has two core campuses, five regional campuses, and two regional centers under the administration of IUPUI. *Indiana Universit ...
), ''Xi'' (
University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
), ''Omicron'' (
University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Universit ...
), and ''Pi'' (
University of Idaho The University of Idaho (U of I, or UIdaho) is a public land-grant research university in Moscow, Idaho. It is the state's land-grant and primary research university,, and the lead university in the Idaho Space Grant Consortium. The University ...
). The third Biennial Meeting took place at University of California's Stephens Building on June 21 to 26, 1928 with Helen Phillips as president. The chapters installed at this meeting were ''Rho'' (
University of Nebraska–Lincoln The University of Nebraska–Lincoln (Nebraska, NU, or UNL) is a public land-grant research university in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chartered in 1869 by the Nebraska Legislature as part of the Morrill Act of 1862, the school was known as the Universit ...
), ''Sigma'' ( University of Illinois Urbana), and ''Tau'' (
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). The fourth Biennial Meeting took place in Boston, Massachusetts at the Hotel Vendome on June 20 to 24, 1930 with Ethel M. Allen as president. A single chapter was installed at this meeting, ''Upsilon'' (
Georgia School of Technology The Georgia Institute of Technology, commonly referred to as Georgia Tech or, in the state of Georgia, as Tech or The Institute, is a public research university and institute of technology in Atlanta, Georgia. Established in 1885, it is part of ...
). The fifth Biennial Meeting took place in Denver, Colorado at the Brown Palace Hotel on June 24 to 28, 1932. No new chapters were installed in this meeting. The sixth Biennial Meeting took place in Chicago at the Stevens Hotel on June 21at to 26th, 1934 with Elsa Mueller was president. During this meeting, a national scholarship was approved. The seventh Biennial Meeting took place in Oregon at the Hotel Multnomah on June 22 to 25, 1936 with Ida Belle Tremayne as president. A single chapter was installed at this meeting, ''Phi'' (
University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and the University of Co ...
). The eighth Biennial Meeting took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the Hotel Schenley on June 16 to 20, 1938. The president was Nellie Jones and the chapters that was installed were ''Chi'' (
University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of Alabama is the oldest and la ...
), ''Psi'' (
Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day ...
), ''Omega'' (
University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...
). ''Omega chapter'' was later changed to be called ''Alpha Alpha'' because ''Omega'' contained a negative meaning of "the end" for the members. The ninth Biennial Meeting took place in Atlanta, Georgia at the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel on June 17 to 20, 1940. The president was Alma Martin and the lone chapter installed was ''Alpha Beta'' (
Marquette University Marquette University () is a Private university, private Society of Jesus, Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Established by the Society of Jesus as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, it was founded by John Henni, John Martin ...
). The tenth Biennial Meeting took place in Madison, Wisconsin at Hotel Loraine on June 18 to 22, 1942 with Phyllis Buck as president. No chapters were installed that year. Phi Chi Theta cancelled the scheduled 1944 biennial meeting due to
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, but interestingly, ''Alpha Gamma'' (
Southern Methodist University , mottoeng = "The truth will make you free" , established = , type = Private research university , accreditation = SACS , academic_affiliations = , religious_affiliation = United Methodist Church , president = R. Gerald Turner , prov ...
) was installed in 1944 through the mail. The eleventh Biennial Meeting took place in Indiana at the
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on June 27 to 30, 1946. The president was Ellen Hawley and no chapter was added at this meeting. The twelfth Biennial Meeting took place in Washington D.C. at the Willard Hotel on June 17 to 19, 1948. The president was Althea Christenson and the chapters installed at this meeting were ''Alpha Delta'' (
State College of Washington Washington State University (Washington State, WSU, or informally Wazzu) is a public land-grant research university with its flagship, and oldest, campus in Pullman, Washington. Founded in 1890, WSU is also one of the oldest land-grant univ ...
), ''Alpha Epsilon'' (
University of Georgia , mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things." , establ ...
), and ''Alpha Zeta'' (
Montana State University Montana State University (MSU) is a Public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in Bozeman, Montana. It is the state's largest university. MSU offers baccalaureate degrees in 60 fields, master's degrees in 6 ...
). The thirteenth Biennial Meeting took place in Chicago, Illinois at Hotel Ambassador East on June 15 to 17, 1950. The president was Claire O' Reilly and chapter ''Alpha Eta'' (
Saint Louis University Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit research university with campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, and Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Mississip ...
) was installed while ''Xi chapter'' became inactive.


Merger, and expansion

On July 27, 1973
Epsilon Eta Phi Epsilon Eta Phi () was a Professional Sorority in the field of business administration and commerce. It was founded in 1927 and merged with Phi Chi Theta in 1973. History Epsilon Eta Phi was founded on May 3, 1927 at Northwestern University. It ...
, a similar, but smaller fraternity merged into Phi Chi Theta. Epsilon Eta Phi was formed at Chicago, Illinois on by: At the time of merger, Epsilon Eta Phi had five active and two inactive chapters. Its active groups were ''Alpha'' ( Northwestern), ''Beta'' ( DePaul), ''Delta'' ( Duquesne day school), ''Epsilon'' ( Duquesne night school), and ''Eta'' ( Hardin-Simmons). Its inactive chapters were ''Gamma'' (
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) and ''Zeta'' ( Beaver College (Arcadia)). It appears that this merger was intended to provide continuity for ''alumnae''; the ''Full History'' mentions initiation ceremonies held in Chicago (near Northwestern and DePaul) and in Pittsburgh (near Duquesne) for collegians and alumnae. But the only new chapter that came about from the matter was ''Gamma Upsilon chapter'' at Duquesne, later in 1973. 's Northwestern members appear to have been absorbed into the chapter there, and there was no further chapter formation or renaming of the existing groups at DePaul or Hardin-Simmons. The official flower of Epsilon Eta Phi was the rose-colored sweet pea. Its colors were steel gray and old rose, and its motto was ''"To be rather than to seem."'' Its official publication was the ''Epsilon Eta Phi Magazine'', issued annually.


Title IX

The Fraternity is now co-educational, after first rejecting this change at the 1972 biennial convention, studying the matter further, and finally adopting a co-ed model at the biennial meeting held between and . This change was prompted by
Title IX Title IX is the most commonly used name for the federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other educat ...
, Federal legislation that led to similar moves by most professional and honor societies which were not already coeducational. Where previously men's and women's groups operated as cordial peers, each serving their own constituencies, rapid adoption of co-educational models led inadvertently to mergers and absorption of smaller groups. Phi Chi Theta survived to become one of the largest of the remaining business fraternities. Chapter and alumnae club growth has continued for Phi Chi Theta in the subsequent decades. The Fraternity's 100th chapter, ''Delta Epsilon'' (Pan American) was installed on .


Membership

Phi Chi Theta's initiated membership includes three classes: Collegiate, Alumni, and Life Members. A Collegiate Member is an initiated member working towards an undergraduate bachelor's degree or a graduate student that is studying Economics or Business. Every pledge in a Collegiate Chapter has to go through a pledging period that can range anywhere from one month to one year. Every pledge receives a Pledge Pin at the beginning of pledging and it will be returned to the chapter at the end of the pledging period. Pledges need to pass a Pledge Test on materials in the official Pledge Manual in order to become an official member. An Alumna or Alumnus (colloquially an "Alum") is an initiated member that has received a
Bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
, or a Collegiate Member that is not currently studying in school. A Life Member is an Alumni Member who has obtained a Life Membership in the Fraternity.


Chapters

Chapters of Phi Chi Theta include the following. Those in bold are active, those in ''italics'' are inactive. Names in plain text are unused or of unknown status: There are additionally a number of alumni chapters that have been formed.


National Honorary Members

The Fraternity has occasionally awarded honorary membership. These include:


See also

*
Alpha Kappa Psi Alpha Kappa Psi (, often stylized as AKPsi) is the oldest and largest business fraternity to current date. Also known as "AKPsi", the fraternity was founded on October 5, 1904, at New York University and was incorporated on May 20, 1905. It is cu ...
, professional *
Delta Sigma Pi Delta Sigma Pi () (officially the International Fraternity of Delta Sigma Pi, Inc.) is a coeducational professional business fraternity and one of the largest in the United States. Delta Sigma Pi was founded on November 7, 1907, at the School ...
, professional *
Phi Gamma Nu Phi Gamma Nu () is a business fraternity in the United States. Currently, Phi Gamma Nu has 18 active collegiate chapters nationwide. History Phi Gamma Nu was founded on at the Chicago campus of Northwestern University. The original founders were ...
, professional, originally women's *
Epsilon Eta Phi Epsilon Eta Phi () was a Professional Sorority in the field of business administration and commerce. It was founded in 1927 and merged with Phi Chi Theta in 1973. History Epsilon Eta Phi was founded on May 3, 1927 at Northwestern University. It ...
, merged into () *
Beta Gamma Sigma Beta Gamma Sigma () is the International Business Honor Society. Founded in 1913 at the University of Wisconsin, University of Illinois and the University of California, it has over 980,000 members, selected from more than 600 collegiate chapters ...
, honor, ( AACSB schools) *
Delta Mu Delta Delta Mu Delta () is an international honor society that recognizes academic excellence in Baccalaureate, Master's, and Doctorate degree business administration programs at Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)-accredited ...
, honor, (
ACBSP The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), formerly the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, is a U.S. organization offering accreditation services to business programs focused on teaching and learni ...
) *
Pi Omega Pi Pi Omega Pi () is a scholastic honor society recognizing academic achievement among students in the field of business education. The society was founded at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville on June 13, 1923, and admitted ...
, honor, business education teachers *
Sigma Beta Delta Sigma Beta Delta () is a scholastic honor society that recognizes academic achievement among students in the fields of business, management, and administration . History Sigma Beta Delta was founded by Beta Gamma Sigma on January 16, 1994, in La ...
, honor, (non-AACSB schools) *
Alpha Beta Gamma Alpha Beta Gamma () is an international business honor society established in 1970 in Manchester, Connecticut, to recognize and encourage scholarship among two-year college students in business curricula. Purpose To confer distinction for high ...
, honor, (2-yr schools) * Kappa Beta Delta , honor, (2-yr schools, (ACBSP) * PFA


References

{{Professional Fraternities Student organizations established in 1924 Professional fraternities and sororities in the United States Professional Fraternity Association 1924 establishments in Illinois