Register for the 2022 National Convention

The Gamma Beta Phi Society

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

As you explore the possibility of joining The Gamma Beta Phi Society, we recognize that you may have questions. Below, you’ll find a list of common questions regarding our Society (membership, eligibility, costs, benefits, etc.). Please feel free to contact National Headquarters at any point in time, if you have any additional questions, or if you need any clarification regarding our Society!

Questions:

Q: What is Gamma Beta Phi?
Q: What makes Gamma Beta Phi different from other college honor societies?
Q: How was I selected for this prestigious organization?
Q: Is this particular honor society restricted to just a particular major or academic discipline?
Q: How much does it cost to join The Gamma Beta Phi Society?
Q: Are part-time students eligible?
Q: If I am a distant learner/online student at my institution, can I still join?
Q: If I am pursing a certificate program, am I still eligible to join?
Q: Is a student who has earned a degree already still eligible for membership?
Q: Can transfer hours from other colleges be considered when determining membership eligibility?
Q: Are students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution without receiving an associate degree eligible?
Q: If a student attended the community college several years ago and did not do well, are those grades considered when determining the student’s eligibility?
Q: Can a high school student become a member?
Q: Are international students (those who are citizens of countries other than the country where they attend college) still eligible to join?
Q: Is attending the Information Meeting and Induction Ceremony mandatory?
Q: How will I find out about Chapter events?
Q: How much time will being a member take?
Q: At what point does a student officially become a member?
Q: Can the community service I am already doing count as Gamma Beta Phi service?
Q: What if I move after being inducted into Gamma Beta Phi? How do I update my information in the national database?

Answers:

Texas Tech - Induction PhotoQ. What is Gamma Beta Phi?
The Gamma Beta Phi Society is a national honor and service society for college students across America. Established in 1964, The Gamma Beta Phi Society now serves as one of the nation’s premier academic organizations, honoring the hard work and dedication of college students from community colleges, liberal arts institutions, private institutions, and public/research universities across America. With over 100,000 members since its inception, the Society continues to identify the best and the brightest, and then encourage them to uplift their community via activities, leadership, and philanthropy!

Q. What makes Gamma Beta Phi different from other college honor societies?
As a college student, there are hundreds of potential academic honor societies to join. The unique aspect of Gamma Beta Phi is that our organization focuses on what you will do post-induction, while most honor societies focus on what you have done pre-induction. We are a national honor and service organization; therefore, we identify the brightest students across America and challenge them to empower their local community via leadership, service, and character development. Unlike most honor societies, Gamma Beta Phi is open to students from all academic disciplines and backgrounds, as long as you have 12 credit hours and the necessary GPA.

Q. How was I selected for this prestigious organization?
The Registrar’s Office at your local institution provided our Chapter Advisor (a University or College Faculty/Staff) with a list of students who met the GPA threshold and had completed least 12 hours of course work. While the national GPA membership threshold is a 3.0, individual chapters are allowed to hold a higher GPA requirement (if desired). If you hold the necessary GPA and credit hours, you will automatically receive an invitation from the chapter at your institution.

Q. Is this particular honor society restricted to just a particular major or academic discipline?
No! While many collegiate honor societies are restricted to particular majors and academic disciplines, Gamma Beta Phi membership is open to students studying any academic discipline. Membership is also open to any student who is currently enrolled in college, with at least 12 credit hours at that particular institution (undergraduate, graduate, professional, or more!).

Q. How much does it cost to join The Gamma Beta Phi Society?
Gamma Beta Phi currently holds one of the lowest membership fees in America, in regards to collegiate academic honor societies! With a one-time national fee of just $70, we strive to make the organization as accessible as possible for all eligible students. Although members pay a one-time national fee, they may be required to pay local chapter dues each year (paid directly to the Gamma Beta Phi chapter at their local institution), varying from $0 to $35 annually.

Q. Are part-time students eligible?
Part-time students may be eligible for membership if they have accumulated 12 hours on a semester system or 15 hours on a quarter system.

Q. If I am a distant learner/online student at my institution, can I still join?
Yes! If your school has a chapter and you meet the eligibility requirements but did not receive an invitation to join, please contact the adviser. If you are a distance learner at a school that does not have a chapter, check out our Member-at-Large program. For more information, please click HERE.

Q. If I am pursing a certificate program, am I still eligible to join?
A certificate student may be eligible for membership if the student has completed at least 12 hours of course work that could be applied toward a degree at the college where the student is currently enrolled and has met the chapter’s required grade point average.

Q. Is a student who has earned a degree already still eligible for membership?
A student with a degree who is currently enrolled at the college is eligible for membership. Gamma Beta Phi allows members to join at every level from freshman to doctoral student.

Q. Can transfer hours from other colleges be considered when determining membership eligibility?
Courses taken at other institutions may be considered when determining membership eligibility if this procedure is acceptable to the institution the student is currently attending. All courses considered must be applicable to a degree at the student’s current institution.

Q. Are students who plan to transfer to a four-year institution without receiving an associate degree eligible?
While Gamma Beta Phi encourages students to obtain an associate degree before transferring, this is not a requirement for membership eligibility. A student would be eligible if he or she has completed at least 12 hours of course work that could be applied to earning a degree where the student is currently enrolled and has met the chapter’s required grade point average.

Q. If a student attended the community college several years ago and did not do well, are those grades considered when determining the student’s eligibility?
Eligibility is based on a student’s grade point average at their current institution. The grade point average at the prior institution is only a factor if the student has not accumulated 12 hours at their current institution.

Q. Can a high school student become a member?
A high school student enrolled at a college who completes at least 12 hours of associate degree course work with the required cumulative grade point average is eligible for membership.

Q. Are international students (those who are citizens of countries other than the country where they attend college) still eligible to join?
International students attending college outside their home countries are eligible for membership if they have completed at least 12 hours of associate degree course work and have met the required cumulative grade point average.

Q. Is attending the Information Meeting and Induction Ceremony mandatory?
No. While it’s always best to attend the ceremony and informational meeting so that you can get to know your chapter’s leadership and your fellow members; if you can’t attend the Induction Ceremony, you can pick up your materials at any chapter meeting.

Q. How will I find out about Chapter events?
Your chapter leadership will choose a method of communication (usually e-mail) that will be used to notify members regarding upcoming events.

Q. How much time will being a member take?
Each chapter has their own specific guidelines to how much time or participation is required to remain a member “in good standing.” Although individual chapters have the flexibility to set their own guidelines, they all realize that honor students are busy people and they set their requirements to very reasonable.

Q. At what point does a student officially become a member?
A student becomes a member when his/her membership application has been approved and membership fees have been paid. A student must be recorded as a member at Headquarters in order to receive all the rights, privileges and benefits of membership.

Q. Can the community service I am already doing count as Gamma Beta Phi service?
Absolutely! All you’ll need to document your service in order to meet eligibility requirements for Gamma Beta Phi is a letter from the organization you served that notes how many hours you contributed. Each member is required to complete a set number of community service hours yearly established by your Chapter’s Bylaws to remain a member in good standing in the society.

Q. What if I move after being inducted into Gamma Beta Phi?
How do I update my information in the national database? Gamma Beta Phi memberships are fully transferable to any accredited institution. See the Member Transfer section of the site for information on how to complete this process.  For more information, please click HERE.