Phi Kappa Phi opens 366th chapter at Stanton University

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi installed a new chapter at Stanton University in Anaheim on Nov. 6, expanding its network to 366 chapters. The move reflects Stanton University’s eligibility under the society’s standards and gives the campus a formal role in recognizing high academic achievement.

Why it matters: - Stanton University now joins Phi Kappa Phi’s network of selective college honor societies, which can raise the school’s profile for academic excellence. - The new chapter gives top students, faculty and staff a formal path into a national society that awards scholarships and other academic support. - The installation adds to a society that has more than 300 chapters across the United States and its territories and inducts about 20,000 new members each year.

What happened: - The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi installed its 366th chapter at Stanton University in Anaheim, California, on Nov. 6, 2026. - The chapter was approved after a petitioning process, a site visit and a vote by the society’s board of directors. - Dr. Bradley R. Newcomer, the society’s executive director, congratulated Stanton University students, faculty and staff and said the chapter reflects the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, intellectual curiosity and lifelong learning.

The details: - Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and describes itself as the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. - The society requires a regionally accredited four-year college or university with a reputation for excellence and a commitment to the society’s values. - Officers elected for the new Stanton University chapter are President Dr. Kiran Kanwar, President-Elect Dr. Louna Al Hallak, Secretary Mafe S. and Treasurer Dr. Ellen Lee. - Membership is by invitation only for the top 7.5% of juniors and the top 10% of seniors and graduate students, plus faculty, professional staff and alumni with scholarly distinction. - Phi Kappa Phi has initiated more than 1.75 million members since its founding. - Notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist John Grisham and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. - The society awards more than $1 million each year through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and literacy grants. - More information is available in the society’s official announcement.

Between the lines: - Stanton University’s new chapter signals a deeper institutional tie to a national honors network that emphasizes broad academic achievement rather than a single discipline. - The society’s invitation-only model and selective eligibility standards suggest the chapter will be used as a signal of elite performance on campus.

What's next: - Stanton University’s chapter officers will lead the new group and begin chapter operations under Phi Kappa Phi’s rules and membership standards. - The society will continue adding chapters and inducting members across its campus network. - Stanton University students and faculty who meet the society’s standards may be invited into future membership rounds.

The bottom line: - Stanton University has gained a chapter in one of the country’s oldest academic honor societies, expanding its recognition of high-achieving students and scholars.