Phi Kappa Phi News and Updates

Phi Kappa Phi at UT Dallas Academic Travel Grant

The University of Texas at Dallas chapter of Phi Kappa Phi is happy to accept applications for the Spring 2013 chapter-specific grant for academic and research-related travel. Each academic year our chapter awards ten grants of $500 each, five per semester for the Fall and Spring. The PKP at UT Dallas Academic Travel Grant is designed to help supplement travel expenses incurred for academic research or participation at academic conferences and meetings. Each $500 grant can be used to offset expenses of air travel, food and lodging, car rental and gas, and/or conference fees.

Eligibility for application to the UT Dallas Academic Travel Grant is limited to undergraduate, graduate, and alumni members, in good standing, of the UT Dallas chapter of PKP. All PKP applicants must be current on their local and national dues at the time of award and at the time they request reimbursement for their travel-related expenses. Any PKP members who have won a Travel Grant in the past will be ineligible for this competition. All applicants are responsible for submitting the following material:

1. one page curriculum vita, containing full contact information
2. 500 word essay explaining the purpose of the travel, how travel funds will be used, and the meaning of the travel for the applicant’s broader research agenda.
3. current student transcript of academic work done at UT Dallas (this may be uploaded by the applicant or by the UTD-PKP Chapter Administrative Assistant)
4. formal approval by a UT Dallas faculty sponsor, including short (100-250 word) explanation, by the sponsor, of significance of the applicant’s travel plans.

The application may be accessed at: https://explorer.utdallas.edu/pkp/

Deadline for the online receipt of a full application will be Thursday, May 9, 2013. Each complete packet will be reviewed by a committee of PKP faculty and administration members. Each applicant shall be evaluated on their record of academic success and the significance of the travel project toward their future academic achievement. Awards will be announced Thursday, May 16, 2013.

Any questions may be addressed to:

Dr. Douglas C. Dow
UT Dallas Chapter of PKP Vice President for Scholarships and Awards
800 W. Campbell Road, GC10
Richardson, TX 75080
972-883-4934
dougdow@utdallas.edu

Graduate Candidates Inducted

Chapter 316 conducted its graduate student induction ceremony on Tuesday, April 9 in the McDermott Suite. PKP chapter members attended the event in full regalia as per tradition. Forty-eight graduates were inducted into the Society this academic year. Dr. Murray John Leaf, Professor of Anthropology and Political Economy in the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, was also inducted as a faculty member of the Society. Dr. Leaf gave the keynote address at the event. Other speakers included chapter president Rafael Martín, president-elect Dr. Cy Cantrell and PKP student vice-president Blair Flicker. Dr. Edward Harpham, chapter treasurer, announced each candidate by school while Mr. Martín and Dr. Wildenthal presented each inductee with their certificate, honor cord and pin. Provost and PKP member Dr. Hobson Wildenthal provided the closing remarks. Congratulations to our newest members!

PKP Chapter 316 General Meeting Announcement

The spring 2013 General Membership Meeting of the UT Dallas Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 5 at 4 p.m. in the San Antonio Room in Green Hall (GR 2.326). Upcoming events and volunteer opportunities as well as fellowship/scholarship opportunities available to Phi Kappa Phi members will be discussed.

In addition, the chapter will select new Student Vice Presidents. If you are a student and are interested in serving in the capacity of a Student Vice President for our chapter, please send the following to Blair Flicker, Senior Student Vice President for Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 316, at bflicker@utdallas.edu:

• A brief statement of why you are interested in the Student Vice President position
• A copy of your resume or CV
• An indication if you will be able to attend the General Membership Meeting

There is more than one Student Vice President position available to fill. If you are not available to attend, Mr. Flicker will read your statement and highlights of your resume to the general membership for consideration.

Minutes of the General Assembly Meeting held March 5, 2013.

Phi Kappa Phi at UT Dallas Academic Travel Grant

The University of Texas at Dallas chapter of Phi Kappa Phi is happy to announce the inauguration of a chapter-specific grant for academic and research-related travel. Each academic year our chapter will award ten grants of $500 each, or a total of five per semester (Fall and Spring. The PKP at UT Dallas Academic Travel Grant is designed to help supplement travel expenses incurred for academic research or participation at academic conferences and meetings. Each $500 grant can be used to offset expenses of air travel, food and lodging, car rental and gas, and/or conference fees.

Eligibility for application to the UT Dallas Academic Travel Grant is limited to undergraduate, graduate, and alumni members, in good standing, of the UT Dallas chapter of PKP. All PKP applicants must be current on their local and national dues at the time of award and at the time they request reimbursement for their travel-related expenses. All applicants are responsible for uploading the following material:

1. One page curriculum vita, containing full contact information.
2. 500 word essay explaining the purpose of the travel, how travel funds will be used, and the meaning of the travel for the applicant’s broader research agenda.

In addition, a full application will also contain:

• current student transcript of academic work done at UT Dallas (to be uploaded by the UTD-PKP Chapter Administrative Assistant)
• formal approval by a UT Dallas faculty sponsor, including a short (100-250 word) explanation, by the sponsor, of significance of the applicant’s travel plans.

The application may be accessed at https://explorer.utdallas.edu/pkp.

Deadline for receipt of the full application packet will be Wednesday, December 12, 2012. Each complete packet will be reviewed by a committee of five PKP faculty members, whereby each applicant shall be evaluated on their record of academic success and the significance of the travel project toward their future academic achievement. Awards will be announced Monday, December 17, 2012. All questions may be addressed to:

Dr. Douglas C. Dow
UT Dallas Chapter of PKP Vice President for Scholarships and Awards
800 W. Campbell Road mailstop: GC10 Richardson, TX 75080
972-883-4934
dougdow@utdallas.edu

Undergraduate Candidates Inducted into Chapter

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 316 conducted its second undergraduate induction ceremony on Monday, November 5 in the Student Union. PKP chapter members attended the event in full regalia as per tradition. One hundred and thirty-nine undergraduates were inducted into the Society this year. For inclusion into the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, undergraduate grade point averages are assessed and ranked upon conclusion of the academic year. Juniors who are in the top 7.5% of their school and seniors who are in the top 10% of their school are eligible for nomination. Juniors must have completed at least 72 total credit hours and all undergraduates must have completed at least 24 credit hours at UTD to be considered.

Dr. Roderick A. Heelis, the Cecil H. and Ida Green Chair in Systems Biology Science #2 Professor of Physics and Director of the William B. Hanson Center for Space Sciences, was also inducted as a faculty member of the Society. Dr. Heelis received his bachelor of science in mathematics and his doctorate in applied mathematics from the University of Sheffield. He is also a fellow of the American Geophysical Union, an international scientific society devoted to the research of the Earth and space. Heelis' research interests range from planet-star interaction to the differences between planets with magnetic fields. He measures weather in space by means of sophisticated instruments that fly on satellite “space labs” and creates computer models that aim to predict space weather phenomena and to determine to what extent they will affect space-based assets.

Other speakers at the event included out-going chapter president Dr. Denise Paquette-Boots, president-elect Rafael Martín and PKP student vice-president Chuck Cage. Dr. Edward Harpham, chapter treasurer, announced the candidates present by school and announced the instructors who the candidates said were most influential in their academic careers at UTD. He was assisted by Dr. Abby Kratz and Dr. Susan Jerger who attended the inductees as each student ascended the stage to receive their certificate, honor cord and pin.

The final event of the evening was the presentation of a plaque and certificate of appreciation to Dr. Boots who served the chapter as its first president. Mr. Martín, who presented these items to Dr. Boots, stated that the plaque will henceforth include the name of each chapter president and will hang in the Honors College beside Chapter 316’s charter. UTD Provost and PKP member Dr. Hobson Wildenthal provided the closing remarks.

With the event concluded, the inductees and their families were invited to remain for refreshments and mingle with chapter members.

UT-Dallas Chapter 316 Recognized as Chapter of Excellence

During the biennial conference, the Board of Directors of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi congratulated nineteen chapters that earned the Chapter of Excellence distinction, the highest commendation a chapter can receive from the organization. Among those selected for the honor was UT-Dallas’ Chapter 316.

Chapters of Excellence are active chapters with a nucleus of devoted faculty will to devote time to the operation of their chapter; host events and activities beyond student initiations; maintain good rapport with university administration; have students who are actively involved and assist with planning activities; maintain sufficient funds for meaningful chapter activities and operations; and use membership dues to support student scholarships and awards.

Chapters of Excellence receive:

• a commendation letter sent from the Society to chapter officers and campus administration
• special recognition on Society websites, publications and at Phi Kappa Phi’s National Convention
• a specially designed logo for use in chapter communications
• recognition advertisements in local media and educational journals
• a $500 award

Chapter 316 plans to use the award to help fund chapter activities and scholarship opportunities for its student members.

www.phikappaphi.org/Web/news/article.html?ArticleID=120

Undergraduate Initiation Now Underway

The fall 2012 student initiation process is currently in progress. All undergraduate candidates have received their invitations and tapping has concluded. Initiates are chosen from the top 7.5 percent of juniors who had completed at least 72 credit hours and the top 10 percent of seniors. At least 24 hours must have been completed at UTD. Eligibility was determined separately for each school at the UTD. This year, Phi Kappa Phi invited 141 juniors and 421 seniors to join the organization. Graduate candidates will be selected in spring 2013 at a separate ceremony. The undergraduate initiation ceremony is scheduled for November 5, 2012.

For more about the tapping ceremony, read Tapping Ritual Invites Students to Join Academic Honor Society.

Fall 2012 General Chapter Meeting Announcement

The Fall 2012 Phi Kappa Phi General Membership Meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 1 from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM in JO 3.516. We will cover important information regarding fall undergraduate inductions, a fiscal report, introduce our student officers, and report on the Bi-Annual Convention that our officers will attend in early August.

Minutes of the General Assembly Meeting held October 1, 2012

PKP Chapter 316 Announces Scholarship Winners

Emily Lichtenheld, our chapter’s selected nominee for the PKP Fellowship, has been awarded the Walter and Adelheid Hohenstein Fellow for the South Central Region and will receive $5,000. Fifty-one of the $5000-level fellowships are awarded nationally to members entering their first year of graduate or professional studies. Dr. Boots announced the news to the assembled audience at the Honors Convocation.

The winners of our chapter’s first PKP-UTD Travel Grants were graduate student Tao Li and undergraduates Stevin George, Martin Huynh, Emily Lichtenheld, and Angela Johnston. Each has won a $500 grant to offset travel expense incurred in pursuing academic or intellectual activities beyond the boundaries of UTD. Next year, Chapter 316 will conduct fall and spring competitions awarding five travel grants per semester for two graduate students and eight undergraduates.