The Secret is Out

As the oldest institution of higher education south of Virginia, we at the College of Charleston like to boast about our age. In business and in higher education, age can be a proxy for excellence – a shining badge of honor that differentiates us from the more than 2,600 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S.

In our 10-year strategic plan, Tradition & Transformation, one of our key pillars is focused on academic distinction – the cornerstone of our reputation as a top university. Some of the success metrics in this work are rankings, program enrollment, admissions selectivity, and retention and graduation rates. I am proud to say that our success metrics are trending in the right direction – a credit to our remarkable faculty and staff who are doing great collaborative work to enhance the academic experience.

Another specific initiative within our academic distinction pillar was to host a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa on our campus. Phi Beta Kappa, founded in 1776, is the most recognized academic honor society for the liberal arts in the country. It only made sense that the College – as the public flagship liberal arts institution and the oldest university in the state – should be among those universities housing a chapter. At this time, only 10% of colleges and universities have the honor of hosting a chapter. While its exclusivity is certainly part of its distinction, its values touting liberal arts – its letters are initials for a three-word Greek phrase that translates to “the love of wisdom is the guide of life” – completely align with our institution’s own belief in the power of a broad education to instill a love of knowledge and prepare thoughtful, lifelong learners and leaders.

In 2021, we began the multiyear application process – an effort led by our academic affairs team and faculty in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences (with special thanks to Provost Suzanne Austin; Gibbs Knotts, former dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; Beth Meyer-Bernstein, dean of the Honors College; and Beth Sundstrom, health communication professor).

In August, the Phi Beta Kappa Society voted to establish three new chapters: at the College of Charleston, Gonzaga University and Texas State University. This spring, the College will start its chapter and induct its first cohort. Traditionally, membership is extended to undergraduates with an appropriate courseload of liberal arts and sciences study who are in the top 10% of their class. Past members from other colleges and universities include present and former U.S. Supreme Court justices (42), former presidents (17), acclaimed writers and scientists and more than 150 Nobel laureates.

The College of Charleston is joining a prestigious membership that reflects the rich tradition of our liberal arts curriculum on campus as well as our rising academic reputation on the national stage. We are no longer the “best-kept secret” when it comes to our academic excellence, and the word is out about the types of amazing graduates we produce.

As a university with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter, we will continue to elevate our brand, which is in keeping with our quality and certainly befitting our age.