Group of students being inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

Honor Society

SUNY Adirondack has a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society established to recognize academic achievement of college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders.

Phi Theta Kappa is the international honor society for students at two-year colleges. 

The society was founded in Missouri in 1910 and was organized nationally in 1918. Today, there are more than 2 million members in 1,250 chapters throughout the United States, U.S. Territories, the British Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, Canada, Germany, Micronesia, United Arab Emirates, Palau and Peru. 

SUNY Adirondack's chapter is Upsilon Beta, which was chartered May 7, 1972. 


Students who complete 12 credit hours at the college with a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher are invited to join. New members are inducted twice per year, once in the fall semester and once in the spring semester.

Phi Theta Kappa's purpose is to recognize and encourage scholarship at two-year colleges. The organization is based upon four hallmarks: scholarship, fellowship, leadership and service. Members have an opportunity to participate in activities at the local, regional (New York state) and international levels. Officers are elected at each of these levels and provide leadership within the organization. 

There are many benefits of Phi Theta Kappa membership. Phi Theta Kappans are honored with special insignia at commencement. They are eligible for a variety of scholarships, especially transfer scholarships for students who wish to advance their education beyond an associate degree. These scholarships vary in scale, but many are in the tens of thousands of dollars. Phi Theta Kappa students often have an advantage when applying for work or transfer opportunities. 

Information about the Upsilon Beta Chapter of SUNY Adirondack is available from Chapter Advisor Emily Goodspeed.

Request an application

PTK advisor

Assistant Professor of Library Science Emily Goodspeed

Emily Goodspeed

  • Assistant professor of Library Science
  • Digital Services librarian; Library chair; and advisor for Phi Theta Kappa