Honors Societies
Honors College students are often invited to join a variety of national honors societies and local chapters. The following are ones supported by the Honors College. The decision to join an honor society, whether included on this list or not, is an individual decision, and you are encouraged to look into each honor society’s benefits, fees, local chapter activity, and more as you are making your decision to join.
Phi Eta Sigma
Phi Eta Sigma is a national honor society for college freshmen. Their goal is to encourage and reward academic excellence among first year students in institutions of higher learning. The oldest and largest freshman honor society, Phi Eta Sigma was founded at the University of Illinois on March 22, 1923. They now have more than 300 chapters throughout the United States and more than 625,000 inducted members. This chapter has been temporarily paused and is inactive.
Phi Kappa Phi
The purpose of Phi Kappa Phi, unique among honor societies, is not only to recognize and encourage superior scholarship but also to bring together the best scholars in all disciplines and to foster mutual respect and cooperation to the benefit of all. The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi was founded at the University of Maine in 1897 and has now grown to a total membership of over 800,000. The University of Illinois at Chicago Chapter is the one hundred fifty-second chapter of the Society. This chapter has been temporarily paused and is inactive.
Additional Honor Societies: Heading link
Phi Beta Kappa
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honor society, inviting into membership outstanding seniors who have attained a liberal arts education with demonstrated breadth and depth. The organization gets its name from the first letters of the Greek phrase Φιλοσοφία Βίον Κυβερήτης – which in English means “Love of learning is the guide to life.”
https://www.las.uic.edu/students/current-undergraduate/opportunities/phi-beta-kappa
National Society of Leadership and Success
The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS) is dedicated to empowering college students to design the lives they aspire to lead. By helping students uncover their passions and purpose, the NSLS provides the support and resources needed to achieve their personal and professional goals. It’s not just about individual success; it’s about cultivating leaders who will make a positive impact on the world. To earn induction into the NSLS, students must complete a comprehensive 5-step leadership development program. Throughout this journey, members receive curated content designed to sharpen their leadership skills. But it doesn’t stop there—NSLS encourages members to actively apply what they’ve learned, turning theory into practice, and making tangible contributions within their communities. The NSLS is more than just an honor society; it’s a transformative experience that equips students with the tools to become effective leaders and change-makers.
All UIC Honor Societies
Visit the Undergraduate Catalog to learn about the many honor societies and chapters that exist at UIC: