Amy Hancock recently attended the Phi Theta Kappa Advisor Institute at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss. Hancock is a South Georgia State College advisor for the Kappa Sigma and Alpha Rho Omega chapters of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Associate Regional Coordinator for Georgia. The Advisor Institute is designed to equip new and seasoned advisors with tools and techniques to help the colleges reap the benefits of a fully engaged Phi Theta Kappa chapter. Currently, each of SGSC’s chapters holds the distinction of being a Five Star Chapter, which is the Society’s highest ranking.
The Institute was led by the staff of the Phi Theta Kappa Center of Excellence. The two-day program included sessions on the Phi Theta Kappa mission and membership emphasis of the organization as well as professional development for advisors ranging from chapter management to articulating one’s vision as an advisor. Advisor and member benefits were presented along with tips on completing the College Project and Honors in Action Project, requirements of the Five Star Chapter development plan.
Panel discussions on successful advising and scholarship opportunities for students were also held. A panel of advisors shared tried-and-true tips on managing chapter operations. The panelists for the scholarship discussion included an expert advisor on the scholarship process, two former Phi Theta Kappa members who had received substantial scholarships to further their education, and two transfer specialists from Ole Miss with tips on what scholarship committees are looking for in an application.
The focus of the Institute was to learn to strengthen members’ marketable skills using Phi Theta Kappa programs and to cultivate administrative support. The Institute was also a great way to connect with a dynamic network of Phi Theta Kappa leaders from across the country.
Participants were able to enjoy visiting Oxford Square in downtown Oxford. Since Oxford was incorporated in 1837, the square has remained the cultural and economic hub of the city. The square is home to a variety of shops including the south’s oldest department store and Square Books, a general independent bookstore.
Headquartered in Jackson, Miss., Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is the largest honor society in higher education with 1,285 chapters on college campuses in each of the United States, Canada, Germany, the Republic of Palau, Peru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the British Virgin Islands, the United Arab Emirates and U.S. territorial possessions. Nearly three million students have been inducted since Phi Theta Kappa’s founding in 1918, with approximately 131,000 students inducted annually.
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