Phi Theta Kappa Frequently Asked Questions
Phi Theta Kappa Frequently Asked Questions
What are the eligibility requirements to join Phi Theta Kappa?
To be eligible for membership for Phi Theta Kappa at Greenville Technical College's chapter Alpha Zeta Sigma, students must be enrolled at Greenville Technical College, have completed 12 transferable credit hours, and maintain a minimum 3.4 GPA. Members must also complete two hours of Phi Theta Kappa community service to receive the official Phi Theta Kappa golden seal on their diploma.
Are there community service requirements for members?
There is a two hour service requirement for members. We ask that you participate in at least one Phi Theta Kappa event per semester. Active participation will provide you not only with networking opportunities, but also enhance your resume and college transfer application. Also, some Phi Theta Kappa scholarships require that you participate in a few events.
In 2014, Phi Theta Kappa members volunteered at 4:00 p.m. on Sundays at Synergy Garden, 1102 Howard Drive, Simpsonville, SC 29681. This was part of our Honors in Action project to benefit the community. Our work is evaluated against other colleges' work; the greater impact we have on our community and on our college, the better.
This year's officer team will post volunteer opportunities on Facebook, NobleHour, Twitter [email protected], and via e-mail.
Phi Theta Kappa will also be hosting fitness-related activities on campus or in the Greenville area on Fridays. For example, we had a 5-mile hike at Jones Gap State Park and are planning free classes at the Student Center in yoga, Zumba, and swing dancing. We encourage all members to help announce these activities in their classes and participate when they can. These events will be posted on this website's calendar and on Facebook.
Who can answer my questions about Phi Theta Kappa?
The Contact Us page of this site has contact information and a list of current officers and faculty advisors. Feel free to e-mail officers or advisors anytime or talk to us in person. Alternatively, contact us through our Alpha Zeta Sigma Facebook page which is updated frequently. Call Phi Theta Kappa national headquarters at 1 (800) 946-9995 for questions regarding letters of recommendation.
Alpha Zeta Sigma welcomes all volunteers. We collaborate with the Honors Program so your hours will count toward your community service requirement for that group. We often enlist professors to offer extra credit for volunteer events such as Adopt-A-Highway which is held biannually during the spring and fall. The best way to keep up with what is going on with the chapter is to attend one of our meetings in the Student Center or to attend one of our events. The Calendar page on this site lists dates of meetings and events. Our Volunteer page lists events in which members can participate. You can learn more about our ongoing and upcoming projects on the Projects page. Feel free to Contact Us if there is a project you are interested in.
The chapter is always in need of people to help drive our many projects. We can always use a member's particular expertise, connections, or muscle to get things done. Every event and project is carefully planned and implemented and there are many ways to help at any stage of the process. If you learn about a specific project that you feel passionate about please contact the chapter and we will find a way for you to participate. It is very fulfilling to be a driving force behind the positive impact that Alpha Zeta Sigma has on the community.
What if I have an idea for a new project?
Please contact one of our faculty advisors listed on the Contact Us page.
The officers at Alpha Zeta Sigma welcome new opportunities to serve our college and our community. If you have an idea about a project that interests you, please attend one of our meetings (posted on the Calendar page) and share your idea with us so that we can discuss if it is a project that we can do and how we can implement it. If we can obtain permission from the college administration, and can find the manpower and resources, we will be happy to get it done. If a member has a recommended project that goes into action, they will have direct involvement and/or a position on the planning committee. This is a terrific leadership opportunity.
I am active with another organization. Can we work together?
The Alpha Zeta Sigma chapter works often with other college clubs and community organizations. We look forward to connecting with groups and working together to make a greater impact on our community. If your organization would like to work with Phi Theta Kappa/Alpha Zeta Sigma, please Contact Us and let us know who you are and what kind of collaboration you have in mind so that we can get the ball rolling!
What do Phi Theta Kappa officers do?
Before the beginning of the year, Phi Theta Kappa elects an officer team and coordinates a weekly meeting time for the following year. Officers should encourage new members to become officers on induction night and invite them to meetings. Once officers have been selected, they should exchange phone numbers, e-mail, join the Facebook page, and schedule availability at the first meeting.
2014 Advisors: Anita Tam, Michael Vargo, Dr. Frank Provenzano
President
Mature, great people skills, level-headed servant leader who is open to officer team ideas and gets things done, will meet with GTC administrators, get approval, help manage projects, attend every event and conference, reserve meeting spaces, extremely reliable and active.
Vice President
President’s right hand, actively organizes college project, participates in honors in action project, helps officer team execute tasks, reliable and active.
VP of Communications
Tech savvy and has time to manage Facebook, Twitter, NobleHour, and Website weekly; writes and submits articles to Noble Hour and Carolinas Region; helps with college project and honors in action, reliable and active.
VP of Member Services
Outgoing, great people skills. Recruits students to join, attends student orientations at the beginning of the semesters to promote Phi Theta Kappa, works with VP of Communications to write and send e-mails, teaches others benefits of joining (scholarships, letter of recommendation, corporate benefits), answers member e-mails; helps with college project and honors in action, speaks at orientation, gets members to show up for volunteer activities.
VP of Hallmarks
Great time management and people skills. Scheduler responsible for the calendar on the website. In charge of the 5-Star Chapter Development checklist on ptk.org/fivestar that lists everything the chapter needs to do during the year. Attends meetings and makes sure that officers know about upcoming deadlines. Learns the rules (rubric) for each project (on ptk.org) and makes sure that guidelines are met before submitting final projects to the advisor; helps with college project and honors in action.
Secretary
Assist VP of Communications, take notes at meetings, posts meeting information on website; helps with college project and honors in action, frequently takes photographs (even during meetings; compiles the yearbook)
ALL OFFICERS
· All officers should take photographs at each event to fill the yearbook.
· All officers should create an account on ptk.org and become familiar with the website to help members.
· All officers should create an account on collegefish.org and become familiar with the website to help members.
· All officers should create an account on Facebook and join the Alpha Zeta Sigma group https://www.facebook.com/groups/3133585695" target="_blank">facebook.com/groups/3133585695 and announce events, post photos, and write comments on activities.
· All officers should write a paragraph about each event they attend and e-mail it to the secretary to add yearbook copy (subject line: "Yearbook copy [event name]".
The officer team will meet on ___ at ___ (e.g. The officer team will meet on Wednesdays at 5:00 in the Student Center).
ACTIVE MEMBERS
If you do not have time to be an officer, you can still participate in projects and take part in a leadership committee.
What Phi Theta Kappa events take place every year?
CALENDAR –
The following events must occur every year in the spring (around March) and again in the fall (around October) – get the specific dates from Prof. Michael Vargo and plan them into the budget.
Orientation (Wednesday evening from 6:00-7:30 pm)
$ budget: food, beverages, printing cost for programs
Induction Ceremony (Friday evening 6:45-8:00 pm)
$ budget: food, beverages, printing cost for programs
Adopt-A-Highway cleanup at the Brashier campus: 1830 West Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680 (Saturday morning 9:00 am-noon)
$ budget: doughnuts, coffee, disposable gloves
Carolinas Region Phi Theta Kappa Conferences (spring and fall)
$ budget: attendance fees, hotel fee, gas reimbursement, goodie bag items (ask advisor to contact GTC bookstore to donate), prizes (ask advisor about purchasing gift cards for raffle)
The following deadlines should be set for submission to PTK headquarters by the end of the year:
Pencil in these flexible dates on the annual calendar:
What is the Adopt-A-Highway cleanup?
ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY CLEANUP
Spring Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup (~Saturday morning in early April) ___
Fall Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup (~Saturday morning in early November) ___
During the spring and fall, Phi Theta Kappa officers recruit volunteers (Phi Theta Kappa members and anyone in the student body) to pick up garbage from the highway in front of the Brashier campus in Simpsonville.
The Greenville Technical College Brashier campus is located at 1830 West Georgia Road, Simpsonville, SC 29680.
Continue driving past the college until you reach the fire department station. Take a left and enter the campus, you will park in the parking lot to the left of the main entrance (which will be closed on Saturday morning).
___ Phi Theta Kappa President will confirm with Prof. Michael Vargo [email protected] the date (Saturday ___), time (9:00 am-noon), status of orange safety vests and orange garbage bags (Does the president need to pick them up from the Department of Transportation or will Prof. Vargo bring them?)
___ will post this volunteer opportunity on the Greenville Technical College, Phi Theta Kappa page of NobleHour.com (as soon as you have the dates).
___ Since this event often occurs after Orientation; be sure to mention it during Orientation and include information about the event on the program.
___ Two weeks prior to the event, have officers e-mail all of their current and former professors to ask if they will make an announcement regarding the opportunity to their class and/or offer extra credit for participation. More students will show up if they can get extra credit, and you’ll get done faster and do less work with more people. All students and faculty are invited to participate.
___ Two weeks prior to the event, post the who, what, when, where, why details on the Alpha Zeta Sigma Facebook page; create an event on the events tab in Facebook to invite all members to participate.
___ are the officers responsible for carpooling from Barton to Brashier: announce that officers can take students in need of a ride to the Brashier campus; meet in the University Transfer building south parking lot no later than 8:30 am.
___ will be responsible for buying and bringing gloves and a bottle of hand sanitizer (most of the people who volunteer for this event come from Brashier campus, buy enough pairs for ~25 people).
___ (optional) will be responsible for buying coffee and doughnuts for volunteers.
___ will be responsible for making an announcement to welcome and thank volunteers before you start working. (SPEECH -- Encourage volunteers to take 3 bags each. When full, encourage them to place the bag at the corner of an intersection ~5 feet from the road. Encourage volunteers to pile multiple bags together. Take photos of volunteers behind the bags and take down their names for the yearbook. You will use special orange bags with the Adopt-A-Highway logo on them; the city will pick the bags up).
___ will be responsible for modifying and printing out the group sign-in sheet (don’t forget to bring a pen or two and a folder to write on).
___ will be responsible for taking photographs (phone photos are fine) during the event and post them on Facebook. Make sure you take a group photograph once everyone is wearing their safety vests before you start picking up garbage; post this photo separately on Facebook and compliment the volunteers for participating.
___ will be responsible for thanking volunteers (Facebook/e-mail) for participating.
___ will be responsible for thanking professors after the event (e-mail) who offered extra credit. Be sure to include the list of names of their students who participated (not the whole sign-in sheet). A nice touch is attaching the group photo to the e-mail.
COLLEGE PROJECT
Each year, Phi Theta Kappa officers must complete two projects: one to benefit the college, and one to benefit the community. These projects are different every year, are recommended by the Dean of Arts and Sciences, and are carried out by the officer team and members.
___ The Phi Theta Kappa President and another officer will set up a meeting with the Dean of Arts and Sciences in spring (e.g. 2013 Dean of Arts and Sciences Patty Amick) to ask what Phi Theta Kappa can do to help Greenville Technical College this year.
(e.g. In 2013 the officers helped raised awareness for the new non-smoking policy by designing and handing out bookmarks to smokers. The officer team designed and wore T-shirts with information on the policy around campus. Phi Theta Kappans also volunteered at the Caine Halter Lungs4Life race) which bridged our Honors in Action theme of health and fitness.
___ The Phi Theta Kappa President and other officer who attended the meeting will discuss how to implement the Dean's request with the rest of the officer team.
___ Officers set deadlines and delegate responsibilities.
___ Compose a report based on the rubric on ptk.org, submit to the advisor for approval, submit to national headquarters by the end of the year.
The officer team must be able to answer the following five questions:
HONORS IN ACTION COMMUNITY PROJECT (The BIG, Year-Long Research Project)
This research project benefits the community. Officers will work on this throughout the year. This project will be submitted and judged against other schools' projects and is directly related to your chapter's status (5-star rating system). You will receive a brochure from the national Phi Theta Kappa headquarters with possible themes to choose from at the beginning of the year. All of this information will also available on PTK.org. You may not do the same theme over two consecutive years (e.g. 2012 chose education, 2013 chose food, health, and fitness).
The possible themes are posted on the national Phi Theta Kappa website:
ptk.org/get-involved/honors-in-action
For example, in 2013, the officer team's theme was food, health, and fitness. They created activities: Water Wednesdays (handed out free ice water and information on fitness activities in the area during summer by the vending machines to promote the health and dental benefits of drinking water over soda), Fitness Fridays (invited the student body to take free fitness field trips: walking, hiking, and yoga; participated and volunteered for three community 5K races), and Synergy Garden Sundays (volunteered through the summer and fall semesters at a community garden in Simpsonville). The team also created surveys that were completed by the student body that specifically answered the questions posed by national headquarters. One of the officers expanded Synergy Garden Sundays and applied it by collaborating with the Biology Club to start an educational community garden on campus.
Officers must complete the following:
This year’s theme is ___
The entire officer team will help find sources for this project. The following officers are responsible for modifying and putting together the final report:
___ ___ ___
Research should be completed prior to Spring Orientation (at least 10 academic sources). The research team should do an initial write-up for the honors in action project according to the rubric ptk.org/get-involved/honors-in-action. This draft will be filled in and modified as projects are completed.
Officers will write a paragraph describing their experience with each event and send the paragraphs to the secretary who will compile the yearbook.
Based on our research, we will do the following projects on the following dates:
___ ___ ___
Once you have decided on your activities, post volunteer opportunities:
Alpha Zeta Sigma Facebook page facebook.com/groups/3133585695/
NobleHour (Our group name is: Phi Theta Kappa, Greenville Technical College) noblehour.com/organizations
Twitter twitter.com our tag is [email protected]
The research team will work with the VP of Communications who will write an entry on the Alpha Zeta Sigma website Meetings page after each step is completed and after each event.
At the end of the year, the research team will compile the final report, take it to the writing center to be edited, submit it to the advisor for review and approval, and then submit it to national headquarters ptk.org/benefits/awards/hallmark/how-to-submit.
Officers must answer the following twelve questions in their research report due in January the following year (essay responses cannot exceed 2600 words):
How do I create a campus-wide survey?
Here's a checklist of how to create a survey that you will use as part of your Honors in Action research project that is due at the end of the calendar year. Ideally, have the survey ready to go before midterms of the spring semester, so you can gather a large sample and promote it during each semester. You will also need to enlist others to promote the survey so people will take it.
Finish gathering your academic sources for the Honors in Action research project.
Write 10 specific questions. If you need more questions answered, you will need to write an additional separate survey.
Ask the faculty advisors (2013: Anita Tam, Michael Vargo, Dr. Frank Provenzano) to proofread and approve the questions.
Create a free account on surveymonkey.com. This is the survey creation tool that the administrators at Greenville Technical College ask us to use.
Create your survey.
On the surveymonkey.com/home/ page, click on the title of your survey.
On the top right of the Edit Survey page, click the Send Survey button.
On the Send Your Survey screen, copy the link (PC: Ctrl C; Mac: command C) listed under the orange arrow that says Your Survey Web link.
Call the main number on the Greenville Technical College website: (864) 250-8000 and ask to be transferred to the person who can help you add a survey to the Greenville Technical College Website. In 2013, we contacted Denna Callahan. [email protected] Ask for permission to place the surveys on the website.
After obtaining permission, write an e-mail to Ms. Callahan, sending her the title(s) of the survey(s), the date(s) the survey(s) was/were created, and the date range that you want the surveys to be up on the GTC website (get the data before the end of the fall semester).
What goes into the Phi Theta Kappa Yearbook?
Photographs are taken at each event. Officers must write a paragraph about their experience following each event to provide copy for the yearbook (subject line: Yearbook [EVENT NAME]). Members can also write about their experience participating in events and submit it to be included in the yearbook. At the end of the year, the Secretary, VP of Member Services, and VP of Communications will compile a photo book that will be printed (costcophotocenter.com/Shop/Photobooks#/).
Theme
Each yearbook must have a theme that reflects the Honors Study Topic. Chapters may use a quote to illustrate their theme. The purpose of a theme is to provide unity and relate the different divisions to each other.
Cover
Illustrates theme, lists chapter name (AlphaZeta Sigma), college name (Greenville Technical College), academic year, and title.
Content Pages
All must have event-specific title, page numbers.
Body copy must explain why the photographs are relevant to the section.
Optional Content Pages
Overall Theme
Cover, divider pages, content pages (must relate to Honors Study Topic)
Five Divisions in this order
Divider Pages
Other Specifics
What are the Carolinas Region Phi Theta Kappa Conferences? Can I go?
Carolinas Region Phi Theta Kappa Conferences are opportunities for a few officers, advisors, and active members to learn leadership skills that they can share with their chapter and network with other Phi Theta Kappa chapters. These conferences usually last from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and require carpooling and a hotel stay. Attendance fees, hotel room bills, and gas money must be estimated and approved by the advisors and college administration.
TRAVEL
At least two officers and one advisor will attend regional conferences in the spring and the fall (depending on the budget, and if our chapter cohosts a conference, more may attend).
Carolinas Region Spring Conference (~March):
The spring regional conference is an awards conference that honors last year’s officer team and is an opportunity for officers to run for regional office. Usually the president will attend with one of last year’s officers and one advisor. Officers can campaign for regional office at this event, and do so on the first night (casual Friday) of the conference. Saturday during the day, election speeches are delivered and officers attend lectures. Saturday evening, an awards ceremony is held during a formal wear dinner that is followed by a dance. Regional officers are announced on Sunday morning.
Carolinas Region Spring Conference Attendees:
Advisor ___, President ___, Last Year’s Officer ___
Carolinas Region Fall Conference (~September):
The fall regional conference trains officers how to do the college project and honors in action project. This is most beneficial for people who plan to be officers the following year. The president, a potential officer for next year, and an advisor will attend. If the officer team decides to host a regional conference, they need to make room in the budget to send more officers and active members to this conference, so they will learn to develop officer skills.
Carolinas Region Fall Conference Attendees:
Advisor ___, President ___, Next Year’s Officer ___
What goes into the yearly Phi Theta Kappa budget?
At the beginning of each year, the president and advisors must create a budget. First, the president will ask the advisor how much money is available for the group. Then, the president will create an estimated a line-item budget for the fiscal year in Excel (GTC’s fiscal year runs from July of this year through June of next year) and submit it to the advisor for approval. The group's biggest expenses will include the following: biannual Carolinas Region Conference attendance and hotel fees, gas money, Orientation and Induction Ceremony food/beverage, Adopt-A-Highway disposable gloves, printing costs (Orientation and Induction brochures), and project costs. Also set aside funds for your Honors in Action and College Projects (try to keep project costs to a minimum).
How do officers plan Orientation for new members?
Officers will hold orientation for new members upstairs in the Student Center in the spring and fall. This is usually held on a Wednesday night from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.. Officers usually arrive around 4:30 p.m. to set up the space. It is recommended that Orientation is NOT held on a Friday; since most students do not have class on Friday, turnout will be low.
Approximate Date for Spring Orientation (~March): ___
Approximate Date for Fall Orientation (~October): ___
Officers delegate the following responsibilities:
Phi Theta Kappa's President will reserve the space through student activities on the second floor of the student center (building 105); the president will confirm the reservation before the event.
Create and print out an officer/advisor contact information sheet to be distributed to each member.
Create and print out one sign-in sheet (name, e-mail, phone), bring pens.
Download the recruitment video and PowerPoint from ptk.org/resources/membership-campaign/promotional-tools.
Set up the sound and video system in the Student Center (works well with PC laptop, problems with Mac, ask Student Activities if you need help).
Set up the chairs facing the screen.
___ will be responsible for bringing drinks
___ will be responsible for speaking to the members about Phi Theta Kappa (SPEECH: offer congratulations, show PTK.org video, scholarships, CollegeFish.org, letter of recommendation, corporate benefits, leadership opportunities, project highlights, participation is encouraged)
___ will be responsible for bringing food (try to find corporate sponsors to donate)
___ will be responsible for bringing tablecloth, napkins, silverware, cups
___ will be responsible for bringing the Phi Theta Kappa banner and flag
All of the officer team will take photos (for the yearbook/Facebook) and clean up after the event. All photos must have accompanying captions listing names of people; make sure you take down names of people in the photos.
How do officers plan the Induction Ceremony?
Officers will hold formal induction ceremonies for new members and their families in the TRC Auditorium (library building, stage) in the spring and fall.
Approximate Date for Spring Induction: ___
Guest Speaker for Spring Induction: ___
Approximate Date for Fall Induction: ___
Guest Speaker for Fall Induction: ___
Officers delegate responsibilities for the following duties…
Phi Theta Kappa President will reserve the TRC Auditorium as soon as the date is set; the president will confirm the reservation before the event.
Officers find and confirm guest speakers for each event (e.g. find professors you like who are familiar with Phi Theta Kappa: Dianne Chidester, Lori Trumbo, Dr. Hammond have done this in the past)
Create, get approval from advisor, and print out a brochure/program with all of the member names (get member names from advisor the week before the event)
Modify and print out the script (President)
Create an e-mail letter to invite inductees as soon as you have their names; tell them what they will do (VP Communications)
Invite inductees to arrive a half hour prior to the event and line them up alphabetically by last name; seat inductees in first three rows of auditorium; family members can be seated as soon as they arrive
Bring blank name tags and Sharpies for inductees to write their name
Rehearse movements, microphone, lights in the auditorium
___ will be responsible for bringing drinks
___ will be responsible for bringing food
___ will be responsible for the cake design, buying the cake, bringing it, and storing it before guests are seated (the cake might be kept upstairs prior to the event and placed on the table before guests leave the auditorium at the end of the ceremony)
___ will be responsible for bringing tablecloths, napkins, silverware, cups
___ will be responsible for bringing the Phi Theta Kappa banner and flag
___ will be responsible for bringing member candles, four tall table candles, and lighters (don't forget to collect candles from members as they leave the stage so candles can be reused)
___ will be responsible for bringing feather pen and member binder (stage)
___ will set up a row of chairs for advisors and the guest speaker behind the podium (by the computer on stage) and a row of chairs for officers behind the advisor row (upstage)
___ will be responsible for handing out candles to members as they go onstage and collecting candles when they leave the stage
___ will be responsible for leaving the stage early to set up the cake before members enter the lobby
___ will be responsible for writing and sending a thank you letter to the guest speaker
___ will be responsible for posting congratulations on Facebook and adding the names of new members to the website