The Phi Beta Kappa Society is devoted to excellence in the Liberal Arts and Sciences, the academic subjects examining the history, structure, and meaning of the natural world and of the human experience. Liberal, derived from the Latin word liberalis, refers to freedom, the freedom to explore, to think, and to discuss important issues without being bound by illegitimate restraints.

On 20 April 2022, UNC Charlotte was granted an official Charter for a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, known as the Theta Chapter of North Carolina. The University joins an elite group of just 10% of U.S. colleges and universities approved to shelter a chapter. Nationwide, chapters invite just 10% of liberal arts and sciences students to join.

“Phi Beta Kappa status is one of the highest distinctions a university can achieve,” said Chancellor Sharon L. Gaber. “This honor acknowledges the dedication shown by our faculty and staff to student success, particularly through the enduring experiences that the liberal arts and sciences provide as students pursue their educational, career and life choices.”

Those who accept an invitation to join Phi Beta Kappa become part of a network of over 500,000 members. Phi Beta Kappa members include 17 U.S. Presidents, 42 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, and more than 150 Nobel Laureates. The charter members of Theta of North Carolina can be seen at the first induction ceremony on April 20, 2022.