Phi Theta Kappa

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is an international Honor Society committed to recognizing the academic achievements of college students and providing opportunities for its members to improve their academic and leadership skills. They are dedicated to serving their communities and enriching the lives of their members and others within their community through service.

Phi Theta Kappa provides excellent networking opportunities with like-minded students, alumni, and colleges from around the world. These connections help students gain experience, a deeper understanding of the world, and provide educational opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to them.

PTK also provides other resources for its members, including career training, transfer preparation, leadership training, professional development, research skills, and healthcare employment preparation.

The OTC chapter of PTK, Alpha Psi Tau, is a student organization at OTC and provides social, educational, and developmental opportunities for its members. The Alpha Psi Tau chapter operates out of the OTC Honors Office and works to host and participate in many events, including induction ceremonies, chapter meetings, and online and in-person events that are academic or social in nature.

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BENEFITS

SCHOLARSHIPS

LOCAL CHAPTER - ALPHA PSI TAU

PTK HEARTLAND REGION

PTK INTERNATIONAL

FAQ

Benefits

Scholarships

  • Up to $2 million in scholarships to help you complete your associates degree.

  • Access to $246 million in transfer scholarships offered by over 800 four-year colleges and universities across the country.

  • Awards for career-bound students, including field-specific opportunities that cover the costs of certification exams.

  • Leadership and service experiences that will boost your resume, making you more competitive for both PTK and non-PTK scholarships.

OTC Honors Credit

The OTC Honors Program is excited to offer OTC student members of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) the opportunity to complete online PTK training courses and earn 3 hours of OTC Honors Program credit as HON 101 for doing so.  You do not have to be a member of the OTC Honors Program to take advantage of this opportunity.  Through the ptk.org website, Phi Theta Kappa offers its members several excellent free self-paced online training courses.

These include:

  • 5 Edge training courses (Employment EDGE, Transfer EDGE, Competitive EDGE, Research EDGE, and HealthCare EDGE).

  • The Leadership Development Studies training course.

Any OTC student member of Phi Theta Kappa who completes 4 of the 5 PTK EDGE training courses listed above (must include Competitive Edge) and the PTK Leadership Development studies training course, can earn 3 hours of OTC Honors Program Credit for doing so, shown as HON 101 on their OTC transcript.

For more information, please visit the OTC Honors Course Substitutes page.

Career Training

  • Professional skills employers seek through our exclusive online Competitive Edge program

  • Navigate the job market with our one-of-a-kind Employment Edge training course

  • Request personalized letters of recommendation for job applications

Transfer Success

  • Use PTK Connect to search for four-year colleges and universities that are transfer-friendly and see the scholarships they offer to community college students — including those exclusively for PTK members.

  • Take the trickiness out of transferring and get advice from admissions pros through our exclusive Transfer EDGE online course.

Recognition

  • Phi Theta Kappa Golden Key Membership Pin

  • Phi Theta Kappa Membership Certificate

  • Recognition during chapter induction ceremony

  • Opportunity to wear Phi Theta Kappa graduation regalia

  • Official Phi Theta Kappa seal placed on your college diploma

  • Notation of membership on your college transcript

  • Press release announcing your academic achievement*

  • Request personalized letters of recommendation

*Contingent on college policy

Special Discounts and Offers

  • Better Help Online Therapy

  • StudyBuddy.Live Online Prep Courses

  • Travel Discounts

  • Enterprise and National Car Rental

  • GlobalFit Fitness Club

  • Hurst Review Services

  • Lenovo

  • Dell

  • American Medical Student Association

Requirements

Institution

Thanks to Ozarks Technical Community College and Chancellor Dr. Hal Higdon, all OTC students are eligible to join PTK and the Alpha Psi Tau chapter of PTK for the first time at no cost to them. If a student meets the requirements for joining PTK, they will have their membership paid for by the college and will receive an invitation through their OTC email.

Chapter membership is contingent on maintaining an acceptable GPA and following Alpha Psi Tau and OTC student conduct policies.

Coursework

To be eligible to join Phi Theta Kappa, you must have completed,

  • 12 credit hours towards an associate degree

  • 6 credit hours towards a certificate

These credits have to be completed while at OTC. Transfer credits do not fulfill the membership requirements.

GPA

To join Phi Theta Kappa and the Alpha Psi Tau chapter, you must achieve a minimum OTC institutional GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

If your GPA fails below 3.0, after joining, you will be removed from the Alpha Psi Tau chapter. If you reestablish a 3.5 GPA, you will be eligible to join the chapter again, however, you will have to pay your own membership fees.

 

All members that graduate with a GPA of 3.5 or above will receive the following distinctions,

  • Allowed to wear the PTK honor stole, tassel, and/or cord at commencement.

  • Recognized as “PTK Honors” at Commencement.

  • Earn the College’s “PTK Honors” distinction on their transcript.

 

Members that graduate with a GPA of 3.0 – 3.49 will receive the following distinctions,

  • Allowed to wear the PTK honor stole, tassel, and/or cord at commencement.

  • Earn the distinction of “PTK Member” on their transcript.

 

*To receive any Phi Theta Kappa distinctions upon graduation from OTC, you must be a member of the Alpha Psi Tau chapter at Ozarks Technical Community College.

Conduct

As a member of Phi Theta Kappa International, you agree to follow the PTK Code of Ethics, which includes, but is not limited to the following policies;

  • Promote the Best Interests of Phi Theta Kappa

  • Preserve the public’s trust, respect, and confidence in Phi Theta Kappa.

  • Exhibit personal integrity, honesty, and responsibility in all actions.

  • Provide an environment of mutual respect, impartiality, and collaboration, free from harassment and discrimination of any kind.

  • Maintain confidentiality in all matters deemed confidential.

  • Assure independence of judgment free from conflicting interests.

  • Ensure that relationships that constitute or could be perceived as conflicts of interest are fully and properly disclosed and that Phi Theta Kappa policies and procedures are followed.

  • Comply with the policies and procedures of Phi Theta Kappa and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

  • Demonstrate appropriate and efficient stewardship of Phi Theta Kappa property and resources.

 

As a member of the Alpha Psi Tau chapter of PTK, you also agree to follow the Alpha Psi Tau Chapter Honor Code.

About Us

Phi Theta Kappa International

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society (PTK) traces its beginnings to Kappa Phi Omicron, an honorary group chartered with just six members in 1910 at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. In the years that followed, Kappa Phi Omicron was one of many honorary groups in the state. In the spring of 1918, students and college presidents of eight Missouri junior colleges for women, united at Stephens College to organize one new honor society with a common mission. They choose the name Phi Theta Kappa and modeled the newly formed organization after the prestigious senior college honor society Phi Beta Kappa.

 

In 2018 PTK celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Society has grown from its humble beginnings to boast more than 3.5 million members in the United States and 10 sovereign nations.

 

The PTK Foundation awards $1.5 million in scholarships to members each year, and four-year college partners now offer $250 million in transfer scholarships exclusively for PTK members. The PTK EDGE suite of free online courses helps students develop key skills to successfully transfer to a four-year college, gain employment, and thrive in a work environment.

 

PTK looks to the future with a renewed dedication to helping all students succeed, regardless of their past mistakes or their end goals, as it continues to expand opportunities and accessibility.

Alpha Psi Tau chapter

Alpha Psi Tau is a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) International Honors Society at Ozarks Technical Community College. The Alpha Psi Tau chapter is student organization at OTC dedicated to providing OTC students recognition for academic excellence and opportunities to grow as scholars and leaders as early as possible during their pursuit of a college degree or credential.

 

We emphasize student engagement, service, and student’s personal and professional development through Alpha Psi Tau opportunities and experiences. We encourage our students to engage in chapter experiences as well as seek out opportunities for campus and community involvement. We also encourage students to become more involved in PTK at the local, regional, or international levels.

 

We provide many resources and opportunities for students to explore various educational topics through conferences, conventions, and film screenings. Our OTC-PTK Canvas page is our primary means of communication with Alpha Psi Tau chapter members and the primary platform we use to advertise events and opportunities. We also offer students a dedicated space on the OTC Springfield campus in the Honors Lounge (ICE 354, Springfield Campus) to relax, study, or meet other PTK members.