The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton’s Beta Eta Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society of community and junior colleges, was recently designated a four-star chapter by the organization’s international office.

“This is the first time in our chapter’s history to reach this designation,” Mathew Herrman, a Phi Theta Kappa advisor at UACCM, said. “Over the past three years, we have attained and maintained a three-star status thanks to our research projects. Prior to 2015, we were unable to move past a one-star level, but with a restructuring of the program, we have moved up the ladder quickly.”

Herrman said that one way the chapter was able to maintain a four-star rating is the upcoming Regional Honors Institute, a leadership training conference being held at National Park College in Hot Springs next month. The chapter currently has six students, including four officers and two members, planning to attend. 

“Our goal this year is to complete our five-star rating by nominating the chapter, our projects, and individuals in the organization for regional and national awards in late November and December, which is our only remaining requirement,” he said. “We are one of four chapters in the Oklahoma-Arkansas Region who have set the goal of a five-star status for the 2018-2019 school year. Our nearest sister chapter, National Park College, has been keeping that standard of five stars for several years, thanks to their chapter advising team and student leaders. We have been taking a lot of cues from them on how to be more successful.” 

The mission statement of Phi Theta Kappa is “to recognize academic achievement of college students and to provide opportunities for them to grow as scholars and leaders.” To become a member, students must have completed at least 12 hours of coursework that may be applied to an associate degree while maintaining at least a 3.5 GPA.