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The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most selective all-discipline honor society. Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, the distinguishing characteristic of Phi Kappa Phi is its belief that all branches of higher education merit recognition. It extends its interest and eligibility across the entire range of academic inquiry and calls attention to the fact that today’s world needs a breadth of understanding far beyond that of a specialist who restricts his or her outlook to a specific specialty.

Phi Kappa Phi annually inducts approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff, and alumni. Once inducted, Phi Kappa Phi members gain a lifelong passport to a global network of academic and professional opportunities. Since its founding, more than 1 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, writer John Grisham, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, and Netscape founder James Barksdale.

Phi Kappa Phi has chapters on more than 300 select college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is "to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

The University of Michigan chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society held its 2010 initiation ceremony on March 21 and inducted 265 new members. President Mary Sue Coleman was inducted as an Honorary Member, and Provost Hanlon and Dean Munson were also inducted as faculty members. Prof. John Chamberlin was also inducted and gave the keynote address.

The chapter has awarded $23,000 in scholarships and awards to student members during the past three years, with an additional $6,000 to be awarded in 2011 at its initiation ceremony on March 20.