A review committee from prestigious arts and sciences honors society Phi Beta Kappa will be visiting Elon Feb. 3 to 5 to evaluate the university’s application for membership.

The committee will consist of four professors who work at universities with Phi Beta Kappa chapters. Professor Don Wyatt from Middlebury College is the leader of the committee.

While at Elon they will be looking at how the school supports students in the arts and sciences, the quality of the professors and teaching, faculty scholarship and academic financing.

“It is a very thorough look,” explained Professor Russell Gill, a member of Elon’s Phi Beta Kappa committee.

The committee will begin their visit with a student-lead tour followed by dinner with the Phi Beta Kappa faculty committee. They will conduct interviews for two days with the department heads and various committee chairs.

Though they will primarily be interacting with faculty and staff members in a series of meetings, they will also have the opportunity to meet a few honors students, as they are interested in student reactions to the program.

Elon applied for membership to Phi Beta Kappa in 2000 and 2003, but this is the first time Elon has moved on to the second round of the process. Since the last application, Elon has made many improvements that may give the university a better chance for selection, Gill said.

The quality of the faculty and the student body are continuously improving, as well as the quality of the facilities. Library funding and the number of foreign language programs, two things the Phi Beta Kappa looks at to determine membership, have also grown.

If Elon gains status, it would be in the company of other top universities in the country.

“It would serve as an evaluation and approval of the quality of Elon’s arts and sciences program. It would be an honor,” said Gill. “It would also benefit Elon’s image and recruiting.”

Elon is expected to hear the final verdict about selection in the fall of 2009. If Elon is selected, the first members will join in the spring of 2010. Juniors and seniors of high academic standing majoring in the arts and sciences are eligible to join.

Reporter: Whitney Waters - 01/23/07