In 1897, at the University of Maine, an honor society was created “that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines covering a wider range of students than any other honor society in existence at that time.” In 1900, this “society was renamed Phi Kappa Phi from the letters of the Greek words forming its motto, Philosophía Krateítõ Phõtôn, ‘Let the love of learning rule humanity.’ Its mission is ‘to recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engages the community of scholars in service to others.’” (https://www.phikappaphi.org/about/mission-and-history)

The Wisconsin State University-Eau Claire chapter of Phi Kappa Phi was founded in April 1969, by the then national president-elect, Dr. Theodore Zillman, of the University of Wisconsin. Ninety-two undergraduates, 7 alumni, 2 graduate students, and 7 faculty members were initiated then. To be elected, a student had to be in the final semester of their junior or senior year and rank in the top eighth of the senior class, or top twentieth of the junior class. No more than ten percent of a class could be elected. Alumni of the past five years could be invited as members, and any faculty or graduate students of outstanding caliber (1970 Periscope, p. 187; Feb. 20, April 17, 1969, p. 3, The Spectator). Around the year 2000, senior undergraduates had to be in the upper 10% of their class in each college or division. Junior undergraduates had to be in the upper 7.5% of their class. Graduate and professional students had to be in the upper 10% of all candidates for graduate or professional degrees. Four members from the faculty, administration, and professional staff, and four outstanding alumni, could be invited into membership each year. The society recognizes scholarship in all academic disciplines. Students could apply for fellowships for graduate school from the national society, as well as local awards from the UW-Eau Claire chapter.

The badge of the society is a globe against the background of the sun with expansive rays, to signify equivalence among the various branches of learning and represent dissemination of truth as light. Encircling the globe is a band containing the Greek letters ΦΚΦ for Phi Kappa Phi to symbolize a fraternal bond which girds the earth and binds the lovers of wisdom in a common purpose. The seal of the society features the badge in its center, surrounded by a crenelated line that represents the battlements of Troy. In the space between this line and the periphery of the seal appear three stars just above the badge, one for each of the three original chapters. Below the badge is written “Founded 1897.”

UW-Eau Claire is not listed in the national Phi Kappa Phi current directory (in April 2022) for Wisconsin chapters.