Psi Chi: The National Honor Society in Psychology

The Colby-Sawyer chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology, was installed in 1999. The purpose of this honor society is to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship, and to advance the science of psychology.

To be eligible for membership, a student must rank in the top 35 percent of the class, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, have completed at least three college semesters and nine credits of psychology courses with a minimum GPA of B (3.0) in those courses, and be enrolled in a program of study with strong psychological content (for example, the psychology or child development majors and psychology minor).

An International Organization

Following two years of planning, a national psychology fraternity was founded in 1929 at Yale University during the Ninth International Congress of Psychology. At this meeting the first structure of the organization was formed, and a national constitution was adopted and signed on September 4, 1929.

The next year, 1930, the fraternity was named Psi Chi. The aims of Psi Chi are summarized in two Greek words: Psyche, suggesting "mind" or scholarship, symbolizes enrichment of the mind; "Cheires", meaning "hands," symbolizes fellowship and research.

In 1958, Psi Chi became the first official affiliate of the American Psychological Association.

The purposes of the honor society are to encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship, and to advance the science of psychology.

Between its founding in 1929 and 1999, more than 935 Psi Chi chapters have been granted charters and over 350,000 members have been inducted.

Psi Chi chapters are international in scope, interests, and opportunities.

Psi Chi ranks as one of the largest and most successful honor societies holding membership in the Association of College Honor Societies.