Five Star Program

P. 1: Mission Statement &

Recognition
P. 2 - 6: Requirements
P. 7: College Project Ideas
P. 8: FAQs

Mission Statement
1
Mon, Feb 23, 2009
Featured
This program, which reflects the scholarly ideals of Phi Theta Kappa, serves as a blueprint for
developing a strong chapter and for earning local, regional, and international recognition. In
this program, chapters do not compete against one another. Participation encourages excellence
and recognizes progress in the attainment of goals set by the chapter.
Using the Five Star Chapter Development Program as a guide to success, chapters can enhance
their working relationship with the college administration by becoming active on the campus
and in the community. On a personal level, involvement in the program will educate chapter
members in the importance of deadlines and organizational skills.
The strength of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society is determined by the achievements of chapters
on the local level. Recognition for these achievements provides reinforcement and encourages a
recommitment to chapter goals.
Recognition
Local
A letter will be mailed to your college president citing the significance of the chapter’s level of
achievement in the Five Star Chapter Development Program.
Regional
Your Regional Coordinator or a Headquarters representative will present the Five Star Award
certificate to your chapter during your region’s annual awards presentation.
International
The names of all chapters participating in the Five Star Chapter Development Program and their
levels of achievement will be featured in the Regions Directory on Phi Theta Kappa’s website.
Participating chapters will also be recognized at the International Convention.

Requirements Explained…
Mon, Feb 23, 2009
Five Star Program Resouces
Now that you have an understanding of the Five Star Chapter Development Program and the
significance participation can have on your chapter through awards and recognition, all you need
are the stepping stones.

One Star Level

2
The chapter can work on multiple levels of the Five Star Program at the same time. The chapter
should complete the following requirements at the One Star Level:
1. Your chapter officers and advisor(s) review the Five Star Program requirements,
determine a goal, and submit the Chapter Update Form online.
2. Your chapter sets a goal for membership recruitment and develops strategies to meet this
goal. For membership recruitment resources, visit www.ptk.org/campaign.
3. Your chapter gains greater public awareness on campus by one or more of the following
strategies:
1. Distributing Faculty Awareness Flyers
2. Posting Membership Benefits Brochures or Posters around campus
3. Participating in “Phi Theta Kappa Week” in November
4. Sending a press release on new inductees
4. At the beginning of each membership recruitment campaign, the chapter advisor opens an
enrollment period in PAM, the Personal Assistant Manager for Advisors at
www.ptk.org/PAM, and designates plans for orientations, inductions and local
membership fees.
5. Membership Invitations are sent from a college administrator, preferably the college
president, to prospective members.
6. Your chapter conducts an informational meeting for prospective members prior to
induction.
7. Your chapter promotes membership acceptance by employing one or more of the
following strategies:
1. Calling eligible students
2. Sending them a reminder email with link to Phi Theta Kappa Member Benefits
Brochure at http://www.ptk.org/campaign/campaign/brochures/
3. Allowing online membership acceptance
4. Holding more than one informational meeting
8. Chapter holds at least one induction ceremony each year, and members’ names and fees
are submitted to Headquarters.
9. Your chapter submits new officer names and addresses in PAM.
10. Your chapter advisor and chapter president each have the 2008-2010 Honors Program
Guide (available online at www.ptk.org/honors/guide).
11. Your chapter provides a structured orientation for new officers, advisors and committee
chairs at the beginning of each semester or quarter.
12. Chapter meets at least once each month.
13. Advisor submits the Chapter Annual Report to Headquarters.
14. Your chapter’s bylaws have been approved and are on file at Headquarters.
15. Chapter submits Five Star Chapter Update Forms online by May 31, September 30, and
December 31.

3
Two Star Level
The chapter must fulfill all One Star Level requirements and the following Two Star Level
requirements to reach the Two Star Level. Activities may be completed in any order.
1. Chapter and/or chapter officers meet twice each month.
2. Chapter conducts at least two membership recruitment campaigns during the year and
opens a separate enrollment period in PAM at the beginning of each membership
recruitment campaign. Members’ names and fees are promptly submitted to
Headquarters.
3. At least two chapter members research one issue/study question of the Honors Program
Guide, “The Paradox of Affluence: Choices, Challenges and Consequences.”
4. Chapter advisor and officers meet with college president or campus CEO to develop and
discuss goals of the chapter.
Three Star Level
The chapter must fulfill all One Star, Two Star, and Three Star Level requirements to reach the
Three Star Level. Activities may be completed in any order.
1. Based on chapter’s research, plan an Honors in Action project that includes leadership
and service components.
2. Map out the specific leadership roles and actions the project requires. Also determine
leadership development opportunities that would benefit the participants.
3. Determine the expert resources (individuals and/or organizations, businesses, etc.) for the
chapter to coordinate with for the greatest impact.
4. Work with another campus or community organization to implement the Honors in
Action project.
5. Chapter publishes a newsletter OR maintains a website OR submits chapter news to a
publication.
6. Chapter implements a College Project which is determined by the chapter and college
president or other administrator. Examples of College Projects include:
1. Mentoring incoming freshmen
2. Hosting Honors Seminar Series for the campus and community
3. Helping with college graduation
4. Serving as college ambassadors
7. Chapter chronicles its activities for historical purposes. Examples include keeping an
Honors in Action journal, maintaining a notebook of chapter meeting minutes and/or
newsletters, saving copies of Hallmark Awards entries, etc.
Four Star Level
The chapter must fulfill all One Star, Two Star, Three Star, and Four Star Level requirements to
reach the Four Star Level. Activities may be completed in any order.
1. *Chapter representative attends at least one official regional meeting.
2. Chapter is involved at a regional level in at least one of the following ways:
1. Campaigns for regional office
4
 2. Hosts/assumes a leadership role at a regional meeting
3. Participates in a Regional Honors in Action project
4. Collaborates with at least two other chapters for an activity or event that is
conducted online or in person
3. Chapter shares their Honors in Action research with the campus or community (e.g.,
hosts an event that includes a formal presentation, writes an article for a publication,
creates a display in the library or other resource center, etc.)
4. Chapter enters at least one category in their regional awards program. Chapters
submitting entries in the International Hallmark Awards Program are automatically
entered in their regional awards program. Visit www.ptk.org/hallmarks for more
information. Contact your Regional Coordinator for award categories that are unique to
your region.
*Guidelines for Far-Away Chapters to Meet Level Four, Activity #1
If a chapter is more than 500 miles away from all regional meeting locations scheduled January-
December, then the Regional Coordinator may substitute one of the following activities for the
chapter to fulfill Level Four, Activity #1.
Alternatives:
• The chapter officer(s) must participate in a conference call, online chat or teleconference
with one or more regional officers and/or the Regional Coordinator. The purpose of the
call will be to discuss Phi Theta Kappa programs and specific ways the chapter can get
involved.
OR
• The chapter must host a “mini-conference” for their chapter members and invite speakers
to address the current Honors Study Topic. The speakers can be members of the two-year
college faculty or the community.
Five Star Level
The chapter must fulfill all One Star, Two Star, Three Star, Four Star, and Five Star Level
requirements to reach the Five Star Level. Activities may be completed in any order.
1. Chapter enters all chapter categories and at least one individual category in the 2010
Hallmark Awards Program. Visit www.ptk.org/hallmarks for a full list of categories,
entry requirements, etc.
2. Chapter representative(s) participates in at least one of the following International events:
1. International Convention
2. International Honors Institute
3. Entire Honors Seminar Series

5
 College Project Ideas
Mon, Feb 23, 2009
Five Star Program Resouces
The College Project is designed to help your chapter gain administrative support. How? By
reaching out to the college administration to assist them in any project that supports your college.
The first step is to schedule a meeting with your college president/campus CEO (or another
administrator if you are unable to meet with the president or campus CEO) to determine what
your project will be.
If your college president is looking for ideas, here are some suggested ways to work together:
1. Honors Seminar Series. Many college presidents are very interested in recruiting outstanding
high school graduates to the community college. Inviting high school honor society students to
your college to participate in Phi Theta Kappa’s Honors Seminar Series on the Honors Study
Topic this fall provides a terrific recruitment opportunity for the administration.
2. Community College Readership Program. Approach your college administration about
implementing the Community College Readership Program on your campus. The Community
College Readership Program promotes civic engagement and broadens awareness through
newspaper readership among two-year college students.
3. Faculty Appreciation. Show your appreciation for the support of your college faculty and staff,
by designing a college project to honor their work. Phi Theta Kappa chapters can plan an

6
 appreciation tea, an awards ceremony or a special banquet to say thanks for the dedication and
hard work of faculty and staff members throughout the year.
4. The National Honor Society. In an effort to ensure high school students as well as high school
counselors are aware of the community college as a viable educational choice, Phi Theta Kappa
encourages chapters to reach out to high school honor students in their area. The National Honor
Society (NHS) has State Directors who may be beneficial in helping chapters collaborate with
their local NHS chapters. Contact information for State Directors may be found at the NHS
website.
5. Registration Success! Who better to lead the way for incoming students than Phi Theta Kappa
members? Offer to assist where needed for your college’s registration.
6. Cheap Labor. Are budget cutbacks a part of today’s harsh reality on your campus? If so, wow
your college administration by offering to perform office duties free of charge for faculty and
staff whose clerical staff’s salaries were cut from the budget.
7. College Ambassadors. Many chapters have their members serve as ambassadors for the college
who may visit local high school “College Days” to personally endorse the community college as
a viable educational choice. These members also serve as tour guides for potential students,
parents, alumni and donors visiting the campus.
After your chapter and college president have decided upon a College Project, keep the
administration updated on your progress.
Five Star FAQ’s
Mon, Feb 23, 2009
Five Star Program Resouces
Since the Five Star Program operates on a January-December timeline, when
should our chapter elect officers?
A. Your chapter may continue to elect officers anytime during the year. In the past, many
chapters have completed Five Star Program requirements under two sets of officer teams. Many
chapters elect officers in February or March so that they may participate in the Honors in Action
Academy at the International Convention usually held in late March or April. However, it is
completely up to your chapter to determine when chapter officer elections are held.
Can anyone other than the chapter advisor submit the online Five Star Forms?
A. Yes, the chapter president may complete all online Five Star Forms.
An email notification will be sent to advisors of any forms submitted by the chapter.
What happens if your chapter misses a deadline for submitting an Update Form?
A. The advisor or chapter president should submit the form as soon as the oversight is
discovered. Deadlines will be flexible with the exception of the FINAL Update Form. It must be
submitted by midnight December 31 in order for Five Star certificates to be presented at spring
regional meetings.

7
How many members must participate in order to count as an official chapter
activity?
A. Each Honors in Action activity must involve more than one member; therefore, at least two
members must participate in an Honors in Action activity to count towards the Five Star
Program.
Does our chapter have to complete activities in the order they are listed under
the requirements and on the Update Form.
A. No. You may even move back and forth from one level to another. However, a chapter must
complete ALL activities within a level before receiving recognition for that level of achievement.
For example, if you have completed all activities on Levels One and Two, but only some of
those in Level Three, you will receive recognition as a Two Star Chapter.