Phi Sigma Tau

Phi Sigma Tau is an international honor's society open only to those who meet certain academic criteria and is responsible primarily for recognizing excellence in philosophy.

Founded in 1930, incorporated in 1955, and accepted into the ACHS in 1958, Phi Sigma Tau consists of 151 chapters throughout the United States and abroad and is currently located at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Prof. David Gibson is its current president.

Lambda Chi, the Lehman College chapter of Phi Sigma Tau, has been a member of the society since 2003. It joined already established local chapters at Manhattan College, Fordham, and Hunter College. The officers of Lambda Chi include a president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer.

Students qualify for membership in Phi Sigma Tau if they have sophomore or higher standing, have taken at least two philosophy courses (which need not have been taken at Lehman though they must be accepted here), and hold an A- average in Philosophy and a B average overall. Students need not be philosophy majors or minors to qualify for membership in Phi Sigma Tau.

Membership in Phi Sigma Tau is established by means of an induction ceremony. The Philosophy Department at Lehman College inducts members once or twice a year after first sending out invitations to those students who fit the qualifications listed above. The induction ceremony—which usually takes place alongside a talk or other event with food and drink—requires taking an oath and signing the chapter's membership roster, and it costs students a one-time fee of $25, payable to Phi Sigma Tau.

Regalia (a pin, scarf, etc.) can be purchased for an additional fee by contacting the chapter's faculty representative, Prof. Rosalind Carey. Examples of regalia, Lambda Chi's charter, copies of Phi Sigma Tau's student journal Dialogue, and related materials are available in Prof. Carey's office, located in Room 367 of Carman Hall. Students are encouraged to address questions about the society to Prof. Carey or to any of the chapter's four officers.