Phi Tau Phi

The Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society of the Republic of China (simply Phi Tau Phi or ΦΤΦ; Chinese: 中華民國斐陶斐榮譽學會) is an honor society based in Taiwan. It was founded in 1921 by American professor Joseph H. Ehlers of Peiyang University, China. The Society aims to encourage scholarship, stimulate research, reward scholastic achievement, and form bonds of intellectual and professional fellowship. It has recognized 70,000 members over the past hundred years.

Phi Tau Phi
ΦΤΦ
Founded	May 25, 1921 (1921-05-25) Peiyang University
Type	Honor Society
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Active
Scope	National
Chapters	56
Members	70,000 lifetime
Headquarters	4F., AD, No. 43, Sec. 4, Keelung Rd. Da'an District, Taipei City 106335 Taiwan
Website	www.phitauphi.org.tw

History

On May 25, 1921, Joseph H. Ehlers, then a professor at Peiyang University, proposed the idea to establish an honor society that encourages integrity and diligence across universities in Mainland China.

On May 4, 1922, the first general meeting was held at the Shanghai Youth Association. Fourteen nationwide university representatives, including those from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National Southeast University, Yenching University, etc., attended the meeting. The first board of directors was then elected, with Ping-Wen Kuo serving as the president.

After the retreat of the government of the Republic of China to Taiwan, the society once suspended its activities. However, it was resumed in March 1964 at the call of the members. Multiple university chapters have since been established in Taiwan, including National Chiao Tung University, Soochow University, National Taiwan University, etc.

Symbols

Phi Tau Phi stands for Philosophia (the mother of all sciences), Technologia (applied science), and Physiologia (theoretical science), which collectively represent all disciplines of learning.

Membership

Membership is by recommendation only, by an established university chapter. According to the Phi Tau Phi Scholastic Honor Society of the Republic of China Honorary Membership Criteria, the membership recognizes and honors those who are

• the top 1% of undergraduate graduands in each university based on the cumulative grade prior to the semester of graduation as well as the excellence in moral conduct;
• the top 3% of master’s graduands in each university that are excellent in academic performance as well as moral conduct;
• the top 10% of doctoral graduands in each university that are excellent in academic performance as well as moral conduct; or
• one of the 1 to 3 alumni of each university who have had significant contributions to academic research or social undertakings.

Chapters

As of 2023, the society has 56 chapters across Taiwan. The society has also established several regional chapters, such as the East America Chapter, the Central America Chapter, and the West America Chapter in the United States.