Student membership

Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only, and is offered to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Prospective members will receive invitations directly from the VCU chapter of Phi Kappa Phi. In order to be nominated as a junior, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5, be in the top 7.5 percent of their class, have completed a minimum of 72 credits with at least 24 of those credits taken at Virginia Commonwealth University, and be of worthy character. In order to be nominated as a senior, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.5, be in the top 10 percent of their class, have completed a minimum of 90 credits with at least 24 of those credits taken at Virginia Commonwealth University, and be of worthy character. 

Membership in Phi Kappa Phi also is offered to graduate students who are first-time graduate degree candidates and have completed at least 18 graduate credits at VCU. In order to be invited, students also must have a minimum GPA of 3.5, be in the upper 10 percent of their degree program, and be of worthy character.

Faculty membership

Each year VCU is able to elect members of the university faculty who are noted for character and intellect, who are considered outstanding in the approximate age/rank cohort of the faculty, whose careers demonstrate academic achievement and love of learning and whose election would symbolize the ideals and generally advance the purposes of Phi Kappa Phi.

Persons may be considered for election and, if necessary, judged comparatively by the extent to which they meet some appropriate combination (but not necessarily all) of the following criteria:

1. Significant contributions to advancement of knowledge and understanding through research, publication, professional innovation or artistic creativity.

2. Sustained excellence in teaching.

3. Achievements transcending customary levels of service in academic or professional societies of national scope, recognition by other major honor societies, special honors and awards.

4. Significant leadership in the VCU academic community.

Alumni membership

Each year, VCU is able to elect alumni whose achievements since graduation have been outstanding and whose scholastic records, while in the university, were high. Alumni must have been graduated at least five years prior to nomination for membership. It should be noted that as the period since graduation becomes longer, a greater emphasis is to be placed on achievements since graduation than on scholastic records.

Honorary and distinguished membership

One honorary membership may be given each year to an individual who has achieved outstanding eminence in his or her field. A member who has contributed in an outstanding manner to Phi Kappa Phi, to society in general, or to both, may be nominated to the status of Distinguished Member.