This year, for the first time, the top 3 percent of the College of Arts and Sciences juniors were inducted into Phi Beta Kappa along with the top 10 percent of the college's senior class.

The change brings Cornell into line with such peer institutions as Harvard University, Yale University and Dartmouth College, which have long inducted juniors into their chapters of Phi Beta Kappa. The change at Cornell aims to revitalize the organization's presence on campus.

"Having juniors inducted will mean we have an active and alive chapter on campus, one that will play a role in campus intellectual life," said Daniel Schwarz, the Frederic J. Whiton Professor of English and Stephen H. Weiss Presidential fellow. As the new president of Cornell's Phi Beta Kappa chapter, he's been the driving force behind the decision to extend membership to juniors.

This year's induction ceremony, in which many inductees were joined by parents and friends, was held in the spring for the first time. At the invitation of the deans, Schwarz gave the induction ceremony talk, "In Defense of Reading." Other faculty will be invited to speak in the future.

A celebration will also be held during Graduation Weekend for inductees and families.

"Moving the induction to early in the eighth term rather than graduation should contribute to the seniors' sense of belonging to our chapter and develop more of a sense of loyalty to the chapter after graduation," said Schwarz. He hopes that this will result in Cornell Phi Beta Kappa alumni wanting to be more significantly involved in the organization.

Walter Cohen, senior associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and secretary of Cornell's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, said that the change is also designed to make being part of the honor society a more rewarding and interesting experience.

Next year, 3 percent of juniors will again be chosen, but only 7 percent of the senior class. The GPA varies each year, of course: This year, seniors who were inducted had at least a 3.92 GPA, juniors at least a 4.0.

Phi Beta Kappa is the nation's oldest and most prestigious academic honors society for students of the liberal arts and sciences. Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, the national organization has more than half a million members and chapters at 280 U.S. colleges and universities.

Linda Glaser is a staff writer in the College of Arts and Sciences.