Pi Lambda Theta

Pi Lambda Theta
Pi Lambda Theta
ΠΛΘ
Founded	July 7, 1917; Columbia, Missouri
Type	Honor and Professional
Affiliation	PDK International
Former affiliation	PFA
Status	Active
Emphasis	Education
Scope	National
Member badge
Colors	Gold
Chapters	67
Members	185,000+ lifetime
Headquarters	PO Box 13090; Arlington, Virginia 22219; United States
Website	pilambda.org

Pi Lambda Theta (ΠΛΘ) is an American education honor society and professional association. It was established in 1917 in Columbia, Missouri. It is a affiliated with PDK International.

History

Pi Lambda Theta was organized as a national association on July 7, 1917, by representatives of seven local women's education honor associations.^[1] Its founders, their schools and eventual chapters were:

Louise Nardin, University of Missouri, (Alpha chapter)
Ruth Austin, Syracuse University, (Beta chapter)
Helen Rhoda Hoopes, University of Kansas, (Gamma chapter)
Iva Testerman Spangler, University of Kansas, (Gamma chapter)
Mary Jane Chambers Dury, University of Pittsburgh, (Delta chapter)
Katharine Foulke, University of Pittsburgh, (Delta chapter)
Helen Larsen Stevens, University of Minnesota, (Epsilon chapter)
Virginia Athen Noland, University of Washington, (Zeta chapter)
Ruth Immel, University of Pennsylvania, (Eta chapter)^[1]

These local societies formed in response to the recent establishment of similar men's honor fraternities for education, with the oldest of the women's groups, at Missouri, dating to 1910, which is recognized as its founding year. From the start, organizers recognized the advantages of combining their efforts into a national organization.

Through correspondence and some exchange of representatives, the seven learned of each other and their shared interests, culminating in an invitation by the Missouri group to meet in conference at Columbia, Missouri. The national fraternity was established at this time, a constitution written, submitted to the seven chapters, and approved by the last of these on March 3, 1918. From its early days the fraternity has opted for a model that combines aspects of an honor society (more stringent GPA requirements) with an ongoing professional advocacy program, intended to advance education as a profession.^[1]

Pi Lambda Theta is both an honor society and professional association for educators. As an honor society, its purpose is to recognize persons of superior scholastic achievement and high potential for professional leadership. As a professional association, its purpose is to stimulate independent-thinking educators who can ask critical questions to improve educational policies and practices.^[2]

Pi Lambda Theta's mission is to honor outstanding educators and inspire their leadership on critical education issues. PLT extends membership to students majoring in education who demonstrate academic excellence, as well as to professional educators who have earned a PLT-recognized award such as certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards in the United States.^[2]

By 1975 the restriction on men was lifted, and Pi Lambda Theta has been co-educational since that time.^[1]^[3] Some time after 1990, Pi Lambda Theta became a member of the Phi Delta Kappa International family of education associations.^[2] It is a former member of the Professional Fraternity Association. In 2025, the organization has established 67 chapters and has initiated more than 185,000 members.

Symbols

Pi Lambda Theta's color is gold. Its members may wear a gold cord at graduation.^[2] Members also receive an initiation pin.^[2] Its publication was called Pi Lambda Theta Journal from 1926 to 1953 and Educational Horizons from 1953 to 2015.^[4]

Membership

Pi Lambda Theta requires that candidates have a 3.5 GPA or higher. Candidates are accepted from the following categories:^[2]

Undergraduate students with a minimum of 60 credit hours, recent graduates, or graduate students who intend to pursue a career in education; or
Current educators or education professionals/support staff who have completed at least a bachelor's degree.

As such, Pi Lambda Theta members may choose to participate in PDK during and after graduation, with programs within the field of education.^[2] Membership in PDK requires a one-time lifetime membership fee or annual fees based on membership type.^[2]

Governance

Pi Lambda Theta is a wholly owned subsidiary of PDK International, a professional association for educators.^[2] It is governed by the PDK International Board of Directors. Its headquarters is based in Arlington, Virginia.^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Anson, Jack L.; Marchesani Jr., Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. pp. V-95–96. ISBN 978-0-9637159-0-6. OCLC 25278937.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "Pi Lambda Theta". Retrieved 2026-02-12.
^ Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. George Banta Company, Incorporated. 1943. p. 288.
^ "Pi Lambda Theta Journal". JSTOR. Retrieved 2026-02-12.

External links

Official website

[Baird's-1] Anson, Jack L.; Marchesani Jr., Robert F., eds. (1991). Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities (20th ed.). Indianapolis, IN: Baird's Manual Foundation, Inc. pp. V-95–96. ISBN 978-0-9637159-0-6. OCLC 25278937.

[:1-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "Pi Lambda Theta". Retrieved 2026-02-12.

[3] Banta's Greek Exchange: Published in the Interest of the College Fraternity World. George Banta Company, Incorporated. 1943. p. 288.

[4] "Pi Lambda Theta Journal". JSTOR. Retrieved 2026-02-12.

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Professional fraternities and sororities
Currently active members of the Professional Fraternity Association	Alpha Zeta Alpha Kappa Psi Alpha Rho Chi Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Chi Sigma Alpha Omega Epsilon Delta Chi Xi Delta Epsilon Mu Delta Theta Phi Delta Kappa Alpha Delta Omicron Delta Sigma Pi Delta Sigma Chi Epsilon Nu Tau Theta Tau Kappa Epsilon Kappa Epsilon Psi Kappa Eta Kappa Kappa Kappa Psi Kappa Lambda Chi Kappa Psi Lambda Kappa Sigma Mu Beta Phi Mu Phi Epsilon Pi Sigma Epsilon Rho Pi Phi Sigma Alpha Sigma Alpha Iota Tau Beta Sigma Phi Alpha Delta Phi Beta Phi Gamma Nu Phi Delta Epsilon Phi Delta Chi Phi Sigma Pi Phi Chi Theta
Former and formerly active members of the Professional Fraternity Association or its predecessors: Professional Panhellenic Association or Professional Interfraternity Conference	Alpha Delta Theta Alpha Delta Sigma Alpha Kappa Kappa Alpha Sigma Alpha Alpha Tau Delta Alpha Omega Beta Alpha Psi Gamma Eta Gamma Gamma Iota Sigma Delta Epsilon Iota Delta Sigma Delta Delta Psi Kappa Epsilon Eta Phi Zeta Phi Eta Theta Kappa Psi Theta Sigma Upsilon Theta Sigma Phi Iota Sigma Pi Kappa Alpha Pi Kappa Beta Pi Kappa Delta Epsilon Kappa Phi Kappa Nu Sigma Nu Xi Psi Phi Omicron Delta Kappa Omicron Nu Pi Lambda Theta Sigma Delta Chi Sigma Nu Phi Sigma Sigma Sigma Sigma Phi Delta (now social) Phi Beta Gamma Phi Beta Pi Phi Delta Delta Phi Delta Gamma Phi Delta Kappa Phi Delta Pi Phi Delta Phi (now honor society) Phi Epsilon Kappa Phi Lambda Kappa Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (now social) Phi Rho Sigma Phi Upsilon Omicron Phi Chi Chi Beta Phi Psi Omega Omega Tau Sigma Omega Upsilon Phi Pershing Rifles Scabbard and Blade Scarab
North American Interfraternity Conference	Alpha Gamma Rho Alpha Gamma Sigma
Active independent professional fraternities	Alpha Gamma Kappa Alpha Zeta Omega Alpha Eta Rho Alpha Iota Alpha Psi Gamma Epsilon Tau Delta Theta Sigma Delta Kappa Gamma Delta Kappa Phi Delta Phi Epsilon Kappa Gamma Psi Kappa Pi Nu Beta Epsilon Phi Delta Kappa (sorority) Phi Sigma Gamma Phi Psi Chi Delta Mu Chi Eta Phi Block and Bridle Queens' Guard
Inactive independent professional fraternities	Aleph Yodh He Alpha Epsilon Iota Alpha Tau Sigma Alpha Zeta Gamma Chi Zeta Chi Delta Omicron Alpha Delta Sigma Theta Pi Delta Nu

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States Israel
Other	Yale LUX