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Phi Beta Delta is a national honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education. It was founded at California State University, Long Beach in 1986, and was established as a national organization in 1987 with 38 chartered chapters. Currently, Phi Beta Delta has 134 local chapters. The Gamma Omega Chapter at Virginia Tech was founded in the spring of 1997. Phi Beta Delta is an organization on campus that supports and promotes diversity through recognizing achievements and activities in international scholarship, teaching, and service by faculty, staff, and students. Locally it provides a forum for individuals from varying backgrounds and fields of study to meet in order to promote a more diverse, enriching, and internationally-focused educational experience. It also provides the opportunity for faculty and staff members to interact with students in a professional setting to exchange views on global issues. The society members are in contact with similar groups throughout the United States and around the world. Phi Beta Delta is supported by the Office of the Associate Provost for International Affairs. The intrinsic values of the society are reflected in its name: Phi (philomatheia) - love of knowledge, Beta (biothremmonia) - regard for human life, and Delta (diapheren) - achieving excellence. The colors chosen for the society are red and gold. Red symbolizes the strength and diversity of humankind, and gold is a symbol for the sun from which all people and cultures draw strength and life. |