The Bachman Honor Society was founded on March 15, 1962 by a group of faculty who were members of Phi Beta Kappa and others who were deeply committed to fostering high standards of scholarship. The Society is named for the Reverend John Bachman, D.D., churchman and scholar, and the primary guiding force in the founding of Newberry College.
Each year the Society inducts new members according to a strict criteria:
- Candidates shall be in the top eight percent (8%) of the class as determined by GPA
- Candidates shall have attained a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.500 or higher
- Candidates shall have completed or be in the process of completing 105 semester hours
- Candidates shall have earned a minimum of 45 semester hours at Newberry College
- Candidates shall have demonstrated integrity while at Newberry College as determined by the Society
Additionally, students who transfer shall have a GPA of at least a 3.500 from the previous institution with no conduct issues.
New members, who may also include one member of the faculty or staff, are recognized at Awards Day Convocation and at Commencement.