Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU)
Theta Kappa Chapter
"...to promote and recognize scholarship and character among students of dentistry..."
Omicron Kappa Upsilon is a national dental honor society founded for the purpose of encouraging scholarship and advancing the ethical standards of the dental profession. Members, elected from the top 20 percent of the graduating class, show potential for professional growth and serve as examples among their peers.
The Supreme Chapter of OKU was founded in 1914 at Northwestern University School of Dentistry. Click here to read the history of OKU.
The LSUSD Theta Kappa chapter was created in 1971. OKU has four categories of members:
- Alumni Members:
Senior students. A list containing the names of at least the upper 20% of the senior class who rank highest in scholarship for the entire period that they have been in attendance at this dental school shall be submitted by or secured from the Dean. From any on this list, a number constituting not more than 12% of the entire senior class, who, in addition to scholarship have demonstrated exemplary traits of character and potential qualities of future professional growth and attainments, may be elected to alumni membership by the active members of this component chapter. - Faculty:
Dentists on the dental school faculty who have been elected to membership after service as a full-time teacher for three years or a part-time teacher for six years. - Honorary:
Any member of the dental profession who has made outstanding contribution to the art, science, or literature of dentistry, and others not members of dental profession who have made similar contribution to the advancement of dentistry. - Life:
Active members for 30 years and having reached the age of 60. Life Members retain all privileges of Active Members while remaining a member of the dental school faculty, and are exempt from dues.