GOLDENKEY SOCIETY PROFESSIONAL

I unsubscribed from the newsletter years ago’- Olivia Duval, Facebook. To this day I still don’t know what they do. I’ve never gone to a single event or been involved with anything they’ve done. Here’s a sample of comments surfacing the web: Common themes include signing up was a waste of money and the annoyance of being hassled by Golden Key and related sponsors. University forums, Reddit, Tumblr and social media are also abundant of criticism from past and former students who either considered or became members of the society. These include deals between certain universities such as the Australian National University and Golden Key chapters to sell student details and data, allegedly without consent, to the society’s corporate sponsors.

A number of student media publications including Honi Soit, the University of Sydney’s newspaper, have conducted investigations into questionable business operations and practices.

Golden Key is no stranger to controversy. The problem is, Golden Key isn’t particularly transparent about where this sum is going and who it benefits… or indeed why such a large, non-refundable donation is necessary for an organisation that records profits in the millions. $100 is a fair amount for your average uni student living away from home– perhaps unfunded by family, juggling study, work and a social life. In Australia, a ‘one-time induction fee’ of $100 is required before membership is awarded. Members are offered incentives for their participation from these companies which include being sent ‘exclusive’ promotional and advertorial materials. Part of Golden Key’s success is due to immense monetary support from high-profile corporate sponsors such as Bank of America, GEICO Insurance and Lenovo. Membership aims to reward students for their academic excellence by offering rewards and benefits. Globally, Golden Key touts there are over 400 active chapters as of 2016. Elite status is determined by a student’s GPA– if they fall in the top 15% of the cohort, an offer to join Golden Key is sent out to an address, provided by the student’s university.įounded in 1977 at Georgia State University by Jim Lewis, the society started out as an American only organisation but expanded to Australia in 1993 when places like the University of Sydney, Queensland and RMIT joined. Golden Key International is the ‘world’s largest collegiate honour society’ who offer memberships to an ‘elite’ group of tertiary educated students in countries like Australia, South Africa and the USA. You might be familiar with the group, trademarked by their innocuous looking envelopes that arrive in the mailbox after a semester ends and results are tallied. Gain access to hundreds of scholarships, jobs, internships, and personal development and service opportunities, and make connections that will last a lifetime!’ The following Golden Key members have guided their clients to Arkansas Community Foundation to meet each client’s individual charitable objectives through estate or financial planning.On the international website for the Golden Key International Honour Society, a statement reads: ‘Join Golden Key and find your home away from home.

GOLDENKEY SOCIETY PROFESSIONAL

Arkansas Community Foundation thanks professional advisors who have opened the doors to philanthropy for their clients through the Golden Key Society.

Goldenkey society