Order of the Golden Fleece (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Founded in 1904, the Order of the Golden Fleece was patterned after the Skull and Bones of Yale University. The Order's goal was to unite student leaders in the resolution of student problems for the betterment of campus life. Considered the highest honorary at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Golden Fleece selects its members based upon service to the University as reflected in scholarship, motivation, creativity, loyalty, and leadership in academic and extracurricular pursuits. The majority of the inductees are seniors; juniors, graduate students, faculty, and alumni are also eligible for membership. Women have been eligible for induction since 1972. Officers of the Order include the Jason or presiding officer, the Hyparchos or vice-presiding officer, the Grammateus or secretary, and the Chrystopher or treasurer.

The Order of the Golden Fleece is the oldest honorary society at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was founded on 11 April 1904, when two first-year law students, Roach Stewart and Robert Herring, convened a meeting of student leaders. The goal of the order was to unite student leaders in the resolution of student problems for the betterment of campus life. That first year, eleven students were tapped along with the order's first faculty advisors: Professor of Philosophy Horace Williams; Associate Professor of English Edward Kidder Graham, later president of the university; and Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Greek Language and Literature Eben Alexander. For almost a century the date of the founding was thought to be 1903. During the order's centennial planning process, however, the previously unavailable charter minutes were consulted and the date was determined to be 1904.

Throughout its history the order has sought, behind the scenes, to provide quiet counsel to the presidents, chancellors, and other administrators of the university and to work with and through different campus organizations in an effort to promote unity and harmony in the university community. At times, the order has acted publicly to help address issues or problems of a particular era such as hazing, race relations, and the student honor code. But the primary activities of the order have been deliberately conducted in private ways.

Considered the highest honorary at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Order of the Golden Fleece selects members based upon service to the university, as reflected in scholarship, motivation, creativity, loyalty and leadership in academic and extracurricular pursuits. While seniors make up the majority of the inductees, juniors, graduate students, faculty and alumni are eligible for membership. Since 1972 women have been eligible for induction. Officers of the order include the Jason, or presiding officer; the Hyparchos, or vice-presiding officer; the Grammateus, or secretary; and the Chrystopher, or treasurer.

Along with providing ongoing aid and support to administrators and student leaders in their efforts to improve campus life, the order's activities include the annual Tapping Ceremony and Banquet, followed by the Frank Porter Graham Lecture on Excellence, and the Commencement Breakfast.