Phi Kappa Psi Announces Changes To Enhance Fraternity Experience

Indianapolis (March 6, 2018) – Phi Kappa Psi’s governing Executive Council met in Las Vegas on February 23, 2018.  During that meeting, the leadership voted on changes to the organization’s alcohol policy, new member experience and volunteer advisor education program.  These changes are being made to promote a safe environment for members.

Over the next six months, officials from the National Fraternity will be working with undergraduate members, volunteers and host institutions to implement the following changes:

• Beer, wine, wine coolers, and cider are the only alcoholic beverages allowed in chapter houses, effective immediately;
• Beginning with the 2018 – 2019 academic year, the period formally known as “pledging” will be reduced from six weeks to 10 days. The New Member Education Program will morph into new member integration and a renewed focus on continuing member education;
• A certification program for chapter advisors will be launched in fall 2018. This program will consist of a series of required and elective components to better help educate volunteers on policies, and prepare advisors to address issues facing today’s college students.

These changes are being made as the Fraternity’s leadership continues to evaluate the experience of its members. Over the past 18 months, the Fraternity has been examining new ways to respond to underlying issues that have challenged Phi Kappa Psi and the entire fraternity and sorority industry. Given campus reports of hazing, alcohol abuse, and sexual assault, it is imperative changes be made for the safety of Fraternity members and their guests.

Phi Kappa Psi leaders have worked with various experts to provide members with risk prevention education via our ELEVATE Health & Wellness initiative, enhanced standards, and collaborative efforts with universities when an issue arises. However, this is not simply a programming issue and more work must be done to teach healthy brotherhood.  The goal is to create an environment within chapters where brothers help one another live our organization’s standards, our Creed and our Ritual.

“With all the transformative efforts the Fraternity has undertaken, we are in a good place to not only respond to the changing environment, but to be leaders who address issues head-on by aligning our actions with the Phi Kappa Psi Creed, which calls upon members to strengthen their character, strive for moral excellence and to honor themselves and the Fraternity, ” said Brother James D. Boyle (Washington ’88), national president of Phi Kappa Psi. “The best way to continue excelling is by setting new standards and working with our host institutions to successfully solve critical issues.”

The conversations regarding many of these changes began in the fall of 2016. More information about the context surrounding these decisions and the specifics on how each change will be implemented can be found by visiting the following link.  These changes are part of a continuing effort to improve and enhance the undergraduate experience for members.

“We owe such leadership and guidance to our young men, and we have high expectations for their futures.  Those expectations demand the best from us as leaders, and the best from them,” Boyle said.

____________

The Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity is a 501 (c)(7) association of men of integrity who strive to develop the individual in his intellect, in his involvement in the community and in his faith. The Fraternity was founded on Feb. 19, 1852 at Jefferson College by William Henry Letterman and Charles Page Thomas Moore. It currently has more than 100 chapters across the United States with over 6,500 undergraduate members and over 80,000 living alumni.