PHI KAPPA THETA Accreditation Report 2011-2012 Intellectual Development Phi Kappa Theta ranked 16 th among the Interfraternity Council Chapters in the fall 2011 semester with a 2.75262 GPA, a decrease of.04945 from the spring 2011 semester. The 2.75262 GPA placed the chapter below the All Men, All Fraternity, All Greek and All Undergraduate averages. Phi Kappa Theta ranked 14 th among the Interfraternity Council Chapters in the spring 2012 semester with a 2.90678 GPA, an increase of.15416 from the fall 2011 semester. The 2.90678 GPA placed the chapter below the All Men, All Fraternity, All Greek and All Undergraduate averages. Phi Kappa Theta s spring 2012 new member class GPA was 2.635 ranking 14 th out of 18 Interfraternity Council Chapters. Phi Kappa Theta had 2.4% of the chapter on the Dean s List in the fall 2011 semester and 15.5% on the Dean s List in the spring 2012 semester. Phi Kappa Theta has been no higher than 16 th in the past three semesters. The committee has serious concerns about the level of academic development and accountability within the chapter. Based on the past few years, it is obvious that the chapter has allowed academic accountability to fall off. The committee expects a serious recommitment to academic and intellectual development in 2012-13. Phi Kappa Theta set four Intellectual Development goals for the 2011-2012 academic year: raise chapter GPA, improve academic habits, develop cultural exposure and create an academic support structure. The chapter recognizes that members succeed academically in different spaces and different times throughout the day. The Intellectual Development chair created a more flexible study program for members by allowing members to study anywhere on campus as long as they checked in and out with him. Phi Kappa Theta required that all members under a 2.5 GPA meet with the Center for Academic Success. However, the committee remains unconvinced about the seriousness of this support structure. The chapter was commended a few years back on the creation of Culture Week. However, it is obvious to the committee that the chapter s commitment to this week continues to fall off. The committee believes Culture Week can be a signature diversity and inclusion practice, but recommends that this program be developed with the help of the Office of Multicultural Affairs. The chapter s new members performed skits based on other cultures during Culture Week. The committee has concerns about this practice and recommends that this be re-evaluated and developed into a stronger, more appropriate program. The chapter hosted a study abroad presentation for chapter members to learn more about the opportunities to study abroad as a part of Culture Week. Phi Kappa Theta alumnus, Eric Pletcher, is the chapter s academic advisor assisting with Intellectual Development and creation of an academic success plan for the chapter.
The committee noticed that the recommendations from 2010-2011 were not addressed in the 2011-2012 Accreditation presentation or report. How can Phi Kappa Theta recreate a sense of urgency within the chapter in terms of academic accountability for chapter active and new members? In the area of Intellectual Development, the committee rated Phi Kappa Theta to be a Poor Leadership Development The chapter s New Member Education program included a house improvement project, discussion on personal leadership styles, and a ropes challenge course. The chapter does not have a thorough understanding of the importance of selfreflection in understanding leadership practices and how they develop chapter leaders. The committee recommends that the chapter focus on how members formally and informally reflect on chapter experiences. The chapter s Accreditation panel was unable to discuss why new members chose Phi Kappa Theta during recruitment. The committee recommends that the members have these types of conversations with new members to assess their recruitment processes and chapter strengths and weaknesses. Based on this lack of articulation in understanding the recruitment and new member practices of the chapter and the lagging grades of chapter new members, the committee has serious concerns about the effectiveness of the chapter s new member program. The committee expects the chapter to work with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the Phi Kappa Theta Inter/National Headquarters to completely overhaul and make transparent all recruitment and new member practices, save ritual based activities. The chapter struggles with ongoing member development for both new and upperclass members. The committee recommends that the chapter focus upon building their member development programming to ensure each member has a thorough fraternal experience. The chapter worked with Joe Gurreri for much of their leadership programming. Joe helped the chapter with goal setting, Executive Board organization, and a spring semester officer transition. However, this all occurred in the spring semester. Phi Kappa Theta needs to work on a year-long leadership programming series. The committee recommends that the chapter focus on their officer transitions and continue to develop their relationship with the Office of Student Leadership Development to ensure Executive Board cohesiveness and strengthen ongoing member development. How can the chapter take the momentum from their spring semester work with the Office of Student Leadership Development and turn it into a year round leadership plan?
In the area of Leadership Development, the committee rated Phi Kappa Theta to be a Poor Community Development The chapter had three social policy violations in the fall semester which resulted in alcohol free housing through May 2012. The committee has major concerns that the chapter repeatedly showed an inability to hold members accountable. Phi Kappa Theta needs to make a cultural accountability change for all members a major priority. The chapter has developed a spirituality initiative with the membership that includes Chabad dinner and dialogue. With some structuring, the committee believes this could be a good developmental effort for the chapter membership. The chapter was unable to host their annual No Shave November event at The Goose due to a lack of organization. The chapter is looking to host a whiffle ball tournament early in the fall semester to raise funds for men s health awareness and prostate cancer research and education. The chapter sent 14 men to the Dominican Republic during spring break to assist with the Armando Rosenberg School and Home. The men helped to clear a path from the school to the local health clinic. All members who went on the trip wrote reflections on their experience and shared with the entire chapter. The committee considers this trip and follow up reflection to be a best practice. Chapter members participated in the Lehigh Valley Heart Walk and volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem. Due to chapter miscommunication, the chapter was unable to participate in Adopt-a- Family. Phi Kappa Theta has created a four year plan for service which the committee considers a best practice. This plan includes exposure to service, finding a personal interest in service, sustaining interest, and focusing on a continued mentality after graduation. The committee encourages the chapter to reach out to the Community Service Office and is encouraged to continue working with the CSO to develop stronger relationships. How can the entire chapter take accountability for the actions of members to ensure compliance with Lehigh University and Phi Kappa Theta social policies? In the area of Community Development, the committee rated Phi Kappa Theta to be a Poor Organizational Development The chapter leadership met with Dean Mulvihill twice to discuss their Standards Board. The committee recommends the chapter augment repercussions with expectations for each member.
The committee recommends that the chapter develop a strategic plan that will help to formalize and organize the chapter plans and operations for the future. The committee commends the chapter for working with the Phi Kappa Theta Temple University chapter on better understanding chapter ritual. The chapter did not secure a faculty/staff advisor. The committee recommends that the chapter focus on finding someone who can fill this role and assist with chapter development. The committee expects the chapter to be able to provide a detailed explanation of their dues structure for active and new members, as well as articulate the reasoning behind their dues for 2012-13, and how this reasoning was explained to active members during the year as well as potential new members during the recruitment and new member education processes. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and Residential Services staff members met with Phi Kappa Theta leadership near the end of the fall semester to discuss the lack of organization and planning within the chapter. It is concerning that the organization failed to come into the year with a cohesive plan in place. While the chapter began to rebound in the spring semester, Phi Kappa Theta cannot afford to wait to make the changes necessary to improve the chapter. How does the chapter use the goals set by new chapter leadership to recreate leadership and organizational structures that were lost during failed officer transitions? In the area of Organizational Development, the committee rated Phi Kappa Theta to be a Poor Facilities Management The chapter hosts house improvement weekends where all members are designated tasks that improve the facility inside and out. Phi Kappa Theta had several facilities related violations, including a water fight and chapter members being out on the portico. The chapter had three common area lease violations for the 2011-2012 academic year. Individual chapter members were held accountable for each of them. The committee commends the chapter on the drastic decrease in common damages from the 2010-2011 academic year to the fall 2011 semester. Phi Kappa Theta s common damages for the fall 2011 semester were $23.00. Phi Kappa Theta s common damages for the spring 2012 semester were $1421 due to a broken urinal, glass door and light cover. The walls needed painting and patching as well. The chapter purchased new furniture for third floor television room in the fall semester. The chapter is working diligently to keep the furniture in good condition. Phi Kappa Theta hosted two workshops with Residential Services to address fire and life safety, the GPO agreement, house closing and the process of composting.
The chapter s House Manager recognized the lack of accountability from brothers within Facilities Management and decided to implement midnight cleans. Each night he would walk around the facility to make sure it was in proper condition. Those accountable for disarray or damage would clean at that time rather than letting it go until a weekend clean. The Office of Residential Services was impressed with the steps taken by the chapter s house manager, as well as his overall relationship with the university. The committee considers midnight cleans to be a best practice that should continue as a part of facilities management. Phi Kappa Theta has had issues with members smoking in the house. It is unacceptable that members keep smoking in the facility and all stakeholders involved with Phi Kappa Theta expect this to cease immediately in order to avoid further repercussions. The chapter has been approved to begin composting in 2012-13. How do the active and alumni members of the chapter create a sense of honesty and accountability regarding facility management? In the area of Facilities Management, the committee rated Phi Kappa Theta to be a Bronze Overall Rating Overall, Phi Kappa Theta has been rated a Poor chapter by the 2011-2012 Accreditation Committee. Phi Kappa Theta has allowed a lack of organization and accountability to reverse a productive chapter culture that had been the hallmark of the fraternity. The committee observed the lack of continuity in all aspects of the chapter from previous years, and it has become transparent that in many ways Phi Kappa Theta needs to completely overhaul chapter operations. The chapter began this process in the spring 2012 semester and the committee hopes the honest conversations that Phi Kappa Theta has had both as a chapter and with their stakeholders take hold. The chapter needs to recommit to the practices that made them a successful organization at Lehigh. The Accreditation committee assigns Phi Kappa Theta an overall rating of Poor. As a result of being a poor chapter, Phi Kappa Theta must meet in its entirety with their assigned Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and Alumni Advisor monthly to work towards improvement. A chapter that receives a rating of poor for two consecutive years loses recognition. Chapter Development Questions How can Phi Kappa Theta recreate a sense of urgency within the chapter in terms of academic accountability for chapter active and new members? How can the chapter take the momentum from their spring semester work with the Office of Student Leadership Development and turn it into a year round leadership plan? How can the entire chapter take accountability for the actions of members to ensure compliance with Lehigh University and Phi Kappa Theta social policies?
How does the chapter use the goals set by new chapter leadership to recreate leadership and organizational structures that were lost during failed officer transitions? How do the active and alumni members of the chapter create a sense of honesty and accountability regarding facility management? Best Practices- The chapter sent 14 men to the Dominican Republic during spring break to assist with the Armando Rosenberg School and Home. The men helped to clear a path from the school to the local health clinic. All members who went on the trip wrote reflections on their experience and shared with the entire chapter. The committee considers this trip and follow up reflection to be a best practice. The chapter s House Manager recognized the lack of accountability from brothers within Facilities Management and decided to implement midnight cleans. Each night he would walk around the facility to make sure it was in proper condition. Those accountable for disarray or damage would clean at that time rather than letting it go until a weekend clean. The Office of Residential Services was impressed with the steps taken by the chapter s house manager, as well as his overall relationship with the university. The committee considers midnight cleans to be a best practice that should continue as a part of facilities management.