What sets Phi Tau apart from other fraternities?
Three areas set Phi Kappa Tau apart from other social organizations.
- Support -Through the volunteer and staff structure Phi Tau provides more frequent, more effective and better quality support than anyone. Chapters have the resources to be successful.
- Programming -The Foundation enables Phi Tau to provide better educational programming and more educational dollars per member than any other men’s Fraternity.
- Philanthropic efforts -The opportunities available through Phi Tau’s involvement with the Hole in the Wall Gang camps are second to none. The hands-on interaction with these chronically ill children provides a powerful service-learning environment that builds better men.
What is the leadership consultant?
Consultants fulfill two different but distinct roles with the undergraduate chapters: pro-active education and structure facilitation. Consultants proactively provide education to undergraduate members through presentation, one-on-one meetings, facilitated discussions and small group activities. In addition, they ensure the support structures are in place and fulfilling their function. The consultant facilitates communication between the Board of Governors, Housing Corporation, Greek Affairs staff, Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices and the Undergraduate brothers. The consultant’s role is to break down communication barriers that may exist between all the constituents surrounding a chapter.
How does Phi Kappa Tau help strengthen the local chapter?
Phi Kappa Tau provides resources that enable chapters to be successful in every aspect of Fraternity and campus life. The structure provided to chapters, both by the staff and through volunteer support, offers the direction and support necessary for chapters to accomplish any goal they set out to achieve. In addition, Phi Kappa Tau’s programming provides critical goal setting and leadership education that motivates our men to do bigger and better things.
Programming is provided on a variety of levels including individual, chapter, domain, regional and national. The Executive Offices also provide manuals for more than 20 offices in the undergraduate chapter. For a complete list of chapter programs contact Mike Gabhart at the Executive Offices.
What is the purpose of Leadership Academy?
The purpose of Leadership Academy is to encourage undergraduates to build character in their personal lives, chapters and the community; to instill a sense of pride in the Phi Kappa Tau; to explore the meaning of the Creed and the Ritual; and to begin to identify and address critical issues facing local chapters and the Fraternity as a whole. Academy offers an innovative curriculum presented through experiential learning, meaningful discussion and personal introspection.
What leadership programs are currently offered by Phi Kappa Tau?
Building Men of Character (BMC) Associate Member Program: This six-week program allows associate members to explore the meaning of the Creed, build brotherhood with fellow brothers, and participate in activities such as a community service project, academic success workshop, one-on-one time with alumni and an etiquette dinner. This program is set up to be the beginning of a life-long learning process through Phi Kappa Tau.
Building Men of Character (BMC) Weekend Program: A BMC Weekend focuses on building awareness and appreciation for the purposes and values of Phi Kappa Tau, examining the individual role of each member in relation to the success and future of the chapter, and developing specific priorities for action. The weekend program offers a unified curriculum to all participants. All sessions offer hands-on experiential activities and ample discussion time to address individual concerns in a small group (Founding Father Group) environment. All new colonies are required to host a BMC weekend. In addition, this program is ideal for chapters that need to build a stronger brotherhood, lack unity and vision, settle for "what we have always done", are challenged by issues such as apathy and recruitment, and who want to be better.
Multi-Domain Regional Programs: Driven by the Domain Director, these programs range in structure (from one to three days) and focus (experiential education, small group discussion, and presentations). However, all programs are focused on offering participants skills for improving their chapter management.
There is a distinct difference between philanthropy, community service, and service learning. Philanthropy is the process of raising money or collecting goods to be given to a group or organization. Community service is hands-on service at a community site, location or agency and is usually centered on interactions with other people. Service learning is a mutually beneficial experience for both the volunteer and the people he is serving. A major requirement of service learning is that it must include reflection and learning outcomes. Currently, the Fraternity promotes, supports and provides resources and incentives for chapters and individuals that participate in philanthropy and community service.
Service learning is an area in which Phi Kappa Tau has a lot of potential. It provides individual members an opportunity to engage in meaningful service and, through personal and group reflection, explore and understand the values stated in the Creed and Ritual of Phi Kappa Tau. This is a very real, tangible and impactful way to give back to the community and build a stronger commitment to the fraternity.
What is our relationship to the Hole in the Wall Gang Camps (HITWG)?
Phi Kappa Tau adopted the Hole in The Wall Gang Camps as its national philanthropy in 1995. Since that time, several hundred thousand dollars have been contributed to the camps to give children battling chronic and life-threatening illnesses the chance to have a normal summer camp experience. Following the lead of brother Paul Newman, Ohio ’43, hundreds of alumni and students members have volunteered their time to serve as cabin counselors, activity specialists, unit leaders and work crews.
Volunteering at any of the camps (located in the U.S. and Europe) is a powerful, life-changing experience. Few other opportunities exist that are better at building character. Brothers learn the value of service, citizenship, exemplary character, and friendship. The camps have come to rely on Phi Kappa Tau to fulfill their high demand for positive male role models of all ages.
What is Phi Kappa Tau doing about alcohol and substance abuse?
By focusing its efforts on character building, Phi Kappa Tau hopes to equip brothers to make healthy and intelligent choices for themselves and others. Phi Tau is addressing alcohol abuse at the core of the issue by providing its men with the skills and knowledge needed to make responsible decisions.
When brothers make unwise choices, Phi Tau holds them accountable at the chapter and national level.
What is Phi Kappa Tau doing about hazing?
Phi Kappa Tau seeks to build character in its brothers. Hazing has no place in the character-building process and will not be tolerated by the Fraternity. Chapters and brothers who haze will be held accountable for their actions at every level.
Because Phi Tau seeks to guide brothers in the wise decision-making process and openly discusses hazing and its dangerous and harmful effects during all educational programs. The new member education program, entitled Building Men of Character uses the mission and Creed as a Foundation for building better men.
How are chapters with reported alcohol/substance abuse and hazing incidents dealt with?
Phi Kappa Tau has a legal and moral obligation to address these concerns. In each situation Phi Tau will perform a full investigation to uncover all the facts. Once the facts have been uncovered, the most effective intervention opportunity will be identified. Intervention could include an educational requirement, chapter reorganization, membership review, chapter probation, etc.
What does Phi Tau offer its alumni?
Phi Kappa Tau seeks to provide alumni with current and pertinent information about the Fraternity, to encourage continued contact between brothers and opportunities to meet new brothers. Phi Kappa Tau currently supports 45 alumni clubs across the country. These clubs meet throughout the year to provide professional and social networking opportunities among brothers.
The Fraternity also keeps track of the addresses of its 68,000 living members from 143 chapters chartered since 1906. It produces and sends you and every alumnus the award-winning Laurel of Phi Kappa Tau free of charge.
The Fraternity employs a director of alumni relations who works full-time to further serve its alumni volunteers and donors. He will be responsible for expanding the number of active alumni clubs as well as exploring opportunities and programs that will appeal to alumni members of Phi Kappa Tau.
Why should alumni get involved?
Chances are, an alumnus volunteered his time or resources to provide a program or scholarship that benefited you and your chapter. As an undergraduate, you probably promised that you'd give back to the chapter when you could. And nearly all alumni agree that they learned valuable lessons and formed life-long friendships during their undergraduate Phi Tau years. Now is your chance to help provide today's students with the best fraternal experience available. As Phi Tau approaches its second century, there has never been a better opportunity to do something that will protect Phi Tau’s future and provide for future generations of brothers to have the same kind of fraternal experience you benefited from.
How do alumni participate in leadership programming?
Alumni play a crucial role in the development and implementation of leadership programming. Alumni serve as advisors for the BMC associate member program, facilitators for the BMC Weekend, character coaches for Leadership Academy, presenters at multi-domain regional programs and more. In addition, alumni serve as key support systems for chapters and individuals that have participated in Phi Kappa Tau leadership programs and are committed to "taking the information back to the chapter". Alumni advisors and volunteers are provided resources and support to utilize while assisting individuals and chapters in creating change. Leadership programs would not be possible without the generous support of our alumni.
How many scholarships does the Foundation provide?
Currently, the Foundation provides the following scholarship for academic work:
- 6 Paul A. Elfers Omega Scholarships for $2,250 each
- 9 Named Scholarships for $1,250 each
- 20 Foundation Scholarships for $1,000 each
- 10-15 Parents Fund Scholarships for $1,000 each
- 3 Interfraternity Educational Fellowships for $2,000 each
As the cost of education rises, more scholarships and scholarships in larger amounts will be critical in helping students meet their educational expenses. Scholarships are made available to both graduate and undergraduate students.
What have scholarship recipients done since receiving money from the Foundation?
Many scholarship recipients have graduated from medical school, law school and from prominent graduate schools with masters degrees in Business Administration, engineering, and the sciences. Phi Tau's whose education has been enhanced through a Foundation scholarship are now business owners, surgeons, lawyers, chemists, researchers, and teachers—the list is endless!
How do I get more information about Phi Kappa Tau?
If you are interested in
Fellowship, Community Service, and
Truly Enhancing Your Experience
at the University of Akron
email us today!
rush_chairman@akronphitau.org
Please include your name,
age,
High School attendended,
major if choosen,
phone number(s),
and email address.