Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Will joining Phi Kappa Tau affect my grades?
A. Hopefully joining Phi Kappa Tau will give you tools to improve your grades above what you could accomplish on your own and it will certainly not detract from your studies. Academics always come first. Our associate classes have consistently been at the top of GPA rankings amongst the other fraternities on campus, often holding the top spot. Our entire chapter is also well ranked every year.
Q. Do you have to be rich to join?
A. No! However there are modest dues per semester to support the house. Many of our brothers work part or full time in order to pay for both tuition and fraternity dues.
Q. What sort of benefits do members receive from the national organization?
A. The national fraternity provides a number of opportunities for brothers. The national fraternity sponsors a widely respected Leadership Academy every other summer, opposite the National Convention. They also offer sizeable scholarships to initiated members. Membership in a national fraternity also provides networking opportunities and a great conversation starter with thousands of alumni from chapters all over the country.
Q. What sort of charities do you support?
A. Nationally the official charity of Phi Kappa Tau is the Hole in the Wall Gang camps, which are summer camps for chronically ill children. Alumnus Paul Newman (of film and salad dressing fame) founded these camps. As a chapter we hold 3 special fundraising events specifically for HITWG Camps: a Bowling Tournament, a Volley Ball Tournament and Our Alumni Hole In the Wall Classic Charity Golf Outing. In 2007 we raised over $7000 for this HITWG Camps which is close to if not the top of all Phi Kappa Tau chapters nationally.
Q. Are new members hazed?
A. No! Under no circumstances is hazing tolerated within Phi Kappa Tau.
Q. If I want a bid, how should I go about getting one?
A. Just show up at more than a few rush events and get to know the brothers. Asking questions is a good way to demonstrate interest. Bids are handed out at the end of the formal rush period, per Interfraternity Congress guidelines.
Q. Can I come to rush events even though I don't think I'll go Greek?
A. Yes! we'd like to meet you anyway, and you can tell us what you think of the website.
Q. What is your alcohol policy?
A. As an organization on a national and local level, Phi Kappa Tau recognizes the individual's right to choose, whether to drink or not. As long as alcohol is used responsibly, we respect the individual decisions of our members. On a local level, we have constitutionally decided not to host or sponsor events where alcohol is served. This decision was made to limit our liability as hosts and event sponsors.
Q. What sort of time commitment do you expect from brothers?
A. Fraternity membership isn't really a time commitment on the level of a club in high school. Yes, there is one chapter meeting a week (typically on Sunday Night) which lasts between 1 and 2 hours. We aim for one hour, though our goal is efficiency and not shortness of meeting. There is also each brother's share in Greek Life's "365 Days of Service" which is typically 8 hours spread throughout the year. Social events and intramurals are optional, but are encouraged and can be a couple hours a week. But if they're viewed as time spent with friends, and brothers instead of an obligation they tend to be more fun. The real commitment that is made by joining Phi Kappa Tau is the commitment to live, work, learn and grow with the brothers. This commitment really can't be measured using a watch, but in memories. If you join Phi Kappa Tau at the University of Akron you're committing a lot of the best memories in your collegiate career to this group of people.
Q. What is expected of members of Phi Kappa Tau?
A. It is expected that members will try to abide by the creed of Phi Kappa Tau, as well as work to get to know every brother of the Alpha Phi chapter. Brothers are expected to maintain a high level of scholarship. Academics are a top priority with Phi Kappa Tau.
Q. How do new members differ from fully initiated brothers in terms of rights and expectations?
A. Associate members have their first quarter of membership dues free (to help counter one time national fees), and are expected to attend 8 weekly membership orientation meetings which full brothers do not need to attend. These are educational sessions about the history and philosophy of the fraternity. Every initiated member went through a similar program. Associate members are asked to wait outside of the meeting room during certain short parts of chapter meetings, and have full voting privileges on all issues except those pertaining to the ritual of Phi Kappa Tau. Associate members are treated as equals by the brothers.
Q. Do you welcome members during the middle of the semester?
A. Yes, we recruit informally through the semester, except for a short cooling off period directly after formal rush. Just email us if you're interested in informal recruitment.