Starting a Phi Kappa Sigma Chapter

Colonization Process

Our team looks for a number of factors when evaluating both the school and the group of men on campus who are interested in becoming affiliated with Phi Kappa Sigma. When approached by interested students, our Expansion Committee will immediately contact the school and begin investigative work into the institution.

Some issues may include:

• Campus demographics - how many men there are,
  retention rates, etc.
• What is the school's Greek system like overall?
• Could the Greek system handle another Fraternity?
• Is the school in favor of expanding the Greek system?
• What is our alumni support in the area like?
• What were recent expansion efforts like at the school?

If our Expansion Committee representatives find that the campus would be a good fit for Phi Kappa Sigma, we will move forward with the given opportunity and begin working with the undergraduates on campus.

For Phi Kappa Sigma to colonize at a given institution, it must first be certain that there is a solid interest group at that location. An "interest group" can be defined as 10-25 individuals interested in fraternal relations and, specifically, in becoming affiliated with a national organization. For interest groups that are still in the early stages of growth (less than 10 men), our Expansion Committee is capable of doing an on-site visit using local volunteers or paid staff members to visit with the group and plan the next steps towards colonization.

A "solid interest group" is one that has character and motivation. In colonizing, we look for groups that possess upstanding men interested in subscribing to our Fraternity's high ideals. These men must be energetic and committed to tackling the challenges that come with the Colony period, challenges that are designed to prepare them for lifelong brotherhood in Phi Kappa Sigma.

In addition, we utilize our "pre-colonization criteria," which is a set of criteria that shows us if an interest group is ready for colonization. We also will conduct on-site visits with the group at least once before colonization to provide more extensive, in-depth support for the next steps of the process. Once a group has met all the pre-colonization criteria, the Expansion Committee will pass along a recommendation for colonization to the Fraternity's Executive Board. The group will be colonized immediately upon approval from the Executive Board.

Phi Kappa Sigma Pre-Colonization Criteria
(Interest Groups must complete these steps in order to be considered for colonization.)

1.) Contain greater than 15 men with GPAs greater than 2.49. (size, scholarship)

2.) Completed Interest Group Expansion form, biographical information of all men including individual testament on why they want to start a chapter, and roster reflecting contact information (address, phone, email) for all men and denoting their elected leadership position (ie. President, Vice-President, Scholarship Chair, Secretary, Treasurer. (who)

3.) Weekly contact with Expansion Committee contact. (communication)

4.) Letter from Greek Advisor pledging support for the group. (University support)

5.) Local bank account with minimum of $250 per man. (financial ability)

6.) Minutes from weekly meetings. (organization)

7.) Approval from and outline of InterFraternity Council expansion process. (IFC approval)

For a more detailed look at our aexpansion process, please download and take a look at our Phi Kappa Sigma Expansion Guide.