THE PHI KAPPA TAU FRATERNITY
OMEGA OMEGA CHAPTER
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Statement of Educational Position for the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity:
Phi Kappa Tau recognizes that the primary objective of attending a college or university is academics.
The Fraternity’s educational position is based on the premise of providing an atmosphere conducive to academic growth. This growth can be obtained by aiding the brother and helping the brother motivate himself in the desire for learning and intellectual growth.
Phi Kappa Tau Scholarship Committee
National Convention, 1983
Section 1—The Scholarship Chairman
The scholarship chairman will maintain an atmosphere conducive to scholastic achievement and career development within the chapter and enforce the National Constitution and Statutes regarding minimum scholarship requirements. Said officer will also be responsible for the collection, maintenance, and disbursement of the scholarship fund duties.
The president of the Resident Council, with the consent of the Executive Board, shall appoint the scholarship chairman.
The job duties of the scholarship chairman shall include, but not be limited to:
Ensuring that the chapter achieves an annual GPA that is a 2.75 and at or above the campus average GPA.
Educating the chapter regarding local and national academic eligibility requirements for association, initiation, election and appointment to office, and active standing within the chapter.
Enforcing local and national academic eligibility requirements.
Enforcing chapter and Fraternity statutes regarding academic probation and suspension by referring members who fail to meet academic standards to the Board of Governors.
Meeting with and counseling members of the chapter who fail to meet academic standards.
Meeting regularly with the chapter’s faculty advisor. If the chapter does not have a faculty advisor, the scholarship officer should coordinate the recruitment for one.
Meeting regularly with the scholarship advisor.
Establishing and leading a scholarship committee.
Maintaining confidential academic records of each chapter member, utilizing grade checks and release forms.
Attending meetings of the campus IFC scholarship committee, if applicable.
Assisting the membership orientation officer with implementing a scholarship program for the associate class.
Working with the recruitment chairman to determine academic eligibility and review academic standards with potential new members.
Working with the social chairman to ensure that social activity does not impede the academic performance of the chapter.
Properly training scholarship committee members and your successor.
Maintaining a detailed officer binder to supplement this manual.
Section 2—The Scholarship Committee
The scholarship committee should work with, and under the direction of, the scholarship chairman to promote good academic performance within the chapter.
The vice president, upon consultation with the scholarship chairman, and with the consent of the Executive Board, shall appoint members to the scholarship committee.
The job duties of the scholarship committee shall include, but not be limited to:
Facilitating the development of academic goals and objectives for the chapter and executing programs to achieve them.
Maintaining files that contain old exams, class notes, and course and instructor evaluations.
Maintaining a recognition and awards program as an incentive for strong academic performance.
Being knowledgeable of campus resources, including tutoring and mentoring programs, workshops, library tours, and academic and career development offices. Make these resources available to the membership by referring members in need of the services.
Scheduling guest speakers to address topics pertinent to academic performance, course selection and career development.
Educating the chapter on the financial aid, scholarships, stipends, and grants available through the campus, the Phi Kappa Tau Foundation and other sources. Be sure to include their submission deadlines.
Establishing and enforcing quiet or courtesy hours in the chapter house or on the chapter floor.
Coordinating a peer tutoring and mentoring program within the chapter.
Maintaining a library with textbooks, encyclopedias and other resources.
Ensuring that any available funds are used for programs or materials, which further promote the academic success of the members.
Publishing important academic dates.
Budgeting chapter scholarships, incentives and rewards into each semester budget.
Evaluating the chapter’s scholarship programming annually and initiating any necessary changes.
Section 3—Scholastic Performance
According to the Meets Expectations standard of the Borradaile Challenge, the overall Resident Council GPA must be a 2.75 and at or above the campus average GPA. The chapter must maintain at least a 2.75, if the campus average GPA is below this expectation.
Before initiation, a man must have attained, with a normal full-time load during the previous academic term or cumulative scholastic average (whichever is higher), the equivalent to a 2.5 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
Resident Council members should maintain a 2.75 GPA; members must remain above a 2.75 always.
When assuming office, and during tenure in office, an elected officer must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75.
Section 4—Scholastic Performance Status
Exceeding Performers (3.0 or higher GPA): These men have proven themselves academically and need minimal help from the Brotherhood. Academic Performers are required to complete the items under Section IV.
At-Risk Performers (2.75 - 2.99 GPA): These men are performing well, above the minimum to be a member in good standing but a bad semester could seriously hurt their academic potential. At-Risk Performers are required to complete the following items:
Create and sign an Academic Improvement Plan with the assistance of the Board of Governors or Scholarship Chairman.
Use the institutions tutoring center, math center, writing center, and/or any other approved collegiate tutoring opportunity at least once per month, or as advised by the Board of Governors or Scholarship Chairman.
Present a mid-term progress report to the Scholarship Committee on his academic progress
Meet with Scholarship Advisor or Scholarship Chairman twice during each semester; first to create the Academic Improvement Plan, then at mid-term to discuss progress.
If a brother does not fulfill his Academic Improvement Plan or violates the sanctions outlined in Section 5, he will be referred to the Standards Board.
Struggling Academic Performers (2.74 or below GPA): These men are not performing academically to the standards of the National Fraternity. These Brothers are required to meet with the Academic Advisor or Scholarship Chairman to create an Academic Improvement Plan that will consist of the following:
Create and sign an Academic Improvement Plan with the assistance of the Board of Governors or Scholarship Chairman.
Use the institutions tutoring center, math center, writing center, and/or any other approved collegiate tutoring opportunity at least once per month, or as advised by the Board of Governors or Scholarship Chairman.
Present a mid-term progress report to the Scholarship Committee on his academic progress
Meet with Scholarship Advisor or Scholarship Chairman twice during each semester; first to create the Academic Improvement Plan, then at mid-term to discuss progress.
If a brother does not fulfill his Academic Improvement Plan or violates the sanctions outlined in Section 5, he will be referred to the Standards Board.
Section 5—Academic Probation/Suspension
The scholarship chairman, upon receipt of grades, shall report to the scholarship advisor a list of members subject to counsel, academic probation or academic suspension.
Resident Council members who fail to maintain the standards for academic performance set within this scholarship program shall be subject to academic probation.
Any brother whose cumulative GPA falls below 2.75 shall be counseled by the scholarship chairman and scholarship advisor.
Resident Council members on academic probation may be mandated to attend study hours until their GPAs rise above the minimum 2.75 requirements or show significant improvement in scholastic achievement. Failure to abide by the provisions of academic probation may result in academic suspension.
The Board of Governors shall place any member of the Resident Council who falls below a 2.75 GPA on academic suspension.
During a period of academic suspension, a member should submit to the scholarship chairman a progress report signed by his professors that documents his current academic progress. This progress report should be due every four weeks.
During a period of academic suspension, the brother may not attend any social event sponsored by the chapter. These events shall include, but not be limited to, parties, exchanges, swaps, socials, semi-formals or formals. Additional events may be included in this list at the discretion of the Board of Governors.
During his period of academic probation or suspension, any brother may petition for review by the Board of Governors. To be removed from probation or suspension, the member must show documented proof that he has improved his GPA to a level acceptable to this scholarship program.
At the discretion of the Board of Governors, a member on academic suspension may be reinstated if he shows continued academic progress of at least a 0.1 improvement to his GPA per term.
Members on academic probation or suspension are not relieved of their financial obligations to the chapter or their attendance at chapter meetings, rituals, philanthropies or fundraisers.
Section 6—Additional Sanctions
In addition to meeting the expectations outlined in Section 4, the following sanctions may also apply:
Voting Privileges: Brothers whose GPA falls below 2.75 will have their voting privileges revoked until their Semester GPA is 2.75 or above.
Big Brother Privileges: Brothers whose GPA falls below a 2.75 will not be eligible to take a little brother until such time that their Semester GPA is 2.75 or above. A Big Brother is to be a role model for his Little Brother in every way including scholarship. Having a Little Brother is a privilege that will require time and effort than can detract from scholastic endeavors, which are to be his main goals for the semester.
Chairmanships: Brothers whose GPA falls below 2.75 will be removed from their chairmanship.
Intramurals: Brothers whose GPA falls below 2.775 will not be able to participate in intramural events until their Semester GPA is 2.5 or above.
Section 7—Study Hours
To provide an atmosphere conducive to good academic performance, the chapter shall maintain weekly study hours. This is a time for study; the house should be quiet, and members should show respect for the brothers and associates who are studying.
Study hours will be every Sunday through Thursday from 8-11 p.m.
During study hours, there will be no music or TV audible in any common area of the house. Music or TV played in personal rooms shall be at a level not audible outside the room.
Brothers will not participate in any activity that, in the opinion of the scholarship chairman or his committee, is distracting to those studying.
Anyone in violation of study hour guidelines will be subject to discipline at the next meeting. The scholarship officer will give one warning to the person(s) involved.
Brothers who, in the opinion of the scholarship chairman, are distracting and uncooperative shall be referred to the Board of Governors for possible judicial action.
Section 8—Excuses and Cancellations
Members mandated to attend study hours may be excused for reasons of class, work, family or emergency. In all cases, except for emergency situations, a 24-hour notice of absence must be given to the scholarship chairman.
Failure to attend a mandatory study night shall result in a fine and discipline by the Resident Council.
Section 9—Scholarship Dues
Each semester, $20 of each member’s dues shall be allocated for the chapter scholarship fund.
All monies generated through these dues shall be deposited into the scholarship fund.
All monies generated by fines related to the scholarship program shall be deposited in the scholarship fund.
Section 10—Allocations of Funds and Payment of Scholarships/Awards
The chapter shall provide positive incentives for members to attain high levels of academic scholarship. These incentives should be along the lines of awards and/or monetary scholarships.
Two scholarships will be awarded per term.
A $150 scholarship shall be awarded each semester to the associate achieving the highest GPA in the associate class.
A $300 scholarship shall be awarded each semester to the brother demonstrating the most improved GPA between terms.
A $400 scholarship shall be awarded to the brother achieving the highest GPA each term.
Payment of scholarship shall be made by the scholarship chairman.
The balance of the scholarship fund revenue will go towards purchasing scholarship-related material.
Section 11—Scholarship Award Eligibility
To qualify for a scholarship award, a member must complete a minimum of 12 credits, with no more than two of those credits being non-major kinesiology courses each semester.
A single brother is eligible to be awarded both most improved and highest GPA scholarship awards.