Phi Kappa Tau doesn't operate alone. Since 1916, we've been a member of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) — the national trade association that brings men's fraternities together under a shared framework of standards, advocacy, and governance. This article gives MOOs the basics to explain that relationship to Associate Members: what the NIC is, and why belonging to it matters.
For: Membership Orientation Officers (MOOs)
When: Anytime Associate Member education covers Phi Kappa Tau's national structure or how the fraternity fits into the broader Greek system.
What the NIC is
The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is a trade association founded in 1909 that represents dozens of national and international men's fraternities, including Phi Kappa Tau. Think of it less like a governing body that runs fraternities, and more like an industry association — similar to how many professions have a national body that sets shared standards and represents members' interests to the outside world.
The NIC's work centers on a few things:
Standards — a shared set of expectations, known as the NIC Standards, that every member fraternity agrees to follow, covering areas like health and safety, self-governance, and how chapters recruit new members.
Advocacy — representing fraternities collectively on issues like hazing prevention legislation and campus policy, where a unified voice carries more weight than any one fraternity acting alone.
Governance Support — helping campus Interfraternity Councils (IFCs) run effectively, since most IFCs are made up of NIC member fraternity chapters.
How Phi Kappa Tau fits under that umbrella
Phi Kappa Tau is one of dozens of member fraternities under the NIC umbrella, alongside organizations like Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Psi, and Alpha Tau Omega. Each member fraternity keeps its own Creed, Ritual, chapters, and national leadership — the NIC doesn't run Phi Kappa Tau or make chapter-level decisions. What it does is give every member fraternity a shared floor of standards to operate above, and a collective seat at the table on issues that affect the whole fraternity system.
💡 Tip — If an Associate Member asks "does the NIC control our chapter?" — the answer is no. Chapters are self-governing. The NIC sets shared standards fraternities agree to meet; it doesn't direct day-to-day chapter operations.
Why it matters to you as an Associate Member
Being part of the NIC means Phi Kappa Tau isn't figuring out hazing prevention, risk management, or campus advocacy from scratch, alone, on every campus. Instead, the fraternity draws on research, shared standards, and collective advocacy built by dozens of peer organizations facing the same challenges.
That has a direct effect on your experience as a member:
Safer, more consistent standards. The health and safety expectations your chapter follows aren't unique to Phi Kappa Tau — they reflect standards shared across the men's fraternity system.
A stronger voice on legislation. When state or federal hazing laws are debated, Phi Kappa Tau isn't lobbying alone — it's part of a coalition of fraternities advocating together.
A healthier campus Greek system. Your chapter's IFC works better when every fraternity on campus is operating from the same baseline of standards, which the NIC helps establish.
✅ Best practice — When you're introducing this topic, frame it as "we're part of something bigger" rather than a compliance requirement. It's the same idea as the Creed asking us to be good citizens beyond the chapter — Phi Kappa Tau applies that same principle at the national level.
FAQ
Does the NIC tell Phi Kappa Tau what to do?
No — chapters and the national fraternity are self-governing. The NIC sets shared standards that member fraternities agree to meet; it doesn't direct day-to-day operations or chapter decisions.
Is the NIC the same as our campus IFC?
No. The IFC is the local council on your specific campus, made up of chapters from different fraternities. Most of those fraternities — including Phi Kappa Tau — belong to the NIC nationally, and the NIC helps support how IFCs like yours run.
Why does it matter that Phi Kappa Tau has been a member since 1916?
It shows that collaborating with peer fraternities isn't a new or trend-driven decision — it's been part of how Phi Kappa Tau operates for over a century, long before most of today's shared standards and advocacy work existed.
Last reviewed: August 2026.