Phi Kappa Theta's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Committee has released the following statement:

Phi Kappa Theta values and finds strength in the diversity of people, approaches, and experiences. We believe that human diversity and our practice of embracing differing points of view allow innovation, and we are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive environment in our chapters. Diversity, equity, and inclusion drive us forward, and we understand that these principles are not static, but rather take ongoing education and continually renewed commitments. The Fraternity’s dedication to that growth is and will be central to every facet of our operations.

As a Fraternity, we will commit to the following action items:

• Committing funds to bring experts knowledgeable in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to our efforts of creating servant leaders

• Continuing our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force to improve upon the values held by Phi Kappa Theta. This task force shall report to the board on a regular basis and future conventions to propose potential changes to curriculum, legislation, and governing documents

If you have questions for the DE&I Committee please contact us.

Fraternity Board Member Dan Bureau, Ph.D., receives AFA’s Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award

Dan Bureau, Ph.D.

On October 8, 2020, the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) announced individual award recipients. Dan Bureau, Ph.D., is to receive the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award.

Among other awards recognizing outstanding contributions made by AFA members and colleagues, the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award is considered the highest award presented to a campus professional.

The award has traditionally been presented to an individual in the field of higher education who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to fraternities and sororities. It honors individuals that have “demonstrated a commitment to fostering positive change on college campuses through the advisement of the fraternity/sorority community, building partnerships in higher education and the interfraternal community, had positive and lasting impact on both campuses of employment and the profession of fraternity/sorority advising, and mentoring new and seasoned professionals” (afa1976.org).

AFA highlighted Brother Bureau’s contributions to the fraternal industry with the following statement:

For more than 20 years, Dr. Dan Bureau has been engaged in the fraternal industry. His resume details his extensive commitment to fraternities and sororities through his career path and volunteer work.

Dr. Bureau has served as the AFA representative for the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) since 2008, and he currently serves as CAS president. Beyond defining and refining industry standards over the last 12 years for a number of areas of higher education, including Fraternity and Sorority Advising Programs (FSAP), Dr. Bureau has spent years conducting campus reviews to help professionals improve their operations through assessment and alignment with industry standards. 

Dr. Bureau is a past AFA president and has won many AFA awards. He also has an extensive list of presentations and publications where he has shared his knowledge to advance the profession.

In response to Bureau's recognition, Phi Kappa Theta Executive Vice President Robert Riggs, CAE, shared, "On behalf of the entire Fraternity, we share our congratulations to Brother Bureau for receiving AFA’s Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award. His commitment to students has been an inspiration for us all. We are so grateful to have Brother Bureau continue his leadership on our Fraternity Board."

On Facebook Brother Bureau wrote, “I've had a hard time putting into coherent words what being recognized by AFA in this way means to me. To win one of the most prestigious awards of the Association, a professional home for me for 24 years, is something for which I feel honored and humbled. I'm touched that people have reached out and let me know the influence I had on them and that of course is an opportunity for me to express the impact so many people have had on me.”

Earlier this year, Bureau was recognized by The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Educational Leadership Foundation as a 2020 Diamond Honoree. Bureau will be presented with the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award during a virtual AFA Annual Meeting in early December. 

Bureau and other AFA members invite friends and colleagues to donate to the AFA Foundation which will be used to advance the work of AFA through scholarships, grants, and funding for educational initiatives.

To make an In Honor Of gift, click here. Then, select “In Honor Of” and add Dan Bureau in the comment box before submitting the donation. The AFA Foundation plans to share the list of donors with the award recipients following the 2020 Virtual AFA Annual Meeting.

To learn more about AFA and this year’s individual award winners, visit afa1976.org.

More About Brother Bureau

Dan Bureau, Ph.D., joined Phi Kappa Theta at the University of New Hampshire. He has worked in higher education for over 20 years and currently serves as Associate Vice President for Student Academic Success at the University of Memphis. He is also the current President for the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). He served as the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors President in 2004 and has held roles in ACPA and NASPA.

His areas of focus have included fraternity and sorority life, leadership programs, student affairs assessment, and first-generation college students. He has served at the University of New Mexico, University of Illinois, Indiana University, and the University of Memphis. He has presented at several association conferences and has authored peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and many other publications. He is the co-editor and contributor to Leading Assessment for Student Success: Ten Tenets That Change Culture and Practice in Student Affairs. Dan enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and staying fit.

“I’m touched that people have reached out and let me know the influence I had on them and that of course is an opportunity for me to express the impact so many people have had on me.”

— Dan Bureau, Ph.D.

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How our chapter at Penn State turned to virtual fundraising for THON™ – For The Kids

Written by: Ben Borus ‘22 and Joseph Mondy ‘21

Each February, the Pennsylvania Beta Gamma Chapter at Penn State University celebrates THON weekend inside the Bryce Jordan Center located on campus. THON, the largest student-run philanthropy event in the world, is a year-long fundraising campaign aimed at raising funds for the fight against pediatric cancer. However, this year, COVID-19 turned the THON community and the Beta Gamma chapter’s plans upside down.

2020 THON event at Penn State

When our chapter members experienced the COVID-19 lockdown in March, many in the brotherhood were unsure how long the restrictions would last as the virus was still being researched. As the pandemic edged into summer, the THON community received news that would completely change the event–the 2021 event would be an all-virtual experience. At first, feelings of complete disappointment filled our brotherhood; the school year's best weekend was not going to hold up to the celebrations of years prior. Despite this news, however, the PA Beta Gamma Chapter was determined to make the most of a fundraising window. With the momentum gained from raising $40,000 this past year for 2020’s THON, our brothers got to work.

In previous years, canvassing throughout some of our brothers' hometowns and neighborhoods was the go-to way to fundraise. With social distancing in place, we had to redesign our efforts around DonorDrive, an online donation platform. This website allows THON volunteers to create a personal fundraising goal within their organization without relying on physical donations. While DonorDrive had been around before the pandemic, we have never relied on it as much as we do now.

We also realized that we needed to think outside the box to make our fundraising goal a reality. This fall, brothers started sending “THONvelopes,” letters sent to family and friends that explain our mission and allow another revenue stream for fundraising.

Brothers of the PA Beta Gamma chapter

Motivating the brotherhood to contribute to THON in any way they can has been a crucial task for our THON chairs this year. With virtual engagement being of the utmost importance, small brotherhood events like video game tournaments become the new normal. And with incentives for brothers, “fundraisers of the month” have left the chapter feeling as though we’re picking up right where we left off from THON 2020. The chapter has raised $7,766.78 to date and is excited to provide new fundraising opportunities that partner with both local and global businesses.

This pandemic may have changed many aspects of our daily lives, but the fight to end pediatric cancer remains intact. Pennsylvania Beta Gamma has an amazing team of dedicated brothers to serve as chairs for this event: Joseph Mondy ‘21, Kamron Sarmadi ’21, Thayne George ‘21, Jack Bush ‘22, Max Watson ‘22, and Dylan McEvoy ‘21. We ask brothers from all chapters of Phi Kappa Theta to join us in this fight so that someday, no child or family will ever have to hear the word “cancer” again. To learn more about our THON efforts or contribute to our cause, please visit the link listed below or send our Primary THON Chair, Joseph Mondy, an email.

"Give, expecting nothing thereof..."

DonorDrive: https://donate.thon.org/?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=2169

Louisiana Omicron Brothers assist in hurricane relief efforts

Written by: Alex East (Univ. of Louisiana at Lafayette, ‘21)

Earlier this fall, three brothers from the Louisiana Omicron chapter donated furniture to a charity in New Orleans to aid in hurricane relief. All soon-to-be graduates of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Davis Mena, Andrew DaBella, and Alex East devoted a whole day to drive from Lafayette, LA, in a rented moving truck filled with unused furniture to donate to S.O.F.A., a charity in New Orleans, LA.

The donation included two couches, tables, four wooden chairs, two fabric chairs, a dresser, and a king-sized bed, all in the single trailer. It was a lot of hard work to fit all the items in the truck but surely well worth the noble cause.

S.O.F.A stands for Service, Outreach, Furniture, Acadiana. S.O.F.A is a non-profit organization the Louisiana Omicron chapter works with year around to provide furniture to families who have been affected by fires, floods, tornados, and hurricanes. Recently, Lake Charles was severely hit by Hurricane Laura, and many families' homes were destroyed. This effort was our way of stepping up and doing something to help the victims of Hurricane Laura.

The three-hour drive wasn’t just about the furniture. Three brothers who’ve come from entirely different walks of life took this time to grow together by helping families in need. They humbled themselves and took part in something bigger than themselves. While having a great time together, these brothers lived the meaning of “Give; expecting nothing thereof...".