Pennsylvania Eta is proud to announce that it received a Gold accreditation rating from Lehigh University’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA) earlier this month.

An outstanding achievement regardless of the circumstances, what makes this distinction especially significant is the fact that it was the chapter’s first time going through the University’s annual accreditation process since re-colonizing in April 2013. In spite of members not having prior experience with the process, Pennsylvania Eta was the only fraternity out of the University’s eighteen fraternities to receive OFSA’s highest honor this year. Five sororities received the honor.

The full accreditation report for Pennsylvania Eta can be found here.

At Lehigh, all Greek organizations are subject to the annual accreditation process, which is a comprehensive review and assessment of all facets of chapter operations and is a key process in the development and maintenance of chapter standards, according to OFSA’s website. In addition to submitting an extensive report, each chapter must deliver a forty minute presentation to a panel consisting of faculty, staff, students and alumni. After nearly two months of thorough review, the panel rates each chapter and gives feedback through reports.

The process is one that many students in Lehigh’s Greek community take very seriously. For the majority of chapters, members typically begin preparing accreditation materials months in advance. The stakes for accreditation are certainly high, and if the panel does not look favorably upon a chapter, it is possible they could lose university recognition.

Coming off a very successful year that concluded with a memorable installation this April, the brothers of Pennsylvania Eta are pleased to have received this distinguished recognition from their University, and they look forward to reaching new heights throughout the upcoming year, and beyond.

Several highlights from each section of Pennsylvania Eta’s Gold accreditation report released earlier this month are featured below:

Intellectual Development

• Phi Delta Theta was ranked first out of 18 Interfraternity Council chapters in the spring 2014 semester with a GPA of 3.26, an increase of .046 from the fall 2013 semester. The 3.26 GPA placed the chapter above the All Fraternity and All Greek average.
• Phi Delta Theta had 30.3% of the chapter on the Dean’s List in the fall 2013 semester and 35% on the Dean’s List in the spring 2014 semester.
• Phi Delta Theta’s Scholarship Committee maintains a class registry to share with all members needing academic support and also publishes a list of tutors within the Fraternity. The Committee commends the chapter for utilizing its internal talent in addition to external resources for academic support.

Leadership Development

• Phi Delta Theta members are involved in a number of campus organizations, clubs, and honorary societies while also holding roles as Gryphons, Orientation Coordinators and Leaders, Brown and White staff, and club officers.
• Phi Delta Theta’s chapter president JJ O’Brien received the IFC Emerging Leader Award.
• Phi Delta Theta heavily utilizes a committee structure to involve all members in the goal setting, planning, and execution of chapter operations. Committee chairs may also appoint committee members to lead initiatives or oversee large events. The Committee commends the chapter for its ability to evenly spread leadership opportunities across the membership.

Community Development

• Phi Delta Theta supported a number of programs and initiatives sponsored by the Community Service Office, including Spring Fling, Spooktacular, and blood drives. The Committee commends the chapter for establishing a strong relationship with the CSO.
• Phi Delta Theta members learned that an employee from Upper Court lost her nephew following an epileptic seizure and the chapter organized a “Snacks for Xavier” cupcake sale, raising more than $400 to help cover funeral costs.
• Phi Delta Theta members recognize that alumni have been instrumental in the organization’s successful refounding and maintain strong relationships with the Chapter Advisory Board to accomplish goals and perform optimally.

Organizational Development

• Phi Delta Theta members participated in two brotherhood retreats in an effort to better the organization and lay foundational aspects. The Committee commends the chapter for its investment in these experiences and believes several of the chapter’s significant milestones came to fruition as a result of conversations held during these retreats.
• Phi Delta Theta recovered nicely from a minor leadership crisis in the fall semester that ultimately led to a major overhaul of organizational strategies and restructuring of leadership roles. This experience proved to be beneficial in that new chapter leadership remained proactive, acted transparently, and engaged the full constituency of the chapter.
• The Committee is exceptionally impressed by Phi Delta Theta’s momentum and looks forward to the organization’s continued success. The Committee recommends that members continuously reflect on the shared values and ritual separating Phi Delta Theta from others in order to not lose sight of the re-founding fathers’ vision.