At the Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute, the General Council voted to increase the academic minimum standard for chapters from 2.5 to 2.75 or the All-Men’s-Average. This policy change will be effective January 1, 2018, meaning that chapter GPAs for the completed Spring 2018 term will be measured using the 2.75 or All-Men’s-Average. Exact language and reasoning for the increase to the minimum standard are below:
Current Minimum Academic Standard For Chapters:
- The minimum semester (or quarter if applicable) GPA of each chapter must be at least a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
New Minimum Academic Standard For Chapters:
- The minimum semester (or quarter if applicable) GPA of each chapter, on a 4.0 scale, must be equal to or higher than a 2.75 or the All-Men’s Average (AMA).
Since the 2.5 minimum academic standard for chapters was enacted in 2010, Phi Delta Theta chapters have met the minimum over 98% of the time. To date, less than 30 active chapters have failed to meet the 2.5 minimum standard in any given semester.
Phi Delta Theta is encouraged that its chapters have met the minimum standard with ease since 2010, but fears that the 2.5 minimum standard is not challenging the Fraternity’s members and chapters to become the greatest version of themselves academically.
Further, data shows that 66 (36%) of Phi Delta Theta chapters were below the All-Men’s-Average this past Fall 2016, while 44 (25%) of chapters performed in the Top 1/3 of fraternities on campus. Using the new minimum standard with Fall 2016 data, 21 (12%) of Phi Delta Theta’s chapters would fail to meet the minimum.
Phi Delta Theta’s academic resources have been updated and posted in the Scholarship section of Member Resources on Phi Delta Theta’s website to assist chapters with their academic programming.
Questions about the new minimum academic standard for chapters should be directed to Chapter Services Coordinator Dylan Berg.
