Why Start Your Own Fraternity?

The college experience is filled with opportunities.  There are opportunities to pursue academic interests, opportunities to pursue athletic interests, and opportunities to pursue social interests.  These different opportunities alone aren’t always enough for the average student though.  This was true for Chi Phi’s founders who were students at Princeton back in 1824.  They were looking for something more, something different, something they couldn’t find in the existing student organizations.  They set out to fill the void and ended up starting what would become the nation’s first men’s social fraternity, Chi Phi.  Chi Phi has proven to be an organization where men of like minds come together, bonding as they pursue their varying interests be they social, scholastic, athletic, or service based.  If you too are looking for something different, something life changing, something that will define your college experience and allow you to build lifelong friendships, then look no further.

What is it like to be a Colony?

Being a member of a colony is an exciting experience.  Once the colony has been started, your new member program will be six weeks long after which all members of the founding class will be initiated at a near by chapter. The Chi Phi Fraternity is one of the only National Fraternities that initiate its colony members; this means if you are a Senior looking to start a Colony you will not miss out on any of the Chi Phi secrets or rituals.  Over the course of its first year the colony will work to recruit more members, hold social functions, do community service events, etc. just like a chartered chapter would.  The colony continues to do this, working to fulfill the Basic Colony Expectations, and developing its petition to charter.  Colonies have voting rights in the national fraternity, and as such are treated as equals throughout the fraternity.

All colonies are under a three year deadline to receive their charter, though many do so within two years.  So no matter what year you are in school, you have the opportunity to start something real that will last beyond your tenure, and for most colony members there is the opportunity to actually have your name on the physical charter that is granted when the colony becomes a chapter.

Support for Colonies

When it comes to dividing up our resources, Chi Phi places a high priority on its expansion efforts. On the National Staff, the Director of Expansion is the fulltime position that is dedicated to opening new colonies and providing assistance to existing colonies, helping see them all the way through the chartering process.  All colonies get two visits per year by National Staff members who provide any assistance that is needed.  In addition to the visits the National Fraternity holds numerous regional programs and a national leadership school.  Campus Greek Life professionals and local advisors also provide support. 

Chi Phi and Expansion

Chi Phi is an organization that is proud of its rich history which includes chapters and members from around the world. At the same time, Chi Phi keeps an eye to the future, always looking for the next group of men we will call brothers, and the next great chapter that will be leaders on their campus.  Perhaps you and a group of your friends are men who will go down in Chi Phi history as chapter founders and leaders.

Chi Phi is proud of the success rate we have when starting new Chapters or restarting dormant ones. Most of our expansions in the past few years have quickly gone on to become award winning chapters in the fraternity. This is due to the strong working relationships we establish with host institutions, the amount of time and energy we devote to colonies, and the strength of character in the men who start or join these colonies.

So how do I get started?

To get strated your should email Chi Phi's Assistant Executive Director, Richard Kuerston so we can begin a dialogue and get working on a plan for putting a Chi Phi colony on your campus. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you are interested in starting a Chapter of Chi Phi and joining our nearly 200 year old brotherhood.