Part of the Strategic Plan adopted by the Fraternity's High Council in November of 2000, was to develop a set of "minimum standards" for chapter performance. The High Council appointed an Ad Hoc Committee to recommend minimum standards for the adoption by the 60th Grand Chapter. In 2006, a committee was appointed to review the Pursuit of Excellence Program. This committee put forth changes to the program based on the following assumptions:
- The Pursuit of Excellence Program should set a standard that drives our undergraduate chapters and the entire organization toward the realization of the Fraternity's vision "Excelling with Honor."
- Standards should be set to assess our chapters in their alignment with the mission of the Fraternity.
- It is vital that the program includes a viable feedback mechanism whereby chapters can utilize information from the assessment to drive the organization forward toward excellence.
- The Pursuit of Excellence Program should align with the Rock Chapter criteria and work in support of the Fraternity's strategic initiatives under the Strategic Plan.
Three categories of chapter operations were agreed upon for measurement:
- Values-Based Leadership
- Service and Philanthropy
- Campus Leadership
- Values Congruent Environments
- Personal Development and Membership Value
- Intellectual Development
- Candidate Development
- Brother Development
- Alumni Development
- Operational Excellence
- Recruitment and Manpower
- Chapter Operations
- Governance and Accountability
Each subcategory will be evaluated on a seven point scale from poor to excellence. A rationale for the rating will be communicated to the chapter along with recommendations for improvement. Chapters receiving an overall level of excellence for one of the three standard areas will be recognized for the Pursuit of Excellence in that standard. Chapters which maintain an overall level of excellence for a period of three years or more will be recognized as Rock Chapters.
All chapters of the Fraternity will be required to submit documentation for the Pursuit of Excellence Program each year.
Failure to do so will result in a suspension of the chapter. This suspension would prohibit the chapter from hosting, co-hosting, sponsoring, or participating in any events with alcohol.
If after a period of six months the chapter has still not submitted documentation, all activities of the chapter will be suspended.
Chapters receiving an achievement level below "Acceptable" in a subcategory must submit a plan of action for improvement in that area to the General Fraternity.
Chapters receiving an achievement level below "Acceptable" in five or more subcategories will be suspended from participating in social activities pending the submission of an overall plan of improvement and that plan's approval by the General Fraternity.
This plan of improvement should be shared with the Chapter Advisor, Division Commander and Campus Fraternity/Sorority Advisor. This plan of improvement should be reviewed in six months and one year, and if there is not sufficient improvement of the chapter, as determined by the Office of the Executive Director, then the chapter will be recommended to the High Council to determine if further action is warranted.
This year's documentation is due no later than April 30, 2009.
