On a national level, the Theta Chi Fraternity is known as "The Brotherhood of the Helping Hand." Because the NDSU Theta Chi chapter focuses their efforts to exemplify this statement, they have been awarded the Howard R. Alter Jr. Award for Chapter Excellence. NDSU Theta Chi members accepted the award at the Theta Chi Chapter Leadership Conference held in Philadelphia on July 18.
The award is the highest honor a Theta Chi Fraternity chapter can receive. It is presented annually to chapters that demonstrate excellence in philanthropy, scholarship, campus involvement, recruitment and risk management. Tony Clowe, last year's Theta Chi president, believes the fraternity received this award because of their hard work and dedication.
The fraternity has exhibited excellence in philanthropy through an annual tradition called "Theta Chi Days of Giving." Each spring, the fraternity spends a week participating in community service activities, which include events such as a Relay for Life barbecue, highway cleanup and the Theta Chi Blood Drive. "We know it is our duty and responsibility as citizens and students to help," Clowe says.
During the 2008 fall semester, Theta Chi demonstrated scholarly excellence when its members had the highest grade-point average of all the fraternities and sororities at NDSU. The fraternity's scholastic programming includes incentive programs that encourage studying and class attendance. Members also are rewarded for high test grades and most improved grade-point average.
Theta Chi exhibits excellence in campus involvement because each member is involved with at least one organization. Clowe says many members actually participate in multiple organizations and usually serve in leadership roles.
Theta Chi demonstrates excellence in recruitment with not only the quantity of its members, but the quality of its recruits. "The fraternity recruits men who are interested in being student leaders who thrive in academics, leadership and service," Clowe said. "We currently have 76 men, which is NDSU's largest fraternity by 35 men."
Theta Chi's recruitment efforts also were recognized with the Phillip S. Randall Success in Recruitment Award, which is given to any chapter that initiates more than 25 men within a given year.
The fraternity has exhibited excellence in risk management by drastically changing their policy to help members realize how their actions affect themselves and the organization. "We require an alcohol education speaker once a semester to keep us educated on the risks and dangers of alcohol on a college campus. Every weekend, we designate a group of members as 'sober patrol,' whose responsibilities are to be designated drivers and ensure the safety of members," Clowe said.
The NDSU Theta Chi chapter also has a standards board dedicated to risk-management and other policies. "It is their duty to hold people accountable for mistakes, yet provide them with the resources to fix mistakes or help themselves. Whether it is alcohol, academic or financially related, our standards board ensures that we expect the best out of everyone and that each individual can realize their own potential," Clowe said.
The NDSU chapter of Theta Chi has received the Howard R. Alter Jr. Award for Chapter Excellence a record nine times, which is the most out of 130 active chapters across the nation. Clowe says the best part about winning the award so many times is the amount of questions the fraternity gets from other chapters. "We have many people from across the nation who contact us for advice on how to be more successful," he said. "This award opens the door so we are able to help students at other campuses."