A Lifetime of Friendship and Leadership
Your son is undoubtedly one of your most significant life achievements, and you must be very proud of him. Congratulations on getting him to this point in life. What an incredible accomplishment. Sending a child to college can be a challenging and stressful time in a parent’s life. Your son has many opportunities available to him to become involved outside of his classroom experience, and we are proud he has chosen to invest himself in Beta Theta Pi. Through our award-winning Men of Principle initiative, your son stands to strengthen his campus experience into one that focuses on providing him with the friendships and sense of community that aid in his transition from high school to college, leadership development and cultivating his intellectual character capacity.
“Beta Theta Pi was the first Greek-letter Society to have higher academic standards for its chapters than most of the host institutions have for their students.”
Welcome
When your son joined the Beta family, so did you. This short video includes welcome remarks from Beta Theta Pi General Secretary John Stebbins, Emory ’92, and a brief introduction to the Fraternity and the many opportunities that lie ahead for your son.
We’re confident your son will live out Beta’s core values of mutual assistance, intellectual growth, trust, responsible conduct and integrity each and every day. As such, we encourage you to stay connected with the Fraternity through social media and our quarterly magazine, which will help you follow along with the ways Beta Theta Pi is aiding him in these noble pursuits.
Intellectual Growth
Betas are devoted to continually cultivating their minds, including high standards of academic achievement. Today, every Beta chapter must maintain an academic average equal to or exceeding the All-Men’s Average grade point for their respective campus. This has translated to the Fraternity setting record highs for academic achievement – most recently in 2019 with a 3.459 all-chapter GPA!
The Beta Theta Pi Foundation makes available some $250,000 each year in merit scholarships to promote its commitment to the cultivation of the intellect. Click below to learn more about the Men of Principle Scholarship (awarded to non-affiliated men who exhibit the qualities and characteristics of a Beta member) and Merit Scholarships (awarded annually to Betas and members of their families).
Health and Safety
Betas have long believed that true brotherhood is built through shared social experiences that facilitate trust and deep, meaningful relationships. Alcohol and illegal drugs, hazing, fighting, sexual harassment and the like all have devastating effects on the brotherhood.
In 2018, Beta undergraduate and volunteer leaders implemented substance-free housing, prohibiting drugs, alcohol and tobacco from all chapter houses.
The Fraternity rejects hazing as a part of fraternity life. Instead, it emphasizes an educational experience that is morally uplifting and intellectually stimulating. To help identify instances of hazing, Beta Theta Pi has joined 30 other fraternities and sororities in sponsoring the College Fraternity and Sorority Anti-Hazing Hotline (888.NOT.HAZE). The hotline provides a way for members across North America to report possible hazing incidents. Callers may remain anonymous or provide personal information so that their concerns can be responded to directly. We encourage our members, their roommates and friends, or even you to make use of this hotline in the event hazing is suspected during your son’s fraternity experience.
Leadership Development
Though your son must prioritize his academic success to maintain his Beta Theta Pi membership, the truth is 90% of his time during these formative years will be spent outside of the classroom. Research shows fraternities are great accelerators for the real-world skills they will need to excel in college and beyond.
All members will develop leadership skills in their day-to-day chapter experience. Still, Beta Theta Pi offers access to six professionally facilitated leadership programs for those brothers who genuinely wish to invest in their development. Throughout the year, these programs are offered, with attendance costs heavily subsidized by the Beta Foundation.
We encourage you to discuss these opportunities with your child.
“We have a great heritage. That is ours by inheritance. The question is, will we give ourselves to the fulfillment of our destiny as a Great and Good Fraternity? The Beta heritage and the Beta destiny go hand in hand.”
Parent Involvement
Beta Theta Pi has more than 1,800 alumni and Friends of Beta leading its collegiate chapters to new heights. These Friends of Beta are non-affiliated men and women who believe passionately in our Fraternity’s mission, vision, and core values. Collectively, these volunteers serve as local advisors and mentors, event facilitators and more. And, yes, parents can become Friends of Beta, as well.
The Fraternity is always seeking volunteers who are committed to building men of principle for a principled life. If you’re interested in getting involved, contact Chief Fraternity Services Officer Erin McHale.
Research
View additional research findings on the benefits of fraternities for young men and their mental, physical and social wellness.
Refer
If your son is considering fraternity life and you’d like him to learn more about Beta, refer him below and a local member will reach out.
