Delta Upsilon | "A Reformer Embracing Change"
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Everything is coming together quite nicely on our Syracuse return. Not just from our alumni efforts, but also the supportive strength of DU National and our fellow chapters. Read the message below from Justin Kirk, Executive Director of Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Educational Foundation and the cited, linked publication, recognizing that Delta Upsilon has doubled down on experienced staff focused on opening new chapters. Naturally, this bodes well for the success of our comeback.
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Message from Justin Kirk | Executive Director | Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Educational Foundation
The past year has been a challenging one for Fraternities. A number of high profile incidents put Fraternity squarely in the media spotlight. The intense media scrutiny has some questioning the value of our organizations and the external environments are exerting greater pressure on fraternities and sororities.
I'm pleased to say the story is different for Delta Upsilon. The media focus on DU is about change, and change for the positive. In a recent article, Change at 4 Fraternities, posted in The Chronicle of Higher Education on August 3, 2015, Delta Upsilon was named as "A Reformer Embracing Change." The Chronicle of Higher Education is the leading source of news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty members and administrators.
The specific quote involving Delta Upsilon is listed below:
Delta Upsilon began a series of changes in 2009 that radically reshaped the organization. The fraternity closed a quarter of its chapters for poor performance, including risky behaviors, poor grades, and weak service records. Then it opened a similar number of new chapters under the close guidance of the national organization. The fraternity, which has 4,300 students, doubled its staff, from 11 to 22. Those new employees have advanced degrees in higher education or nonprofit management, a level of expertise the fraternity didn't have before, says Justin Kirk, Delta Upsilon's Executive Director.
The organization has increased the number of members who go through educational programming, including international service work. Today more than half of undergraduate members participate in at least one educational program per year. Often, says Mr. Kirk, a national organization just focuses on chapter officers. 'If you only send two men in a 50-man chapter, they're on an island,' he says. Both membership and the average grade-point average of members have increased, he says, since these changes went into effect.
Read the full article here.
Additionally, Delta Upsilon was one of the subjects interviewed for a recently published book titled: Transformational Governance: How Boards Achieve Extraordinary Change. The book studied high performing associations who achieved extraordinary change through a series of intentional strategies and processes that directors and their staff used to transform their boards and organizations.
We are proud that DU is being seen as a leader in the interfraternal community. In light of so many negative events this past year, we hope this helps to shine light on the good work Delta Upsilon is doing.
As always, we need your support to help make sure this continues. We hope that you will help us Build Better Men by becoming involved with your alma mater, nearest local chapter, and as a donor. We invite you to join the already dedicated individuals who continue, on a daily basis, to help make us a better fraternity. We impact the lives of young men that will become tomorrow's husband, fathers, and leaders. Please feel free to contact me at kirk@deltau.org if you want to learn more about how DU is making a difference.
Fraternally and sincerely,
Justin Kirk
Boise State '00
Executive Director
Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Educational Foundation
The past year has been a challenging one for Fraternities. A number of high profile incidents put Fraternity squarely in the media spotlight. The intense media scrutiny has some questioning the value of our organizations and the external environments are exerting greater pressure on fraternities and sororities.
I'm pleased to say the story is different for Delta Upsilon. The media focus on DU is about change, and change for the positive. In a recent article, Change at 4 Fraternities, posted in The Chronicle of Higher Education on August 3, 2015, Delta Upsilon was named as "A Reformer Embracing Change." The Chronicle of Higher Education is the leading source of news, information, and jobs for college and university faculty members and administrators.
The specific quote involving Delta Upsilon is listed below:
Delta Upsilon began a series of changes in 2009 that radically reshaped the organization. The fraternity closed a quarter of its chapters for poor performance, including risky behaviors, poor grades, and weak service records. Then it opened a similar number of new chapters under the close guidance of the national organization. The fraternity, which has 4,300 students, doubled its staff, from 11 to 22. Those new employees have advanced degrees in higher education or nonprofit management, a level of expertise the fraternity didn't have before, says Justin Kirk, Delta Upsilon's Executive Director.
The organization has increased the number of members who go through educational programming, including international service work. Today more than half of undergraduate members participate in at least one educational program per year. Often, says Mr. Kirk, a national organization just focuses on chapter officers. 'If you only send two men in a 50-man chapter, they're on an island,' he says. Both membership and the average grade-point average of members have increased, he says, since these changes went into effect.
Read the full article here.
Additionally, Delta Upsilon was one of the subjects interviewed for a recently published book titled: Transformational Governance: How Boards Achieve Extraordinary Change. The book studied high performing associations who achieved extraordinary change through a series of intentional strategies and processes that directors and their staff used to transform their boards and organizations.
We are proud that DU is being seen as a leader in the interfraternal community. In light of so many negative events this past year, we hope this helps to shine light on the good work Delta Upsilon is doing.
As always, we need your support to help make sure this continues. We hope that you will help us Build Better Men by becoming involved with your alma mater, nearest local chapter, and as a donor. We invite you to join the already dedicated individuals who continue, on a daily basis, to help make us a better fraternity. We impact the lives of young men that will become tomorrow's husband, fathers, and leaders. Please feel free to contact me at kirk@deltau.org if you want to learn more about how DU is making a difference.
Fraternally and sincerely,
Justin Kirk
Boise State '00
Executive Director
Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Educational Foundation