For Immediate Release
June 1, 2017

Contact: Ashley Martin, Director of Communications
amartin@deltau.org

Delta Upsilon Recognized with NIC Awards

Delta Upsilon has been recognized with two awards from the North-American Interfraternity Conference. In an announcement made May 31, Delta Upsilon was honored with a Laurel Wreath Award for the Fraternity’s Membership Outcomes Assessment, and the Delta Upsilon Kansas State Chapter was given a Chapter of Distinction Award.

The Laurel Wreath Award is presented to individuals or groups in recognition of their unique programs, community outreach or influence in the fraternal world. DU was recognized for its Membership Outcomes Assessment, which measures student behaviors, values and attitudes in a number of areas. In partnership with Dyad Strategies, the annual assessment allows the Fraternity to tailor operations and educational programs to address the needs of its membership, based on real data provided by members. This statistical analysis shows the Fraternity’s impact on a member’s personal development throughout his college experience.

In spring 2017, DU completed year two of the four-partnership for the Membership Outcomes Assessment. In both years, all undergraduate members and associate members were asked to complete the assessment survey, and in each year, the Fraternity has received a 79 percent response rate. This high response rate has strengthened the assessment data, which is being used to strategically drive all areas of Fraternity operations. Fraternity-wide data is impacting educational program curriculum; Loss Prevention programming; and strategy for colony development, fundraising and marketing. Chapter specific data has allowed DU to take a data-driven approach to chapter support and truly tailor that support to chapters’ individual needs.

This is the third time Delta Upsilon has been recognized with a Laurel Wreath Award. In 2010, DU was honored for its work with the University Learning Outcomes Assessment (UniLOA), and in 2013 for the Global Service Initiative. Three other groups received a Laurel Wreath Award this year.

“As with any successful company or nonprofit organization, making data-driven decisions will further strengthen our Fraternity and provide the most valuable experience to our members,” said Justin Kirk, Executive Director of the Delta Upsilon International Fraternity & Educational Foundation. “Our Membership Outcomes Assessment is allowing us to better understand exactly what our impact is, learn where we are succeeding, and identify where we can improve.”

The Delta Upsilon Kansas State Chapter was honored with an NIC Chapter of Distinction Award, which recognizes undergraduate chapters that are highly functioning, in compliance with NIC standards, seeks to educate others about the benefits of a values-based fraternity experience, and works to maintain a healthy relationship with their inter/national organization.

Since 2011, the Kansas State Chapter has consistently been among the top chapters in Delta Upsilon as a Sweepstakes Finalist (top seven chapters in the Fraternity) in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016, and receiving the highest honor in the Fraternity as Sweepstakes Trophy Winner in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016. Winning four Sweepstakes Trophies in a five-year span is unprecendented in the Fraternity’s 182 year history. The chapter is undeniably a powerhouse, consistently delivering outstanding programs, initiatives, and engagement on both the Kansas State University campus and across the country.

The 116-man chapter is nearly twice the average size of a chapter at Kansas State, is consistently above the all-men’s GPA, raised more than $11,000 for the Global Service initiative in 2016-2017, and supports the Boys and Girls Club and American Red Cross. In October 2016, it co-hosted a campus-wide program to inform students of their legal rights and responsibilities.

The Kansas State Chapter is one of seven chapters to receive a Chapter of Distinction Award this year.

"It is a true honor to receive this recognition,” said Kansas State chapter president Scott McGehee. “It truly represents the hard work that has been put in by many incredible people over many years. While awards and trophies serve as a good testament to our success, take one step inside of 1425 University Drive (our chapter house), and it won't take long to see what makes us the fraternity we are. Thank you to our incredible advisors, our house director, our alumni and undergraduate members, and our International Fraternity for the role they served in helping our chapter get where it is today."

The North-American Interfraternity Conference is the trade association representing 66 International and National Men's fraternities. Together, these fraternities boast 6,100 chapters on 800 campuses, representing 380,000 undergraduates and 4.2 million initiated members.

Established on Nov. 4, 1834, Delta Upsilon is an international men's college fraternity with 75 chapters and colonies across the United States and Canada. The Fraternity, founded at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, is the oldest, non-secret, Greek-letter society and is committed to Building Better Men for a global society through its Four Founding Principles: friendship, character, culture and justice. More than 120,000 men have joined the Delta Upsilon Fraternity since its founding more than 182 years ago.

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