Pi Kappa Alpha Standards & Position Statements
Pi Kappa Alpha, much like other non-profit organization that operate with chapters, have standards that it expects its chapter to meet and exceed. Similarly, the International Convention has passed various position statements on issues that are critical for the Fraternity to address.
Standards of Pi Kappa Alpha
The most recent version of the Pi Kappa Alpha Standards were adopted unanimously by the 2018 International Convention in Richmond, Virginia and adjusted slightly at the summer 2019 Academy. The Standards are below:
As established by the Fraternity’s conventions attended by its various chapters, each chapter of The Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity shall maintain the following standards as a condition of its charter as a chapter in good standing with the Fraternity, or as a prerequisite for a provisional chapter to obtain a charter from the Fraternity. Each member and officer shall comply with the following standards as a condition to maintain his membership and/or officer position in good standing with the chapter or provisional chapter.
Each chapter or provisional chapter is encouraged to adopt and enforce additional standards suitable for their particular circumstances. Each chapter or provisional chapter and its members are self-operated by adult college students, which means that these standards are self-enforcing by the chapters or colonies and their members. It should be understood that the Fraternity DOES NOT and CANNOT oversee, monitor, supervise or direct the daily or any other activity of hundreds of chapters and thousands of members located throughout the United States and Canada. It should be further understood that membership does not mean that a member is an agent, servant or employee of a chapter. It should also be understood that the grant of a charter to a chapter by the Fraternity does not make that chapter an agent, servant or employee of the Fraternity or any other entity affiliated with the Fraternity.
Alcohol & Drugs
- The possession, use, and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages while on chapter premises, during an official chapter event, or in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter, must be in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, and local laws and university policies.
- The chapter, members, and guests shall follow the federal law regarding illegal drugs and controlled substances. The possession, sale, and/or use of any illegal drugs or controlled substances at any chapter house, chapter-sponsored or co-sponsored event, or at any event that an observer would associate with the chapter, is strictly prohibited.
- Alcoholic beverages present at any chapter event shall either be:
♦ Provided and sold on a per-drink basis by a licensed and insured third-party vendor (e.g., restaurant, bar, caterer, etc.); or
♦ Brought by individual members and guests through a bring your own beverage (“BYOB”) system. - The presence of alcohol products above 15% alcohol by volume (“ABV”) is prohibited on chapter premises at all times. Alcohol products above 15% ABV may be served off chapter premises by a licensed and insured third-party vendor.
- The purchase or use of a bulk quantity or common source(s) of alcoholic beverages by a chapter is prohibited.
- Alcoholic beverages shall not be purchased through the chapter treasury, nor shall any individual member undertake to purchase or coordinate the purchase of alcoholic beverages for fraternity members or guests in the name of or on behalf of the chapter.
- A chapter shall not co-host or co-sponsor, or in any way participate in, an activity or event with another group or entity that purchases or provides alcohol.
- A chapter shall not co-host or co-sponsor an event with a bar, event promoter, or alcohol distributor; however, a chapter may rent a bar, restaurant, or other licensed and insured third-party vendor to host a chapter event.
- Attendance by non-members at any event where alcohol is present shall be by invitation only, and the chapter shall utilize a guest list system. Attendance at events with alcohol is limited to a 3:1 maximum guest-to-member ratio. Furthermore, attendance shall not exceed the local fire and building code capacities of the chapter premises or host venue.
- Any event or activity related to the new member joining process (e.g., recruitment, intake, rush, etc.) shall be substance free. No alcohol or drugs may be present if the event or activity is related to new member activities, meetings, or initiation into the Fraternity, including but not limited to “bid night,” and any ritual or ceremony.
- The chapter, members, or guests shall not permit, encourage, coerce, glorify or participate in any activities involving the rapid consumption of alcohol, such as drinking games.
Anti-Hazing
- No member or chapter shall conduct hazing activities. Hazing is defined as:
♦ Any activity that might reasonably be expected to bring embarrassment or psychological harm to the individual;
♦ Any activity that might reasonably be expected to bring physical harm to the individual;
♦ Any activity that might reasonably be expected to degrade or otherwise compromise the dignity of the individual;
♦ Any activity that might reasonably be expected to require an unreasonable or inordinate amount of the individual’s time, or in any manner impair the individual’s academic efforts;
♦ The required consumption of any liquid, gas or solid matter;
♦ Any requirement which compels an individual to participate in any activity which is illegal or contrary to the individual’s genuine moral and/or religious beliefs, or contrary to the rules and regulations of the university. - Each member and new member shall refuse to participate in any hazing activity and shall refuse to permit hazing from being inflicted upon them.
- The Chapter Statement of Position on Hazing shall be presented to each new member by the chapter’s new member educator.
Sexual Abuse
- No chapter shall tolerate or condone any form of sexually abusive behavior, whether physical, mental or emotional. This includes any actions that are demeaning to individuals, including but not limited to sexual assault, and sexual harassment.
- Each member and new member shall refuse to engage in any sexually abusive behavior.
Fire, Health & Safety
- All chapter houses should at all times comply with all local fire and health codes and standards.
- All chapters should post emergency numbers for fire, police, and ambulance in common areas. Evacuation routes should be posted on the back of the door of each sleeping room.
- All chapters and housing corporations should comply with financially feasible and reasonable engineering, fire, health or safety recommendations, as submitted by the insurance company.
Education
- At the onset of each academic period, the chapter president shall review these standards with the entire chapter membership and submit a signed copy of the officer acknowledgement to the International Fraternity.
- Each chapter shall maintain a written health and safety program including proper risk management practices that is presented to the entire chapter membership on an annual basis.
- Each chapter shall maintain a written new member orientation program that is conducted as part of the member onboarding process, which shall not exceed 30 days.
- Each chapter shall meet minimum attendance levels for every type of PIKE University event, with higher attendance encouraged for leadership summits:
♦ Leadership Summits: 5
♦ Chapter Executives Conference: 3
♦ The Academy: 3
Every member is encouraged to attend at least one PIKE University event during their undergraduate experience.
Advisory Support
- Each chapter shall maintain an accredited chapter advisor.
- Each chapter shall maintain an alumni advisory board consisting of no fewer than 3 individuals, ideally 6 or more.
It is a requirement that each chapter and officer sign and return the Standards document at least once per year. As an advisor, it is highly encouraged that you become intimately familiar with the Standards of Pi Kappa Alpha.
Chapter Statement on Position On Hazing
The Chapter Statement of Position on Hazing is another important position statement that every member of Pi Kappa Alpha should see on an annual basis. The statement is designed primarily as a welcome into the Fraternity to new-members that outline that Pi Kappa Alpha is a non-hazing organization and that new-members should refuse to take part in hazing activities. The position statement on hazing also lists a list of activities that are constructive to the new-member process and destructive to the new-member process. Please understand that this list is not exhaustive and that even some of the constructive new-member activities, if acted upon maliciously, could reasonably be construed as hazing.