Start a Chapter

Starting a Delta Kappa Epsilon chapter allows you to create a space on your campus and within your community that builds up young men, provides a space for leadership development, and encourages brotherhood within the collegiate and alumni experience. This is an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals on your campus for years to come. It also gives you the opportunity to start a conversation within your community about giving back and creating an engaging social impact through philanthropic and service events. Chapter leaders also develop important skills and gain access to an incredible network of current and alumni members.

GENERAL EARLY EXPANSION PROCESSES

Individual or Interest Group Sponsored

growing your interest group

We are always thrilled when there is an interest to start a new DKE group on a campus. Part of our start-up program is to have an interest group of at least ten members in order to pursue any formal expansion project. Once we have reached this minimum threshold, we will then work with you to construct a recruiting program to work toward succeeding membership thresholds.

creating your membership roster

It is important for your group to maintain current records of your members, not only to share with your campus but to share with DKE’s international office. This roster helps to monitor progress toward graduation, ensure effective communication, and assist with holding members accountable to the standards of the organization, specifically GPA and academic performance.

Here are some key elements to include in your roster:

Full names
Preferred name(s)
Email address (a non-“.edu” address is preferred for long-term continuity)
Phone number
Year in school
Major(s)
Minor(s)
Expected graduation term (ex: Spring 2025)
Current cumulative GPA

This should be maintained kept up to date.

developing a recruiting plan

While we set the minimum threshold for recognition as interest group at ten members, it is important to begin developing a recruitment plan early to ensure you can continue growing your group. Recruitment is lifeblood of your chapter, so starting and being effective early matters greatly.

Some topics to consider when building your plan:

What are the core values for you group?
What are the core characteristics you want your potential members to exhibit or possess?
Who is your primary audience to recruit? How are you ensuring you aren’t attracting a singular type of member?
What type of campus do you have? More residential? More commuter?
What are the interests of the potential members on your campus? Do your recruiting activities incorporate the variety of those interests?
Where are your potential members coming from (e.g. which cities, states, high schools, etc.)? What are your current connections to those places?
How will you engage with potential throughout the whole year as opposed to focusing only on a formal recruiting period?

These questions can help you frame your strategy and tactics. You may choose to answer some or all of them, but we encourage you to use them as a basis of discussion to develop your local plan.

engaging with the international office

Individuals are encouraged to provide regular updates to DKE IHQ staff on their progress toward the minimum threshold. The staff, during this early growth period, will communicate and engage with the campus staff to determine the path forward, including timelines and policy considerations and obligations.

Upon meeting the minimum threshold, the DKE IHQ staff will begin scheduling formal communications with the local interest group to discuss the findings from the campus staff to determine if a) it is viable to move forward, and/or b) to being outlining next steps for continuing through the establishment process.

Alumni Association Sponsored (Funded)

memorandum of understanding

From time to time, Alumni Associations (AA) may communicate with DKE IHQ to begin a start or restart process on a campus. In cases where the AA agrees to sponsor a start or restart through AA funding, the AA and DKE IHQ will enter into an agreement (Memorandum of Understanding, or “MOU”)that outlines various commitments, including staffing and resource allocation.

This MOU will then govern the succeeding establishment program. The AA and DKE IHQ staff may modify the standard MOU to fit the circumstances that may be necessarily considered for a successful project at the campus.

AAs or their representatives are encouraged to contact the Assistant Director of Chapter Services to explore this opportunity and determine if a campus is viable for a DKE start or restart.

IHQ Sponsored

campus prospecting

As part of the general expansion program, IHQ staff will review the current portfolio and identify desired institutions for expansion. A number of factors may be included in determining desirability of a campus for a new start project, such as:

Type of institution
Enrollment trends
Greek community growth trends
IFC community growth trends

among others that may be considered on a case by case basis.

In general, the IHQ team looks for campuses that have growth or maintenance in Greek and IFC community membership as well as enrollment growth or maintenance. Upon thorough review, the staff will begin communicating with the campus staff to determine timelines and processes for expansion.