From start to finish, it is Delta Upsilon's goal to create strong colonies and chapters and ensure that our members and all involved have the best experience possible. Please review the measures below that Delta Upsilon takes to meet our goal of providing a topnotch fraternity experience.
1. Alumni Training and Recruitment. Delta Upsilon has an extensive network of alumni across North America. Our first priority and task is to contact each alumnus in the area and solicit his involvement in an expansion endeavor and an alumni advisory board for our colony.
Alumni training will be provided by the Fraternity's Alumni Chapter Guide, at conferences such as the Leadership Institute, and the Winter Educational Conference, regional alumni training conferences, and by training visits made by IHQ staff. Alumni involvement in colonization efforts is guided, monitored, and assisted by the International Headquarters. The Fraternity's staff works with local alumni to measure the progress of the colony and identify their needs for additional assistance. In addition Fraternity staff often also recruit several faculty members to become advisors to colonies.
2. Campus Promotional Campaign. Once an alumni chapter and advisory board have been selected and trained, Delta Upsilon's next step in establishing a colony is to begin promoting DU on campus. Fraternity staff place ads in the campus paper, distribute promotional materials on campus, and begin seeking out faculty, staff, administrators, student leaders, and clubs and organizations for recommendations and interest.
3. Initial Member Recruitment. From our promotional campaign Fraternity staff begin contacting students who have been recommended or shown interest in Delta Upsilon to talk to them about the possibilities of membership. Staff contact students in a variety of ways including phone calls, one-on-one meetings, interest meetings, and recreational activities like sporting events, mixers, and barbecues.
4. Membership Selection. Upon speaking with all those interested and recommended, Delta Upsilon begins to invite men to join the interest group with our only selection criteria being the merit of the individual.
The campus promotional campaign and membership recruitment and selection typically occur over a period of 5 to 6 weeks with no less than two Headquarters staff members being on campus for at least 3 to 4 weeks.
5. Officer and Member Development. Once satisfied with the number and caliber of men invited to join Delta Upsilon staff begin working with the members to identify leaders and to begin the new member education process of no longer than 8 weeks. Staff work with group members to develop all of the necessary programs and policies to establish a successful colony and later a successful chapter.
6. Colonization and Wrap-up. Either at the end of our initial recruitment effort or shortly after, the interest group will be assisted in developing a colony application to be approved at the next Board of Directors meeting. Once the colony application has been approved, staff and Board members will conduct a colonization ceremony which gives license to the interest group to operate as a colony and begin working toward installation requirements.
7. Staff Follow-up. Following our promotional campaign and membership recruitment and selection, Headquarters staff will follow-up regularly with visits to the campus at least once every six weeks or more depending on the needs of the colony. The Directors of Fraternity Expansion will also be in constant contact with alumni, undergraduate officers, and campus officials as necessary. Delta Upsilon views expansion and the establishment of a colony as an investment in the Fraternity and the host campus and will do everything possible to protect that investment and ensure that we establish the most successful colony and chapter possible.
8. Periodic Evaluation. The colony will be evaluated on a monthly basis through the use of monthly reports located in the Colony Manual. Evaluations will also be made by Headquarters staff during regular follow-up visits and through regular discussions with alumni, undergraduate officers, and campus officials.
9. Installation. The goal of Delta Upsilon's expansion effort will be to establish a thriving chapter. It is Delta Upsilon's goal to install a new chapter no later than 150-180 days after the colonization. Upon completion of all installation requirements and upon approval by the Board of Directors of the colony's installation application, Fraternity staff and Board members will conduct an on-site installation and initiation ceremony. Delta Upsilon's principle of non-secrecy will allow friends, family, fraternity and sorority leaders, student leaders, and faculty, staff, and administrators to attend the initiation and installation ceremonies.
10. On-Going IHQ Support. After the establishment of a chapter, Delta Upsilon will continue to provide support to the new chapter through regular staff visits at least twice a year and through the Fraternity's numerous conferences, mailings, and other resources. Alumni will also continue to advise the group to help ensure that the chapter continues to live up to Delta Upsilon's high standards.