For Immediate Release
May 5, 2017 

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

Delta Upsilon Closes its Kentucky Colony

Effectively immediately, Delta Upsilon International Fraternity has closed its colony at the University of Kentucky as a result of its inability to meet minimum organizational requirements.

Delta Upsilon’s colonization efforts at Kentucky began in 2013. During this time, Fraternity staff were on campus to recruit the colony’s first members and help the men and the alumni advisors build a foundation for success. Following this initial recruitment period, the colony and advisors remained in close contact with DU staff as the colony worked toward meeting the minimum requirements to become an installed chapter of the Fraternity. Such requirements include the ability to recruit to the campus’ average chapter size, financial stability and more. This colonization period typically lasts 18 months. However, after four years, the Kentucky Colony had been unable to meet all requirements for chapter installation.

“Closing a colony or chapter is never an easy decision,” said Delta Upsilon International Fraternity Executive Director Justin Kirk. “Our colonization period is designed to help a group find its footings and build a strong foundation. Unfortunately, we have been unable to do that at the University of Kentucky. We sincerely thank the campus community and university administration for their support these past few years.”

Delta Upsilon does not initiate men into the Fraternity until a group is chartered a chapter. Anyone who has joined the Kentucky Colony throughout the course of this colonization period has been released from his associate member status as a result of the colony’s closure.

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 130,000 men have joined the Delta Upsilon Fraternity since its founding more than 182 years ago.