Borradaile Challenge

The Borradaile Challenge is a standards program within the Fraternity wherein criteria indicate a quality Phi Kappa Tau undergraduate experience. These standards were drafted by the Chapter Services Committee, a group of experienced alumni volunteers. National Councilor Stephen Rupprecht, Oswego State '91, chaired the committee.

To obtain Borradaile Challenge status, a chapter must meet standards in various categories. Within each category, the standards are tiered into three groups--Maxwell, Order of the Star and Basic Expectations. In some categories, more than one tier may share the same standard.

Chapters that meet Maxwell standards are those that perform the strongest. Chapters that do not meet Basic Expectations in a given area will be assisted by national and local officers.

All members of the Fraternity are able to track the progress of chapters by viewing the Borradaile Challenge group page.

Category Standard Notes
Membership Maxwell: 110% or more of campus average chapter size.
Order of the Star: 100% or more of campus average.
Basic: 30 men or 90% of campus average.		 Membership data is recorded when associate registration and official requests for initiation are received at the Executive Offices (EO).
Recruitment Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: Recruit and initiate 25% or more of campus average size. “Recruitment” counts new, initiated members only.
Membership Orientation Program Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: Approved Membership Orientation (MO) program. The MO program is reviewed by the national membership orientation committee every time a chapter makes a change to its MO Program.
Bylaws Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: Approved set of bylaws, submitted once every five years. Bylaws must be submitted for approval every five years or anytime the chapter makes a change to its bylaws.
Ritual and Regalia Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: One set of regalia (or access to it) and adherence to the Ritual. Leadership consultants and Domain Directors may evaluate Ritual regalia and Ritual adherence.
Scholarship Maxwell: Chapter GPA must be at least 2.3 AND .1 points above campus mens' average.
Order of the Star: Chapter GPA must be at least 2.3 AND .05 above campus mens' average.
Basic: Chapter GPA must be at or above campus mens' average AND at least 2.3.		 Greek advisors (or in some cases chapters) report campus mens' average GPA to the EO. Chapters are responsible for obtaining GPA information and reporting it to the EO. Data for all terms will be reported, and chapters are evaluated on a yearly average.
Finance Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: Must submit an annual budget and be in good standing at the end of the year. The EO updates this information monthly. It takes account of payment plans and displays balances.
Philanthropy Maxwell: $2,000 contributed to any philanthropy.
Order of the Star: $1,000 contributed to any philanthropy.
Basic: $500 contributed to any philanthropy.		 A HITW camp contribution counts only when the EO receives the donation. Other contributions are reported by chapters on the philanthropy report.
Community Service Maxwell: Average of 20 hours per man.
Order of the Star: Average of 10 hours per man.
Basic: Average of 5 hours per man.		 EO staff records community service hours from the community service report.
Risk Management Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: No risk management violations and all risk management seminars and reports submitted on time. Chapters are required to complete four risk management seminars on a yearly basis (three, if there is no house).
National Participation Maxwell, Order of the Star: Three members at Leadership Academy or two members at Convention and two members at a Regional Conference.
Basic: Three members at Leadership Academy or two members at Convention.		 Regional Conference organizers report attendance at each conference. EO tracks attendance at Academy and Convention.
Alumni Relations Maxwell: Two alumni newsletters and two alumni events.
Order of the Star: One alumni newsletter and one alumni event.
Basic: One alumni newsletter.		 Chapters send a copy of the newsletter to the EO (E-newsletters are encouraged). Events are reported on the alumni relations report.
Board of Governors Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: An active Board of Governors. BOGs report their positions and contact information on the alumni officers report.
Required Reports Maxwell: All reports turned in on time.
Order of the Star: All reports turned in, 85% on time.
Basic: 85% of reports turned in.		 All reports have separate deadlines and will be accepted late up until June 15. Reports are available on The Link under "Chapter Management."