Greetings from the Advisory Committee of Indiana Beta! As another academic year ends for Indiana Beta and we head into the summer, we wanted to provide you – our outstanding alumni – with an update on the Chapter.
The Positives
We are pleased to report that we have yet again set a record for recruitment and undergraduate engagement since the re-chartering. We will be at 100% occupancy as we enter the fall and will also have an out-brother (in good standing) roster at over 100. This will put Indiana Beta at or near a total of 200 Phi Psi undergraduate members on campus. While this can be a double-edged sword that needs to be managed/monitored, we are hoping that with the strong operational leadership of the undergraduate Executive Committee, the House and Risk Managers, our House Mom Teresa Seibert, and last but not least the tireless energy from Ed Hawes ’76 – Advisory Committee Chair, the Chapter overall will demonstrate the behaviors necessary to live into the Creed and our reputation as Gentlemen on the Hill.
In terms of overall campus engagement, Indiana Beta continues its trek to get back to the “top of the heap” on campus (including the IUSF Steering Committee). Further, while you will hear more about the Bike Team later, it should be noted that our undergrads finished first among all men’s teams and first overall in the Students Helping Students Fundraiser by raising funds for IU Bloomington Food Insecurity Fund benefiting the IU Crimson Cupboard. As a final effort that we will mention here and thanks to former PKP National Executive Director Shawn Collingsworth Indiana State ’91, our undergrads spent a very meaningful day working with the Damar Foundation – an Indianapolis-based leader (led by Shawn) in helping parents, families, employers, and entire communities understand and support people with developmental and behavioral disabilities.
In terms of academics and GPA, the Chapter continues to show improvement. At the time of this report, it appears we will finish second in GPA for chapters over 100 members and fourth overall.
The Challenges
Due to the social nature of our setting and the distractions present, academics continue to be a consistent focus for our undergraduates. They continue to make good use of the Advisory Committee’s Tutoring Fund (after exhausting all free services available through IU) and this coupled with peer support in the house has helped tremendously.
As always, another major challenge is the social scene itself. Phi Psi/Indiana Beta continues to be a high-profile house. This works to our advantage ensuring fraternities and sororities want to pair and party with us, but it poses a challenge due to the target that remains on our undergrads’ backs regarding both behavior and being implicated in issues – even when things may not be what they seem. This is a key priority.
Lastly, we would be remiss if we did not mention that the Advisors, the EC and our House Mom are always thinking about mental health. More to follow on this as Indiana Beta works with IU to both provide programming at the house and ensure confidential connections to mental health professionals are always available to our undergrads.
The Foreseeable Future
As outlined above, the house is full and in fact, over-syndicated. The Chapter’s growth and operational leadership have led the Advisory and Executive Committees to think about management and leadership development. Consideration is being made regarding associated systems and processes (with appropriate measures) to ensure all EC members (officers and committee chairs) plan and execute effectively on goals and objectives.
These systems/processes are being finalized now with plans to deliver the first of an annual leadership retreat when the undergrads return to campus in August at which this Indiana Beta management system will be rolled out.
We are also very pleased that thanks in large part to graduating senior Timo (Timothy) Lenhard ’19 and Advisory Committee member John Siebert ’76, Indiana Beta’s mentoring program (started many moons ago with the assistance of Wade Garard ’90), is back up and running – more on this later.
Finally, our undergraduates are very much enjoying the resurgence of alumni visiting the house. We had a super alumni turnout for Little 500 – including a reunion for the class of ’73. If you can, we are all hoping to see you for Homecoming – this year scheduled for Oct. 20–22. Please stay tuned for communications on programming for Homecoming weekend!
While not without bumps, twists and turns… It is wonderful to be able to speak to a full, strong and engaged Indiana Beta; showing well on campus and beating Fiji across the finish line of Little 500.
ITB and on behalf of the entire Advisory Committee,
Brian Clarke ’76
Advisor – Philanthropy