Like many businesses and other fraternal organizations, COVID took its toll on Oklahoma Alpha and significantly decreased its membership from a recent high of more than 70 men in 2015. Accordingly, a Supervisory Committee consisting of alumni from the Housing Corporation, Alumni Association and Chapter Advisory Team was formed in 2022. After careful consideration, the Committee has decided that a local, alumni-driven re-founding of the chapter is necessary for Oklahoma Alpha to thrive and grow again.
The Supervisory Committee conducted a membership review of the current active undergraduate members over the last year. While each of the actives are men of good character, COVID and its social effects simply impaired their drive and determined efforts to grow the chapter. Accordingly, each active will be moved to alumni status at the conclusion of the Spring 2023 semester. For that reason, we are currently recruiting the new re-founding pledge class for the Fall 2023 school year. This will give Oklahoma Alpha a fresh start.
To ensure the re-founding is successful, Oklahoma Alpha will have a full time Chapter Director this fall, who will serve as an advisor and mentor to the undergraduates. The Chapter Director will be present at the chapter house on a daily basis and will aid the undergraduates in planning their events and addressing and solving governing issues. As the average fraternity chapter size in Norman is approximately more than 100 members, it is vital that we have an alumnus whose full- time job is to guide the undergraduates about how to grow the fraternity. The Chapter Director will work under the Housing Corporation’s direction and have its full support and resources at his disposal to better advise the chapter. The Chapter Director will be assisted by a dedicated National Recruitment Consultant provided by HQ. He will be on campus for the next year and aid the chapter in selecting the re-founding pledge class and teaching the new recruits about what it means to be a Phi Psi.
This re-founding will be far more successful than previous attempts, as we have garnered the most engaged and dedicated alumni body in recent years. With that said, we now issue a call to arms to all our alumni. Now is the time to reengage with the chapter in this pivotal and critical moment with both your time and generosity. When a chapter starts off with a strong re-founding pledge class, it increases significantly the success that is possible and clearly achievable. Our chapter is only as strong as the alumni who support it and that is why we ask that you rededicate yourself to making Oklahoma Alpha a top chapter not only on campus, but amongst all Phi Psi chapters nationally.
Thank you and we welcome your input, thoughts, and dedication.
Jeff D. Scott ’11, 1347…
Supervisory Committee Chairman
Housing Corporation Board Member
jdscott1993@gmail.com
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