Borradaile Challenge

Phi Kappa Tau National Home Page

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.

Visit The Exchange to find resources that will help your chapter excel in every area of the Borradaile Challenge. All members of the Fraternity are able to track the progress of their chapter by viewing the Dashboard.

Category	Standard	Notes
Membership	Maxwell: 110% or more of campus average chapter size with a minimum of 30 men. Order of the Star: 100% or more of campus average with a minimum of 30 men. Basic: 30 men.	Membership data is recorded when associate registration is completed on the Dashboard and official requests for initiation are received at the Executive Offices (EO). The chapter is also responsible for submitting the required change report with semi-annual billing and the spring roster report.
Recruitment	Maxwell: Recruit and initiate 27.5% of campus average size, with a minimum of 8 men. Order of the Star: Recruit and initiate 25% of campus average size, with a minimum of 8 men. Basic: Recruit and initiate a minimum of 8 men.	The chapter must also complete the Chapter Recruitment and Planning Guide. “Recruitment” counts new, initiated members only.
Membership Orientation Program	Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: Approved Membership Orientation (MO) program on file with the Executive Offices.	The MO program is reviewed by the national membership orientation committee every time a chapter wishes to change any aspect of its MO Program.
Bylaws	Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: Approved set of bylaws, submitted once every four years.	Bylaws must be submitted for approval every four 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), adherence to the Ritual and submission of the Post-Ritual Discussion Report.	Leadership consultants and Domain Directors may evaluate Ritual regalia and Ritual adherence.
Scholarship	Maxwell: Chapter GPA must be at or above 2.7 AND 0.2 points above campus men's average. Order of the Star: Chapter GPA must be at or above 2.6 and at least 0.05 above campus men's average. Basic: Chapter GPA must be at or above 2.5 and campus men's average	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 the IRS 990 and be in good financial standing at the end of the year.	The EO updates this information monthly. It takes account of payment plans and displays balances.
Philanthropy	Maxwell: $4,000 contributed to any philanthropy, with minimum $2,000 to Hole in the Wall Camps. Order of the Star: $1,500 contributed to any philanthropy, with minimum $750 to Hole in the Wall Camps. Basic: $750 contributed to any philanthropy, with minimum $375 to Hole in the Wall Camps.	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 and minimum one Hole in the Wall Camp Volunteer. 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: Two members at Leadership Academy, six members at a Regional Conference and two members at Convention, if applicable. Order of the Star: Two members at Leadership Academy, four members at a Regional Conference and two members at Convention, if applicable. Basic: Two members at Leadership Academy, two members at a Regional Conference and two members at Convention, if applicable.	EO tracks attendance at all events through online registration offered for each program.
Communications	Maxwell: Three alumni newsletters, two alumni events, maintenance of an updated chapter website, and one press release about a chapter event to The Laurel and area/campus media. Order of the Star: Two alumni newsletters, two alumni events and maintenance of an updated website. Basic: One alumni newsletter and one alumni event.	Chapters send a copy of the newsletter to the EO at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Press releases should be e-mailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Events are reported on the alumni relations report.
Board of Governors	Maxwell, Order of the Star, Basic: Five certified advisors through the Phi Kappa Tau Volunteer Certification Program. Ten BOG meetings annually, with minutes available upon request. Completed end-of-term chapter assessment. Representative present at two Resident Council meetings per month, plus other important activities.	BOGs report their positions and contact information on the alumni officers report.