Mission

The mission of Phi Kappa Tau is to champion a lifelong commitment to brotherhood, learning, ethical leadership, and exemplary character.

Creed

Phi Kappa Tau, by admitting me to membership, has conferred upon me a mark of distinction in which I take just pride. I believe in the spirit of brotherhood for which it stands. I shall strive to attain its ideals, and by so doing to bring to it honor and credit. I shall be loyal to my college and my chapter and shall keep strong my ties to them that I may ever retain the spirit of youth. I shall be a good and loyal citizen. I shall try always to discharge the obligation to others which arises from the fact that I am a fraternity man.

Roland Maxwell, Southern California '22
November 19, 1950

Vision

The vision of Phi Kappa Tau is to be recognized as a leadership organization that binds men together and challenges them to improve their campuses and the world.

No Need to Apologize

By CEO Steve Hartman, Muskingum '89,
for the Summer 2007 issue of The Laurel

Our strategic plan is not about tactics. It is not about finding the perfect panacea of programs and initiatives that will elevate Phi Kappa Tau to the pinnacle of the fraternal world. None of these things will make us truly great. Our strategic plan is about people.

More to the point, our strategic plan is about our people and our attitude. It's about working for more than mediocrity and aligning our behavior with our stated values and ideas. It's about how we see ourselves. It's about Phi Kappa Tau's identity.

And it's not just about our undergraduate chapters or this nebulous entity knows as "nationals." It's about every member, young and not-so-young. It's about how you feel when you think about wearing the Phi Kappa Tau letters across your chest–no matter your age, no matter your geography. It's about having pride versus making apologies.

If you're 40 or 50-years-old (or even older), can you wear your letters with pride as a member of an organization that matters? We know with sincerity that our friendships and fraternal experiences–both individually and collectively–are built on much more than alcohol and hazing, but yet we allow others to define us by these things. We apologize for the minority and forget the triumphs of the majority. It's a silly notion. Our strategic plan is about setting the record straight by rejecting this silliness. And we must start with ourselves. We must be steadfast in defining our identity. We must be true to ourselves; we must enact what we espouse.

Yes, our strategic plan will have tactics and goals, but it will mean nothing if we do not focus our attitude and embrace our identity as the organization of our mission, creed, and Ritual. Words on paper are meaningless and passive. People propel organizations. Attitude will determine just how far.

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Phi Kappa Tau's strategic planning process resulted in a renewed focus on several statements of action supported by operational initiatives and eventually programs. The Fraternity's commitment to leadership is detailed here.

Statement of Action

Our membership will be recognized as leaders in their chosen fields and on-campus.

To be recognized as a premier leadership organization, Phi Kappa Tau will...

• Be more deliberate to recognize leadership positions among our undergraduate and graduate members
• Nurture a culture that expects our brothers to take action to facilitate change
• Facilitate greater interaction and mentoring among generations of members

Through initiatives that...

• Emphasize the Phi Kappa Tau Hall of Fame program as an active group of speakers and special event guests
• Develop virtual communities of brothers who share common career and outside interests
• Share stories of leadership and achievement among the brotherhood
• Offer measured leadership development opportunities for undergraduates as well as graduate members
• Celebrate and acknowledge the less-public examples of leadership within membership
• Identify members as leaders through their participation in the Fraternity
• Recognize the organization as a leader in service, education and recruitment

Phi Kappa Tau's strategic planning process resulted in a renewed focus on several statements of action supported by operational initiatives and eventually programs. The Fraternity's commitment to service is detailed here.

Statement of Action

We will instill a concept of service in all members.

To embrace our continued commitment to the greater good, Phi Kappa Tau will...

• Reaffirm our pledge to be good and loyal citizens
• Model the way to treat all people with dignity and respect
• Attract members who are service-oriented

Through initiatives that...

• Involve service in new member orientation
• Expand member volunteerism at the Hole in the Wall Camps
• Increase service opportunities at local campuses
• Bring greater awareness and recognition to philanthropic and service efforts of our membership
• Leverage our collective knowledge regarding event planning to maximize philanthropic and service efforts

Phi Kappa Tau's strategic planning process resulted in a renewed focus on several statements of action supported by operational initiatives and eventually programs. The Fraternity's commitment to education is detailed here.

Statement of Action

We will have a comprehensive strategy for educational programs.

To become more deliberate in our approach to membership education, Phi Kappa Tau will...

• Identify and develop subjects that are critical to Phi Kappa Tau members
• Increase the availability of information and programming to more members
• Continuously evaluate our ability to enrich our members' lives with opportunities for learning and discovery

Through initiatives that...

• Are more accessible to all members
• Increase dialogue among members of different geography and generations
• Develop measurable outcomes for learning and communication that enable consistency and evaluation
• Compel members to contribute time, talent and treasure
• Establish lifelong learning and personal growth as core to Phi Kappa Tau membership