With recruitment fast approaching for many schools, PNMs (Potential-New-Members) may find themselves stressing about which house to join. While some students enter recruitment with a basic understanding of the different houses on their campus (because of an older friend, sister, or maybe because they’re a legacy)
, most students know close to nothing about the types of membership these chapters can offer them. This article should help narrow their search.
Pi Beta Phi
(pie – bay-tuh – fie)
Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women was founded in Monmouth, IL on April 28, 1867. It was the first women’s fraternity to be modeled after men’s fraternities, and the first one to expand a chapter to another college. Therefore, Pi Beta Phi is officially a Fraternity, and not a sorority. Pi Beta Phi was also one of the nine founders of the National Panhellenic Conference. Essentially, Pi Beta Phi was a pioneer organization and set the precedent for many future sororities and women’s fraternities.
Mission Statement
The mission of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women is to promote friendship, develop women of intellect and integrity, cultivate leadership potential and enrich lives through community service.
Members of Pi Beta Phi, or “Pi Phis”, value genuine friendships, leadership, community involvement, scholarship, and integrity above all else. New members are welcomed into the chapter like long-lost family members. Determined to cultivate lifelong friendships and leaders for life, Pi Phis are adept at seeking out those who share the same values.
As a Member
As a member of Pi Beta Phi, you will be presented with many unique opportunities designed to push you intellectually, personally, and in your leadership roles.
Fact: The academic standards of Pi Beta Phi chapters typically exceed those of the universities, illuminating the value of intellectual growth.
Members of Pi Beta Phi hold themselves and each other to high academic standards because they understand the importance of education. Pi Phis believe that first and foremost, you are in college to complete your education and begin building the blocks you need for success. Pi Beta Phi will help push you along that path, encouraging you to do the best that you can.
Fact: Pi Beta Phi’s philanthropic effort, Read > Lead > Achieve, highlights Pi Phi’s core value of intellectual growth, as well as community service.
Read > Lead > Achieve inspires a lifelong love of reading to promote creativity, literacy, and productivity in society amongst younger, elementary-aged kids. Pi Phis are given the opportunity to work with kids and promote literacy, while at the same time give back to their own community.
Fact: Friendship is not one of Pi Beta Phi’s core values, sincere friendship is.
Pi Phis do not believe in wasting anyone’s time with shallow, superficial friendships. As a core value, members of Pi Beta Phi invest in one another, and because of this, you will be hard-pressed to find a tighter, more loving and caring group of girls to call your sisters.
As an Alumna
Think that sorority involvement ends when you graduate from college? Think again. If you’re looking for a group of forever-friends, reliable support systems, and continued community involvement, then look no further. Pi Beta Phi members are members for life.
Fact: There are more than 300 Pi Phi alumnae organizations around the world.
Looking to continue your fraternity involvement after graduation? Alumnae have the opportunity to search for and reach out to their local Pi Phi alumnae group to continue giving back to their organization. Live near a college chapter? Consider joining the Alumnae Advisory Committee (AAC) or Chapter Housing Corporation (CHC).
Fact: You can join Pi Beta Phi after college.
Never had the opportunity to join a sorority during your college years? Did you feel like you just couldn’t connect with the chapters on your campus? Was your school lacking a Pi Beta Phi chapter? Pi Beta Phi offers an Alumna Initiate Program for women who are active in their local community and share Pi Beta Phi values. Pi Beta Phi membership is for life!
Benefits for Members and Alumnae
Fact: Pi Beta Phi has a foundation for scholarships available to both current members and alumnae seeking higher education.
The Pi Beta Phi Foundation awarded 137 scholarships totaling $350,700 for the 2015-2016 academic school year.
Fact: Pi Beta Phi pushes its members to their fullest potential.
Members of Pi Beta Phi are regularly presented with Leading With Values seminars designed to develop members and alumnae personally, intellectually, and professionally as leaders and prominent members of their community.
Fact: Members of Pi Beta Phi are supported emotionally and financially in times of great need.
The Emma Harper Turner Fund, established in 1946, grants financial assistance upwards of $100,000 annually in support of collegiate and alumna members in need.
Vision Statement
The vision of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women is to be recognized as a premier organization for women by providing lifelong enrichment to its members and contributing to the betterment of society.
Are YOU a Pi Phi? Rush Pi Phi during your college recruitment to find a group of women as dedicated to you, you future, and your values as you are.
For more food for thought…
Why Rush Pi Beta Phi at the University of Oregon?
For all of the reasons listed above and more, members of the Oregon Alpha chapter of Pi Beta Phi at the University of Oregon are a standout group of girls on campus and in their home communities.
Earlier this month, Chapter President Alysia Kezerian was involved in a tragic and life-altering accident. Words cannot begin to describe the amount of love and support she has received from those around her, including her sisters in Pi Beta Phi. And through it all, Alysia has had the best of attitudes.
Known for her kick-ass sense of humor, genuine personality, and unwavering support and investment in her friends, family, and schoolwork, Alysia is the chapter’s beacon of light, a true Pi Phi.
For the upcoming rush season this fall quarter, Pi Beta Phi at the University of Oregon will be recruiting women who display as much strength, courage, and passion as Alysia. We recruit compassionate women who understand what it means to be a sister to someone else, women who will support and love each other as if we were actually blood related.
One of the best things about Pi Phi at UO is the diverse group of women we have. Although we all share the same core values, we each bring something different and special to the table. We have a wide variety of majors and minors, hobbies, and campus involvement outside of Greek Life. And despite our differences, we can find something in common with everyone else.
At Oregon Alpha, you’ll find that everyone you meet will accept you for who you are – and encourage you to be yourself. We value individuality and diversity, and will continue to push you to be your best, truest self.
