Why Rush Phi Psi?

Only you can answer that question yourself. But why not look into the opportunity? Anybody can “just graduate college,” but at Phi Psi, we ask why not have an experience while earning your degree?

We pride ourselves in seeking out the best and brightest. Phi Psi is like any investment. You put in time and effort and hope to get back some of the benefits. Phi Psi is an investment that will definitely give back what you’ve put in and most of the time will give back more.
Here at Iowa Alpha no one will ever be arrogant enough to claim that "we" or the chapter will "make" any individual better. Those of us here at Iowa Alpha would make one claim though, that we will provide men with the opportunity to become better.

Men in all facets of life have passed through our doors, and have gone on to pursue and achieve great things in countless professions. We offer an opportunity to become an integral part of something much greater than ourselves.

Recognizing and valuing the diversity of all, the Fraternity unites the principles and traditions of our past with the resources and creativity of our present to provide an environment in which our members can realize their highest potential. However we realize, of course, that Phi Psi isn't for everyone. Yet we extend the offer to experience the entire scope of what Phi Psi can offer, and we encourage you to inquire within.

Leadership Development

We support our members, and recruit men who participate in worthwhile extracurricular activities within and beyond the chapter. Joining athletic, political, journalistic, cultural, or scholastic organizations on campus advances personal growth and leadership skills and is highly encouraged.

Chapter office positions allow members to facilitate leadership potential within the chapter, and with the committee structure those who are not elected to these positions have a venue to develop leadership qualities.

Individual brothers belong to or have recently been involved with various organizations at the UI and many assume key leadership positions around the UI campus. Here are just a few:

• IFC -- Interfraternity Council: President, VP of Recruitment, VP of Educational Programming, VP of Operations and VP of Academic Development, Judiciary Board
• Order of Omega Greek Honor Society
• University of Iowa Student Government
• Homecoming Executive Council Member
• 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004 Homecoming King
• Campus Activities Board
• University Honors Program
• Riverfest Operations Director
• Student Orientation Advisors
• Religious Ed Instructor
• Opportunity At Iowa
• American Marketing Association Member
• Army & Air Force ROTC Members
• Iowa Icehawks Club Hockey Team Members
• Cedar Valley Vikings Semipro Football Player
• University Rugby team member

Academic Achievement

Phi Psi's goal is to help undergraduate men overcome the obstacles of collegiate life, thus preparing them for the challenges faced upon graduation. As a Phi Psi, you will have the advantage of being able to seek the advice of upperclassmen and to study with others who share similar goals and aspirations. Phi Psi expects its members to accept the challenge of developing their academic and leadership skills.

During the past year, we surpassed each of our scholastic goals. Those of which we are most proud include:

• Chapter GPA is 3.12 for Fall 2008) {Highest of all fraternities}
• #1 Chapter GPA on campus 18 out of the last 18 semesters!
  (Chapters with 40 or more members)

The National Fraternity annually awards more than $100,000 in scholarships to our members. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000. We have recently had winners of such scholarships, including the largest two awards of $3,000 and $5,000 each.

Our new member program has incorporated within it a Pledge Father / Son system which appoints an older member of the chapter a new member of which the "father" maintains a status of academic progress to assure that the new member gets any and all help possible.

New Member Education

We ask that our members give 100% to their studies and the Fraternity. We strive to recruit high quality men, as a result, we have the most effective and shortest new member education program of all UI fraternities. We want to ensure all new members have the information and skills they need to be good students, citizens and strong contributors to the chapter as a member. The real work to make the chapter successful begins after initiation.

We feel that pledge education (and all fraternity life) should be free of hazing, be it mental, physical, or emotional. We strictly enforce an anti-hazing policy and promote such an environment throughout the community.

By recruiting the caliber of men that we do, the new member educational process does not have to be of the long duration in the past which deterred new members' progression. We find that our six week program is more than adequate for new members to become familiar with the chapter.

Community Service / Philanthropic Events

Community services an fundamental part of the Phi Psi experience. We endeavor to help the community whenever we can by donating the time and manpower in fundraising events and community service projects.

Some examples are below:

• Phi Psi sponsors and awards the "main" Nile C. Kinnick Freshman Scholarship annually to outstanding freshman men as well as the Michael Junker Memorial Scholarship to a Phi Psi best exemplifying brotherhood.
• Annual Phi Psi/Theta 3-on-3 Basketball Classic to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• Dance Marathon participants, committee members, morale captains, and morale captain assistants -- a university-wide (student organized) effort that raises over $600,000 for the Pediatric Cancer Research ( In 2002 Phi Psi raised over $23,000 as a chapter tops of all fraternities)
• Other UI Greek Philanthropic Events {ie. A Phi Bowl, A Chi O Billiards, Chi Omega Caddies, Tri Delt Softball, I Spy an AD Pi, Kappa Kasino, DG Anchorsplash}
• UIHC -- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics volunteers
• Mercy Hospital volunteers
• Habitat For Humanity Volunteers
• Tutors for Special Support Services and local children
• St. Thomas More Catholic Church volunteers
• Iowa City Hospice Races
• Blood / clothes drives
• Big Brothers / Sisters mentors

Costs

In addition, members and pledges who do not live in the chapter house may eat at the house..

The Phi Psi chapter house is the newest built facility of all the fraternities at the UI. We take great pride in our physical structure and therefore keep it maintained as well as possible. Improvements and additions are continuously discussed such as our new: air conditioning, basketball court, chapter sound system, and pool table.

There is also a one-time pledge fee of $50 and initiation fee of $250. If the pledge achieves a GPA of 3.5 or greater during the pledge semester, the $250 initiation fee is waived.

*Money from dues cover expenses associated with brotherhood events, intramural sports fees, social events, special events (ie. Homecoming, Parent's Weekend, Greek Week and the Hawg Roast), liability insurance as well as funding for national scholarships and awards. Live-Out Members must pay $1,260 per year in dues and other fees, the fourth cheapest on campus.

More detailed information is available on any of the preceding, if interested in rush email our Rush Chairman.

For any other questions, email PHI PSI