MEN OF MERIT
BUILDING BETTER MEN
Since our founding, Delta Upsilon has welcomed men of merit, and merit alone, into our chapters. This is the standard of membership by which we hold accountable both our individual members and our chapters. The Delta Upsilon Men of Merit Chapter Standards Program ensures chapters are meeting the expectations of membership in the Fraternity and providing a safe, educational and productive experience for its members.
DU seeks to build better men for a global society through service, leadership development, and lifelong personal growth of our diverse membership. The Men of Merit Program challenges our members and chapters to fulfill the expectations of membership by promoting friendship, developing character, diffusing liberal culture, and advancing justice on a daily basis.
STANDARDS
The Men of Merit Standards identify 11 key areas essential to success for a Delta Upsilon chapter. Chapters are placed into one of three levels for each Standard based on their performance over the past year: Aspiration, Expectation and Minimum.
Click below to download a printable PDF of the Men of Merit Standards.
The Men of Merit Standards program allows for a chapter to submit an exemption request based on its inability to reach a specific level in any of the 11 Standards due to special or unique circumstances. The Men of Merit Committee will review the exemption requests and may choose to grant requests on a case-by-case basis annually. Questions about the exemption process can be directed to Senior Director of Chapter Development Dominic Greene, Oregon '99, at greene@deltau.org. Forms will be available later this school year.
MEN OF MERIT VERIFICATION/Documentation
Several piece of Men of Merit documentation are due June 1.
Service Hour Verification Form
We recommend the creation of either a Google Form or Google Sheet. These formats allow for members to independently add and edit service contributions regardless of the in-person or virtual membership experience. We encourage members to be creative regarding how they can serve members of their community, wherever that community may be. The service hours logged and tracked do not have to be completed alongside other members, members are able to participate in service individually.
Examples of service hour collection forms:
- Delta Upsilon Community Service Form Example (Word)
- Delta Upsilon Community Service Log Template Example (Excel)
Men of Merit Service Verification Form
Men of Merit Advisor Verification Form
Men of Merit Advisor Verification Form
Associate Member Education Program Implementation Verification
To convey the extent that your chapter/associate chapter implemented the program, please submit our Associate Member Education Program Implementation Form.
Associate Member Education Program Verification Form
Philanthropy Dollars
Chapters should email proof, in the form of an acknowledgement email or letter from the charity, of funds donated to a nonprofit other than the Global Service Initiative to the Fraternity to satisfy this standard. Emails can be sent to Director of Chapter Development Katherine Pezzella at pezzella@deltau.org.
Submit GSI fundraising dollars online or by sending a check to International Headquarters.
Local Service Partner(s)
Chapters should send IHQ a letter from a local service partner detailing the type and frequency of service(s) provided for each location/organization. Letters can be sent to Director of Chapter Development Katherine Pezzella at pezzella@deltau.org.
Grade Reports
Please send fall 2022 and spring 2023 grade reports to Director of Chapter Development Katherine Pezzella at pezzella@deltau.org to meet this requirement.
If your university has not sent you your chapter’s grade report by June 1, please let Katherine know and submit the report as soon as you receive it.
Standards Level Expectations
ASPIRATION
Chapters reaching the Aspiration level achieve above and beyond. These are model Delta Upsilon chapters and they are worthy of the Fraternity's highest honors.EXPECTATION
Chapters meeting the Expectation level are fulfilling their obligations as a chapter of Delta Upsilon. This is considered a solid level of achievement and one that is attainable by all chapters.MINIMUM
Chapters at the Minimum level are on their way to fulfilling the obligations of Delta Upsilon but have improvements to be made. Chapters failing to meet the minimum levels over multiple years may be jeopardy of reorganization or suspension.Men of Merit Chapter Standards
1. Chapter Excellence Plan
Aspiration
100% of Required criteria and at least 70% of Optional criteria
Expectation
At least 90% of Required criteria and at least 50% of Optional criteria
Minimum
At least 80% of Required criteria and at least 40% of Optional criteria
* If a chapter reaches one level in Required and a different level in Optional, their overall Men of Merit performance in the CEP standard will be based on the lower of the two (for example – if a chapter completes 95% of Required criteria but only 45% of Optional criteria, the chapter will be marked as Minimum overall).
2. Chapter GPA
Aspiration
Chapter's GPA is the highest fraternity GPA on campus or exceeds the All-Undergraduate GPA, whichever is lower.
Expectation
Chapter's GPA meets or exceeds the All-Men's or All-Fraternity GPA on campus, whichever is higher.
Minimum
Chapter's GPA meets or exceeds the All-Men's or All-Fraternity GPA on campus, whichever is lower.
3. Program Attendance
Aspiration
For United States Chapters: Chapter has at least 12 members attend various Delta Upsilon educational programs (Leadership Institute, Presidents Academy, Regional Leadership Academy, Emerging Leaders Experience, and the Global Service Initiative), including at least one registered delegate at Leadership Institute and one member at Presidents Academy.
For Canadian Chapters: Chapter has at least 8 members attend various Delta Upsilon educational programs (Leadership Institute, Presidents Academy, Regional Leadership Academy, Emerging Leaders Experience, and the Global Service Initiative), including at least one registered delegate at Leadership Institute and one member at Presidents Academy.
Expectation
For United States Chapters: Chapter has at least 10 members attend various Delta Upsilon educational programs (Leadership Institute, Presidents Academy, Regional Leadership Academy, Emerging Leaders Experience, and the Global Service Initiative), including at least one registered delegate at Leadership Institute and one member at Presidents Academy.
For Canadian Chapters: Chapter has at least 6 members attend various Delta Upsilon educational programs (Leadership Institute, Presidents Academy, Regional Leadership Academy, Emerging Leaders Experience, and the Global Service Initiative), including at least one registered delegate at Leadership Institute and one member at Presidents Academy.
Minimum
For United States Chapters: Chapter has at least 6 members attend various Delta Upsilon educational programs (Leadership Institute, Presidents Academy, Regional Leadership Academy, Emerging Leaders Experience, and the Global Service Initiative), including at least one registered delegate at Leadership Institute and one member at Presidents Academy.
For Canadian Chapters: Chapter has at least 4 members attend various Delta Upsilon educational programs (Leadership Institute, Presidents Academy, Regional Leadership Academy, Emerging Leaders Experience, and the Global Service Initiative), including at least one registered delegate at Leadership Institute and one member at Presidents Academy.
4. Service
Aspiration
Chapter supports a local charitable partner and conducts an average of 20 hours of service per member per year.
Expectation
Chapter supports a local charitable partner and conducts an average of 15 hours of service per member per year.
Minimum
Chapter conducts an average of 10 hours of service per member per year.
5. Philanthropy
Aspiration
Chapter raises a total of at least $3,000 for philanthropic endeavors, including at least $2,500 for the Global Service Initiative. Proof, in the form of an acknowledgement email or letter from the charity, of funds donated to a non-profit other than the Global Service Initiative must be submitted to the Fraternity to satisfy this standard.
Expectation
Chapter raises at least $1,000 for the Global Service Initiative.
Minimum
Chapter raises at least $500 for a charity of their choice. Proof, in the form of an acknowledgement email or letter from the charity, of funds donated to a non-profit other than the Global Service Initiative must be submitted to the Fraternity to satisfy this standard.
6. Membership
Aspiration
Chapter's membership size is at least 25% above the campus fraternity average.
Expectation
Chapter's membership size meets or exceeds the campus fraternity average.
Minimum
Chapter's membership size is no more than 10% below the campus fraternity average or 35 members, whichever is higher.
7. Associate Member Education
Expectation
Chapter implements the Delta Upsilon Associate Member Education Program (modifications can be made if facilitating a virtual experience, however, educational content must remain in virtual program).
8. Loss Prevention
Expectation
Chapter has no Loss Prevention Policy violations and has implemented Substance-free Housing (if applicable) or has been granted the Substance-free Housing Waiver.
9. Advisory Support
Aspiration
Chapter has a Chapter Advisory Board with a total of eight members, including three who are in weekly contact with chapter leadership, and a separate House Corporation (if applicable). Advisors participate in at least four Fraternity-led Advisor Webinars yearly.
Expectation
Chapter has a Chapter Advisory Board with a total of five members, including one who is in weekly contact with chapter leadership, and a separate House Corporation (if applicable). Advisors participate in at least three Fraternity-led Advisor Webinars yearly.
Minimum
Chapter has a Chapter Advisory Board with a total of three members, including one who is in weekly contact with chapter leadership and a separate House Corporation (if applicable). Advisors participate in at least two Fraternity-led Advisor Webinars yearly.
10. Learning Assessment
Aspiration
Chapter has 95% member completion of CommunityEdu and 95% member completion of the Delta Upsilon Membership Outcomes Assessment.
Expectation
Chapter has 85% member completion of CommunityEdu and 85% member completion of the Delta Upsilon Membership Outcomes Assessment.
Minimum
Chapter has 60% member completion of CommunityEdu and 60% member completion of the Delta Upsilon Membership Outcomes Assessment.
“Member completion” for CommunityEdu (formerly known as GreekLifeEdu) means all members and associate members. For example, to be at Expectation, 85% of all members and associate members should have completed CommunityEdu at some point in their membership.
11. Accounts Receivable
Aspiration
Chapter has no fees past due as of June 30.
Expectation
Chapter has no fees more than 30 days past due as of June 30.
Minimum
Chapter has no fees more than 60 days past due as of June 30 or is current on an agreed-to payment plan.
Assessment Process
Chapters will be assessed annually at the conclusion of each academic year based on all available data and will be notified of their status by August 1. Each chapter's Chapter Advisory Board is responsible for submitting its Associate Member Education program verification and advisor verification via the Delta Upsilon website forms. All other data points are compiled by the International Headquarters.
The annual review will place chapters in one of the three levels for each of the 11 Standards: Aspiration, Expectation, and Minimum, with the exception of Associate Member Education, which is at the Expectation level only for complete implementation of the program. Certain Standards carry heavier weight in the evaluation process and not achieving the Expectation level in those Standards may necessitate a meeting with the Men of Merit Committee. The Standards of the CEP, GPA, Program Attendance, Membership, and Accounts Receivable may warrant an automatic meeting. Additionally, chapters noted as below minimum in any combination of six or more Standards may be assigned a member of the Men of Merit Committee and are required to follow their crafted Improvement Plan. Chapters found to be consistently below the Minimum level and showing little to no improvement may be recommended to the Delta Upsilon Board of Directors to examine their ability to continue as a Delta Upsilon chapter.
Chapters demonstrating outstanding achievement in the Standards process will be recognized as noted below.
Improvement Plan & Assistance
If a chapter falls at the Minimum level or below for any chapter Standard, chapter leadership should work to develop steps to improve in that given standard. The chapter will work collaboratively with its International Headquarters staff liaison and advisors to ensure progress in the standard by the end of the academic year.
Recognition
All chapters meeting the Aspiration and Expectation levels of the Chapter Standards will be recognized annually at the Leadership Institute and in the fall issue of the Quarterly as a "Men of Merit Chapter." Additional awards and recognition will be conferred based upon individual Chapter Standards performance.
Men of Merit Committee
The Men of Merit Committee will be comprised of past Delta Upsilon staff, alumni and interfraternal colleagues selected based on their expertise and knowledge of chapter operations, as well as industry best practices. They will receive formal training on the Men of Merit program and be charged with assessing chapters on both the annual and rotating timelines as described above.
Associate Chapters
As part of the Men of Merit Chapter Standards Program, all new Delta Upsilon associate chapters will be established with substance-free housing, if applicable. They will remain in substance-free housing in perpetuity.
Questions
Questions about the Men of Merit program can be directed to menofmerit@deltau.org.