QUARTERLY
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Dear Brothers: This edition of the DU Quarterly focuses on the state of our industry and what DU is doing to ensure we remain relevant for years to come. Much of what you will read here is an outgrowth of a panel discussion held at the recent Leadership Institute in Atlanta. I believe it does a good job of framing a very complex and evolving situation. There are a handful of things that really resonate with me, and I wanted to take this opportunity to share them with you. First and foremost, I agree with the assertion that the industry is at a crossroads. While there have historically been ups and downs, the convergence of challenges we face today is unprecedented. I believe it is going to take a change in industry direction and leadership to address these challenges. I am encouraged that some progress is being made in that regard and that Delta Upsilon will be an important, credible participant in the process. The opportunity for the industry lies in the fact that there will be a pressing need for higher education leaders to come to the table seeking help in addressing some of these issues. We need to be prepared to engage at a professional level and help reset the campus culture for fraternities around the U.S. and Canada. If done correctly, that will raise the bar for all Greek organizations and establish a “new normal.” A sense of urgency is important here, as these conversations are already occurring in many places and we need to be ready to go. While industry reform is an absolute necessity, we cannot control or influence all that needs to occur. That makes it important to remain focused on what we can do on our own. For me, that means staying committed to implementation of the three key components of our strategic plan: consistency of the undergraduate brand, alignment with higher education and alumni/volunteer engagement.
brand, we recently rolled out the Men of Merit program. This includes a basic set of standards for all chapters. These standards have consistently been identified as keys to superior chapter performance and will not be new to many. We believe, however, the time has come to more specifically articulate our goals and more formally operationalize our programming to ensure that all of our chapters are focused and accountable for success in these basic core areas. Alignment with higher education will be critical to industry transformation and our ultimate success. As such, it is gratifying to see DU receive recognition as a “reformer embracing change” in a recent Chronicle of Higher Education publication. We must continue to hold our chapters accountable and not be afraid to make changes when necessary. Lastly, it is important that we do all we can to help our alumni and volunteers understand what is changing around us so that we can enlist your support. We are not putting in standards to make your life as an alumni advisor or board member more difficult. These things are necessary to ensure that we remain relevant. In my work as the capital campaign chairman for the new Missouri chapter facility, I have been in a position to hear feedback regarding why our alumni contribute. One consistent theme is that they believe we are focused on the right things and have a plan to make some necessary changes. I hope you feel that way too. We cannot be successful without the belief and support of each one of you. Fraternally,
E. Bruce McKinney, Missouri ’74 President, Delta Upsilon International Fraternity Email: ihq@deltau.org
With respect to consistency of the undergraduate
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