Future Dependent on Changing Student Demographics By Jacob Defassio (Valparaiso ’12), DEI Committee
Phi Sigma Kappa’s Mission Statement “Phi Sigma Kappa is a lifelong brotherhood dedicated to the betterment of the individual, the university community, and our world, by giving its members opportunities to develop leadership skills, participate in service to others, achieve academic excellence, experience cultural diversity and practice personal integrity.”
Phi Sigs of Today and Tomorrow Phi Sigma Kappa will celebrate 150 years as a Brotherhood in 2023. While we must look back over the last 150 years, we also look at what the future holds for our current and future undergraduate members. We are here to promote the traditions and programs of Phi Sigma Kappa, but to continue these traditions, we must understand the undergraduates who will carry on this legacy for the decades to come. We Must Promote Brotherhood. As you can see in the graph below, the college student body has been growing more diverse regarding race and ethnicity over the past 20 years. This is a key factor as we continue to look at the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of Phi Sigma Kappa and how we can better ourselves as an organization to meet these changing student demographics. Although universities are becoming increasingly diverse, fraternities and sororities maintain a significant presence of white/Caucasian members. As we recognize this dynamic, it becomes more and more important that Phi Sigma Kappa identifies ways to present the benefits of our organization to diverse types of students at all our local chapters.
Students Coming from More Diverse Backgrounds
We Must Develop Character. In the graphs at right you can see the values of the undergraduate members and the factors that aid in deciding what colleges they may attend. As higher education continues to grow and adjust to the expectations of the next generation, we as a fraternity must also use this information to grow and develop the character of our Brotherhood. This includes making our chapters and fraternity spaces more welcoming and inviting to a broader slice of the ever-changing campus community. As a fraternity, we need to demonstrate what we offer to prospective members. Identifying what the local chapter has to offer, and communicating this to the student population, will make more students interested in joining Phi Sigma Kappa. In addition, we need to ensure that Phi Sigma Kappa is ready to meet this changing campus community with a welcoming experience that promotes a sense of belonging. We Must Stimulate Scholarship. You can see from the information at right that across the newest generation of brothers part of their academic achievements includes being “socially conscious, and activism inclined.” They will continue to make value-based decisions, and Phi Sigma Kappa should be a part of those values that these undergraduates look toward. As higher education takes on new challenges, Phi Sigma Kappa will need to embrace these challenges with firm conviction as we continue to move #PhiSigForward #LifeLoyal. Brothers, if you have interest in learning more about the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative that Phi Sigma Kappa has taken on, please reach out to Brother Darald Stubbs to discuss the topics and any interest you may have in joining the committee.
National Snapshot of Fraternities and Sororities
Enrollment Rates of 18 to 24 year-olds in colleges, by race/ethnicity: 2000, 2010, 2018
American Indian/Alaska Native
2% 7%
Asian Black or African American
4% 9%
Hispanic or Latinx Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific
1% 85%
White/Caucasian Not listed Source: National Center for Education Statistics.
42
SPRING 2022
7
THE SIGNET
1%
Source: EVERFI survey database, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Students, 2020-2021
