Tau Kappa Epsilon - Membership Development

Membership Development

By the end of the 1980s, hazing, misbehavior, and alcohol abuse was beginning to take a serious toll on most national fraternities. The increasingly litigious environment resulted in very high risk management and legal costs as a result of the Animal House like atmosphere of many chapters over the past decade. In 1989, the Grand Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon voted to eliminate traditional pledging. Although many chapters and alumni members were strongly opposed to elimination of the pledge program, TKE had to take action to curb hazing and costs associated with it, and a new membership development program was implemented that included an immediate initiation requirement. TKE required the initiation of new members within 14 days of bid acceptance, and required all chapters to maintain comprehensive liability insurance. Under the new membership requirements, TKE membership declined sharply, and the loss of revenue created a burden to the fraternity. Despite the growing loss of initiates under the new program and strong objection, TKE mandated in 1991 that all chapters adopt the new program with its immediate initiation requirement. Membership continued to decline, and TKE was forced to suspend publication of THE TEKE and eliminate headquarters staff positions. In 1993, Rear Admiral John R. Fisher was elected to the Grand Prytanis position, and the fraternity CEO announced his retirement. Under new leadership, TKE finances were stabilized and the membership development program was modified in 1995 to allow for a pledge period, known as a candidate education period, of six weeks. Membership levels soon began to stabilize, and by 2002 membership was growing again for the first time in more than a decade.

In 2007 TKE began piloting a new member development program known as The Blueprint. The new program was finalized and officially rolled out in 2009. The Blueprint is a flexible, self-paced, personal development experience that can be tailored to a chapter’s particular circumstances within a structure consistent with the purpose and mission of the Fraternity. The Blueprint focuses on personal development throughout a student member's entire college career in TKE rather than just the traditional pledge period. It includes four milestones that are to be achieved during the program: (1) Initiation after six weeks of formal candidate education, (2) Order of the Founders after 1-3 additional semesters, (3) Knights of Classic Lore after 2-3 additional semesters, and finally (4) Fraternity for Life, at the time of graduation. The Blueprint allow members to select their own curriculum as they work toward goals personally, professionally, on campus, and in the community in addition to the traditional new member education regarding the history and traditions of TKE. While The Blueprint is optional but encouraged for existing chapters, it is required for all new chapters of TKE. The Blueprint differs from other similar programs such as Sigma Phi Epsilon's Balanced Man Program, because The Blueprint does still require the traditional period of formal education before a new candidate is initiated and given full rights of membership.