That’s nearly a third of all Pi Kappa Phi actively chartered chapters. While university housing space may come available from time to time, generally, there is a process for chapters to enter to qualify for the opportunity to lease that space.
Delta Upsilon Chapter (Pittsburgh) applied for university housing shortly after its re-chartering in March of 2012. Delta Upsilon worked with the Pi Kappa Phi National staff to prepare an application to lease a university-owned fraternity house. Though the opportunity in 2012 never materialized, the chapter had an opportunity to re-apply with Pi Kappa Phi Properties assistance in 2015. Director of Housing Services C. Brad Middleton, Beta Eta (Florida State), worked with the Pi Kappa Phi Communication Team to produce the application which was successfully accepted by the University. As part of the process, Delta Upsilon Chapter applied for a $50,000 security deposit loan from the Stephen P. DePalma Infrastructure Loan Fund.
The on-campus fraternity housing supply is limited. There are nine university-owned chapter homes and the 94 man Delta Upsilon Chapter is pleased to occupy their space. “We have been able to hold more organized gatherings at the chapter house,” said Archon Dylan Morgan. “Improvements made by the chapter and alumni have been helpful including benches and tables. It’s also nice to have a space to hold the Ritual of Initiation. Before securing the on-campus space, brothers were spread out across a number of smaller single family homes in the Oakland neighborhood area.” Though the chapter still holds chapter meetings on-campus due to their size, the space for smaller events including alumni gatherings or recruitment events has been vital to their success. The chapter recruited 25 men during the academic year.
The chapter is currently winding down the school year operations and is making final preparations for occupancy in the fall of 2016. The chapter house has a max capacity of 25 men and currently 23 chapter members reside at the property.
For more information on Delta Upsilon (Pittsburgh) chapter’s story and their process to secure chapter housing, contact Pi Kappa Phi Properties by e-mail at Properties@pikapp.org.