Preparing the Petition

The petition is your statement about your group. Its purpose is to illustrate how you have met or exceeded the requirements for a charter. It is a "brag sheet," so it is important that you include everything you feel the chapters and/or the Grand Council of TKE should know about you. It is based on the information contained in the petition that the chapters and/or Grand Council will make a decision on whether or not you will be installed as a chapter.
 

The Grand Council has adopted a standardized format for petitions, as well as a procedure for petition distribution. You are required to provide three typewritten copies to the Chief Executive Officer at least 90 days before your anticipated installation date. The copies you provide must be accurate and neat. They should be typed and neatly bound with a cover.
 

A Secondary Inspection Officer will be appointed by the Grand Prytanis to visit your colony in order to verify the contents of the petition. The Secondary Inspection Officer will visit your group when the petition is completed and all fees have been collected. The report of the Secondary Inspection Officer will be attached by the Chief Executive Officer to the petitions that you have submitted to him.
 

Download a sample petition (pdf) to see how the following required information is compiled:
 

  1. Table of Contents
     
  2. Comparison of your colony's accomplishments to the requirements for a charter.
     
  3. Brief cover letter from the colony Prytanis stating the colony's completion of all of the chartering requirements, and the colony's desire to become a chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon. The Prytanis must also state that the colony is aware of and in compliance with The Black Book and all other Fraternity policies.
     
  4. Brief history (no more than one typewritten page) of the university/college, including:
    • Current enrollment
       
    • Accreditation
       
    • Map of the campus (indicate TKE residence, if applicable)
       
  5. Statement describing the most recent colony retreat, specifically listing goals to be accomplished during the first year after receiving the charter.
     
  6. Letters from the Chapter Advisor and the Board of Advisors Chairman stating their support of the chartering of the colony and their willingness to remain in their current position.
     
  7. List of all social sororities and fraternities at your college/university, including the number of members in each and the cumulative GPA of each.
     
  8. Detailed history of the colony, including lists of campus and community activities and accomplishments.
     
  9. Copy of the Articles of Incorporation (as approved by your State/Province) and documentation from your State/Province of your recognition as a corporation.
     
  10. Scholarship and membership (each of the following must be signed by a university/college official: Greek Advisor, Dean of Students, etc.):
    • Description of the grade-point scale used by the university/college.
       
    • The campus' All-Male Average. (If not computed, a letter from the Dean of Students stating that is the case must be included).
       
  11. Alumni
    • List of all alumni who have participated in any event held by the colony (include name, address, phone number, e-mail address and home chapter).
       
    • Description of recent alumni events.
       
  12. Housing (It is recommended that the colony not become involved in obtaining a house until after chartering.)
    • Owned, rented, or university/college-owned?
       
    • Description including capacity and number of current residents.
       
    • 8" x 10" picture of the structure.
       
  13. Officers
    • List of Chapter Officers: Names, Address, e-mail, and phone numbers.
       
    • Chapter Advisor: Address, e-mail, and phone number. (Is he a Teke?)
       
    • Board of Advisors: Addresses, e-mails, and phone numbers. (Are they Tekes?)
       
  14. 8" x 10" group picture (not individual pictures) of all members of the colony.
     
  15. List of initiated members and members to be initiated, including:
    • Class status (Freshman, Sophomore, etc.).
       
    • Major.
       
    • Colony offices held, if any.
       
    • Participation in campus activities and offices held.
       
    • Hometown.
       
    • Age.
       
  16. Finances
    • Balance sheet as of the date of the petition, including assets, liabilities, and equity.
       
    • Income and expense statement for the immediate proceeding year.
       
    • Chapter budget and fee structure.
       
  17. Copies of the local Constitution and Bylaws, and any and all other local rules.
     
  18. Letters of Recommendation
    • College Administrator (usually a Dean of Students, or equivalent).
       
    • Interfraternity Council (Unless permission is granted by the Chief Executive Officer to waive this requirement).
       
    • Province Official (optional).
       
    • Others (optional).
       
  19. Summary of Petition - maximum of 1 page
    • University: Founding date, enrollment, and accreditation.
       
    • Local colony: Founding date and participation in campus activities.
       
    • Membership: Size and class-year breakdown.
       
    • Finances: Cash balance and total assets.
       
    • Housing.
       
    • Scholarship: Colony GPA; All-Men's Average; All-Fraternity Average.
       
    • Competition: Number of local and (Inter-) national fraternities on campus.
       

It is critical that all of the above information is included in the petition. Your petition can only be acted upon if all the information is available for distribution (to all chapters of Tau Kappa Epsilon and/or the Grand Council). Under no circumstances will a petition be distributed without all information included.
 

When you have completed your petition, the following should be mailed to the Offices of the Grand Chapter in care of the Chief Executive Officer:
 

  1. Three copies of the petition. The original copy must contain professional-quality photographs and should not be bound.
     
  2. Check or money order to cover the cost of the following:
    • Charter Fee (if any remains from the payment schedule established by the Grand Council) to cover the cost of your charter and ritual equipment.
       
    • The membership fee for each non-initiated collegiate member named in the petition.