PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM
This document provides benchmarks for the Colonies of Phi Gamma Delta to meet on a semester-by-semester
basis. These benchmarks will help the colony progress towards chartering, while developing into the top
fraternity on its respective campus; however, please note that these benchmarks are only minimum
suggestions. The colony will need to work together with local graduate advisory boards, Greek life staff and
Headquarters staff to identify additional benchmarks necessary to achieve the goal of becoming the strongest
chapter on each respective campus.
SEMESTER 
Assumes colonization ends in mid-fall or mid-spring -- Semester 1 is the initial half-semester of colony operation
Colony Operations – Semester 
____ Officers are elected
____ Meet with PL and BCA to discuss Colony Operation Guide for Success: The First 40 Days
____ Committee chairmen appointed and all other members assigned to at least one committee
____ Colony mission statement and vision developed
____ Committee structure and meeting schedule developed
____ Colony email list-serve is created for internal communication purposes
____ All pledging forms and fees submitted to IHQ
____ Bimonthly communication with IHQ
____ Monthly Colony Progress Report(s) submitted to IHQ
____ Colony Bylaws are drafted and ratified
____ Colony is represented at all IFC meetings
____ Colony President meets monthly with Greek Advisor to update Greek life office on the Colony’s progress
Recruitment – Semester 
____ Recruitment Chairman meets with Graduate Recruitment Advisor to discuss Recruitment Guide for Success:
The First 40 Days
____ Colony develops recruitment goals and action plan
____ Colony develops minimum standards of scholarship, leadership, and involvement for prospective
members
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 2
Recruitment – Semester  continued
**Recommendation: The colony seeks men with a GPA of 3.0 or higher; bids are not extended to those
under a 2.5.
____ Prospective Member list created
**Each member is required to provide at least three names of prospective recruits; obtain contact information for each
prospect on the list
____ Colony holds (at minimum) two group recruitment events
____ Recruitment discussed at ALL colony meetings
____ Develop recruitment plan for winter/summer break
____ Develop plans for recruitment retreat before the start of next semester
____ Contact graduate brothers for recruitment recommendations
____ Extend bids to prospective members for semester 2 pledge class when appropriate
Scholarship - Semester 
____ Scholarship Chairman meets with Graduate Scholarship Advisor to discuss development of scholarship
program
____ Begin search for a Faculty Advisor if not already secured; if secured, Scholarship Chairman meets with
Faculty Advisor to discuss development of scholarship program
____ Colony scholarship program is drafted and sent to IHQ for review
____ Colony institutes study hour requirements for all members
____ Scholarship Chairman encourages all brothers to apply for the AAA scholarship and other Educational
Foundation scholarships
____ Scholarship is stressed as a major aspect of recruitment
Philanthropy/Service - Semester 
____ Organized system developed for recording members’ community service hours
____ Each member completes 5 hours of community service (minimum for a full semester is 15 hours)
____ Colony completes initial community service project (at minimum)
____ Planning begins for major colony philanthropic event for next semester
____ Colony participates in all major IFC, sorority and fraternity philanthropic events
Finances - Semester 
____ Colony has sent all forms and fees for
Founding Father pledge class to IHQ
____ Colony decides on monthly dues
____ Colony develops system for collecting member dues
____ Colony develops budget for remainder of (or next) academic year
**Copy of budget sent to IHQ
____ Colony adds $500 to its chartering fund (recommended minimum)
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 3
Graduate Relations - Semester 
____ Colony has an active Purple Legionnaire, Pledge Educator and Board of Colony Advisors
____ All committee chairmen have contacted their respective graduate advisors
____ Board of Colony Advisors and Cabinet have met, or are planning to meet at the beginning of semester 2
____ Colony has planned graduate recruitment event and begins to contact graduate brothers with details
____ Graduate email list-serve is compiled and colony email updates are sent to graduate brothers monthly
Member Development - Semester 
____ Colony attends all IFC/Greek life educational sessions as a group
____ Colony Historian or Membership Development Chairman has contacted Membership Development BCA
member to discuss group educational seminars during semester 2 (e.g., alcohol/drug abuse, personal health,
male/female relationships, etc.)
____ All colony members are involved in at least one student organization other than the Fraternity
____ Colony has planned to send three delegates to the upcoming Fraternity event (Fiji Academy – winter,
Ekklesia – summer)
____ Founding Father class completes 4-6 weeks of pledge education
Other - Semester 
____ Colony begins to field intramural teams
____ Colony begins weekly group brotherhood events (dinners/lunches, sporting events, etc.)
____ Colony holds at least one social event – preferably non-alcoholic
____ If housing is available, the colony maintains an alcohol-free living facility
SEMESTER 
First full semester of colony operation
Colony Operations - Semester 2
____ Committees meet weekly, committee reporting structure developed
____ All pledging forms and fees submitted to IHQ on time
____ Bi-monthly communication with IHQ – Director of Chapter Development/Field Secretary
____ Monthly Colony Progress Report(s) submitted to IHQ
____ Colony has developed an internal judicial system including the formation of a Judicial Board
____ Colony develops a working Judicial Board
____ Colony is represented at all IFC meetings
____ Colony President meets monthly with Greek Advisor to update Greek life on colony’s progress
____ Colony holds group retreat to develop goals and action plans for upcoming semester
____ Each member (brother and pledge) is assigned to at least one committee
____ Colony elects new officers immediately following first pledge class initiation.
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 4
____ If semester 2 is the fall semester, colony officers appoint new committee chairmen in November who will
serve a one-year term.
**This will ensure that the colony’s officer and committee chairman terms are on a yearly schedule that is similar to most
Fiji colonies/chapters.
Recruitment – Semester 2
____ Colony holds a recruitment retreat at the beginning of the semester; the main objectives of the retreat are:
• To develop recruitment goals and action plan
• To discuss components of a Recruit 365 recruitment program
• To train members how to recruit (i.e. prospecting, conversations techniques, five-step recruitment
model, prospect tracking, etc.)
____ Colony develops and implements an
organized Recruit 365 program
____ Colony successfully recruits semester 2 pledge class
____ Recruitment Chairman meets with Graduate Recruitment Advisor on a regular basis to discuss
recruitment progress
____ Prospective member list is maintained throughout the semester and reviewed at one colony meeting per
month
____ Recruitment is discussed at ALL colony meetings
____ Colony develops recruitment plan for winter/summer break
____ Colony develops plans for recruitment retreat before the start of semester 3
____ Colony contacts graduate brothers for recruitment recommendations
____ Colony begins extending bids to prospective members for semester 3 pledge class when appropriate
(bids can be extended throughout the semester if the campus allows it)
Scholarship – Semester 2
____ Colony scholarship program is approved and implemented
____ Scholarship Chairman meets with Graduate Scholarship Advisor on a regular basis to discuss the
progress of the colony’s scholarship program
____ Scholarship Chairman conducts semi-annual academic review (individual academic conference with each
member)
____ Colony continues study hour requirements for all members
____ Colony holds first scholarship dinner
____ Colony has an active Faculty Advisor who conducts at least one educational program with the members
each semester
____ Colony submits required paperwork for AAA scholarship awards, encourages all members to apply for
additional Foundation scholarships
____ The Colony’s GPA is the highest, or at least ranks in the top three highest GPAs of peer fraternities
____ Scholarship is continually stressed as a major aspect of recruitment
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 5
Philanthropy/Community Service – Semester 2
____ Organized system is used for recording members’ community service hours
____ Each member completes, at minimum, 15 hours of community service
____ Colony completes, at minimum, one community service project
____ Colony completes, at minimum, one major philanthropic event
** One event each year should benefit one of Phi Gamma Delta’s philanthropies – The Red Cross or USO
____ Colony participates in all major IFC, sorority and fraternity philanthropic events
_____ At end of semester 2, Philanthropy/Community Service Chairman develops cumulative
philanthropy/community service report for chartering petition
Finances – Semester 2
____ Colony has sent all forms and fees for semester 2 pledges to IHQ
____ If necessary, all tax forms are completed
____ Colony collects monthly dues in a timely manner
____ Colony begins to develop budget for next academic year (in spring semester)
____ Colony finalizes the budget for this academic year (in fall semester)
**Copy of budget sent to IHQ
____ Colony holds, at minimum, three group fundraisers
____ Colony adds $500 to its chartering fund
____ Colony should budget for upcoming Fraternity events (Academy, Ekklesia, Recruitment Workshop)
Graduate Relations – Semester 2
____ All committee chairmen communicate regularly with their respective graduate advisors
____ The Board of Colony Advisors and Cabinet meet at least twice and hold a conference call monthly
____ Colony holds at least one graduate recruitment event
____ Graduate Relations Chairman and Graduate Relations Advisor discuss plans for upcoming Pig Dinner
____ Colony distributes initial graduate newsletter – Recommendation: distribute 3-4 newsletters each year
Member Development – Semester 2
____ Founding Father pledge class completes pledge education and members are initiated as colony brothers
____ Colony appoints Pledge Educator to conduct pledge education of the semester 2 pledge class
____ Semester 2 pledge class is initiated after an eight week pledge education program
____ Colony holds at least two ritual meetings each month after Founding Father class is initiated
____ Colony knows the Doxology and other Fraternity songs
____ Colony requests Situation Self Leadership Program for all members
____ Colony attends all IFC/Greek life educational sessions as a group
____ Colony holds, at minimum, one group educational seminar during semester 2 (ex. alcohol/drug abuse,
personal health, male/female relationships, etc.)
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 6
**Recommendation: colony holds the seminar in conjunction with a sorority or extends the invitation to the entire Greek
community
____ All Colony members are involved in at least one student organization other than the Fraternity
**Colony members are encouraged to apply for positions in IFC, student government, orientation leadership, etc. to increase
the colony’s presence on campus
____ Colony has planned to send three delegates to the upcoming Fraternity event (Fiji Academy – winter,
Ekklesia – summer)
Chartering Preparation – Semester 2
____ Colony forms a chartering committee whose
responsibilities include:
• Updating the colony website with recent accomplishments and events
• Long-term planning for the achievement of chartering goals
• Communicating with IHQ and graduate brothers about the colony’s progress towards chartering
• Chartering weekend preparations
____ Colony develops a website to double as the chartering petition
**All colony accomplishments and events are added to the website (i.e. community service projects, members service hours,
philanthropy events, academic success, recruitment success, member bios, etc.)
____ Colony sends bound copy of meeting minutes to IHQ
____ Colony Historian starts to work on the colony history, which is to be completed by chartering
Other – Semester 2
____ Colony is involved in all intramural events (or as many as possible)
____ Colony continues weekly group brotherhood events
____ Colony holds several social events following all Fraternity, IFC and university risk-management
guidelines
**At least one of these events must be alcohol-free
____ If housing is available, the colony maintains an alcohol-free living facility
____ Colony sends bound copy of meeting minutes to IHQ
SEMESTER 
Colony Operations – Semester 3
____ Committees meet weekly, committee reporting structure firmly in place
____ All pledging forms and fees submitted to IHQ on time
____ Bi-monthly communication with IHQ – Director of Chapter Development
____ Monthly Colony Progress Report(s) submitted to IHQ
____ Colony is represented at all IFC meetings
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 7
____ Colony President meets monthly with Greek Advisor to update the Greek life office on the colony’s
progress
____ Colony holds group retreat to develop goals and action plans for upcoming semester
____ Each member (brother and pledge) is assigned to at least one committee
Recruitment – Semester 3
____ Colony successfully recruits semester III pledge class
**With the addition of the semester 3 class, colony size should be more than half that of the largest fraternity on campus
____ Colony appoints new Recruitment Chairman to immediately begin recruiting semester 4 pledge class
____ Recruitment Chairman meets with Graduate Recruitment Advisor on a regular basis to discuss
recruitment progress
____ Colony holds a recruitment retreat at the beginning of the semester; the main objectives of the retreat are:
• To develop recruitment goals and action plan
• To discuss components of a Recruit 365 recruitment program
• To train members how to recruit (i.e. prospecting, conversations techniques, five-step recruitment
model, prospect tracking, etc.)
____ Colony’s Recruit 365 program continues to be implemented, evaluated and refined
____ Prospective member list is maintained throughout the year/reviewed at one colony meeting per month
____ Recruitment is discussed at ALL colony meetings
____ Colony develops recruitment plan for winter/summer break
____ Colony develops plans for recruitment retreat before the start of semester 4
____ Colony contacts graduate brothers for recruitment recommendations
____ Colony begins extending bids to prospective members for semester 4 pledge class when appropriate
(bids can be extended throughout the semester)
Scholarship – Semester 3
____ Colony scholarship program continues to be implemented, evaluated and refined
_____ Scholarship Chairman meets with Graduate Scholarship Advisor on a regular basis to discuss the
progress of the Colony’s scholarship program
____ Scholarship Chairman conducts semi-annual academic review with each member
____ Colony continues study hour requirements for all members
____ Colony holds second scholarship dinner
____ Colony has an active Faculty Advisor who conducts at least one educational program with the members
____ Colony submits required paperwork for AAA scholarship awards for semester 3 pledge class, encourages
all members to apply for additional Foundation scholarships
____ The Colony’s GPA is the highest, or at least ranks in the top three highest GPAs of peer fraternities
____ Colony holds first annual faculty reception
____ Scholarship is continually stressed as a major aspect of recruitment
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 8
Scholarship – Semester 3 continued
____ Plans are made for faculty reception next semester
Philanthropy/Community Service – Semester 3
____ Organized system is used for recording members’ community service hours
____ Each member completes, at minimum, 15 hours of community service
____ Colony completes, at minimum, two community service projects
____ Colony completes, at minimum, one major philanthropic event
**One event each year should benefit one of Phi Gamma Delta’s philanthropies – The Red Cross or USO
____ Colony participates in all major IFC, sorority and fraternity philanthropic events
Finances – Semester 3
____ Colony has sent all forms and fees for Semester 3 pledges to IHQ
____ If necessary, all tax forms are completed
____ Colony collects monthly dues in a timely manner
____ Colony begins to develop budget for next academic year (in spring semester)
____ Colony finalizes the budget for this academic year (in fall semester)
**Copy of budget sent to IHQ
____ Colony holds 2-3 group fundraisers (preferably three or more)
____ Colony adds $5,500 to its chartering fund
**Chartering fund should total at least $10,000 prior to chartering weekend (not including initiation fees)
Graduate Relations – Semester 3
____ All committee chairmen regularly communicate with their respective graduate advisor
____ The Board of Colony Advisors and Cabinet meet at least twice and hold a conference call monthly
____ Colony holds at least one graduate recruitment event
____ Colony holds one graduate relations event - e.g., graduate dinner reception, golf tournament, tailgate, etc.
____ Colony distributes graduate newsletter – Recommendation: distribute 3-4 newsletters each year
____ Graduate email list-serve is used to send monthly email updates to graduate brothers
____ Colony begins planning annual Pig Dinner
Member Development – Semester 3
____ Colony appoints Pledge Educator to conduct pledge education of the semester 3 pledge class
____ Semester 3 pledge class is initiated after an eight week pledge education program
____ Colony holds at least two ritual meetings each month
____ Colony knows the Doxology and other Fraternity songs
____ Colony attends all IFC/Greek Life educational sessions as a group
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 9
Member Development – Semester 3 continued
____ Colony holds, at minimum, two group educational seminars during semester 2 (e.g., alcohol/drug abuse,
personal health, male/female relationships, etc.)
**Recommendation: hold these seminars in conjunction with a sorority or extends the invitation to the entire Greek
community
____ All Colony members are involved in at least one student organization other than the Fraternity
**Colony members should begin to take leadership positions in IFC, student government, orientation leadership, etc.
____ Colony has planned to send three delegates to the upcoming Fraternity event (Fiji Academy – winter,
Ekklesia – summer)
Chartering Preparation – Semester 3
____ Colony chartering committee continues to update the colony website with recent accomplishments and
events
____ Colony chartering committee continues planning for chartering weekend
• Set chartering date and communicate it to IHQ and BCA
• Recommend a Legate to the Archons
____ Colony conducts a Midpoint Chartering Progress Evaluation during a visit from a Fraternity Director
____ Colony chartering committee submits a first draft of the chartering petition to the BCA and IHQ for
review and feedback
____ Colony Historian continues to work on the colony history, which is to be completed by chartering
Other – Semester 3
____ Colony is involved in all intramural events (or as many as possible)
____ Colony continues weekly group dinners/lunches
____ Colony holds several social events following all Fraternity, IFC and university risk-management
guidelines
**At least one of these events must be alcohol-free
____ If housing is available, the colony maintains an alcohol-free living facility
**Semester 3 should be the chartering semester; contact the Director of Chapter Development for resources about preparing for the
chartering weekend. Chartering weekend preparations should be started well in advance of the chartering date.
SEMESTER 
Although the Colony Semester Progress Program indicates that Semester 3 is the intended chartering
semester, it is important to realize that there might be particular instances where a colony does not charter
during Semester 3. The progress plan can be adapted in conjunction with IHQ staff. However, regardless of
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 10
chartering, the Colony/Chapter should continue to fulfill the benchmarks set forth by this progress
program. This will ensure that the group continues its success.
Colony/Chapter Operations – Semester 4
____ Committees meet weekly, committee reporting structure firmly in place
____ All pledging forms and fees submitted to IHQ on time
____ Bimonthly communication with IHQ – Director of Chapter Development
____ Monthly Colony/Chapter Progress Report(s) submitted to IHQ
____ Colony/Chapter is represented at all IFC meetings
____ Colony/Chapter President and various officers/chairmen meet bimonthly with Greek Advisor to update
the Greek life office on the Colony/Chapter’s progress
____ Colony/Chapter holds group retreat to develop goals and action plans for upcoming semester
____ Each member (brother and pledge) is assigned to at least one committee
____ If semester 4 is a fall semester, the Colony/Chapter elects new officers and committee chairmen in
November
Recruitment – Semester 4
____ Colony/Chapter successfully recruits semester 4 pledge class
____ Recruitment Chairman meets with Graduate Recruitment Advisor on a regular basis to discuss
recruitment progress
____ Colony/Chapter holds a recruitment retreat at the beginning of the semester; the main objectives of the
retreat are:
• To develop recruitment goals and action plan
• To discuss components of a Recruit 365 recruitment program
• To train members how to recruit (e.g., prospecting, conversations techniques, 5-step process, prospect tracking)
____ Colony’s Recruit 365 program continues to be implemented, evaluated and refined
____ Prospective member list is maintained throughout the semester and reviewed at ALL colony/chapter
meetings
____ Recruitment is discussed at ALL colony/chapter meetings
____ Colony/Chapter develops recruitment plan for winter/summer break
____ Colony/Chapter develops plans for recruitment retreat before the start of semester 5
____ Colony/Chapter contacts graduate brothers for recruitment recommendations
____ Colony/Chapter begins extending bids to prospective members for semester 5 pledge class when
appropriate (bids can be extended throughout the semester)
Scholarship – Semester 4
____ Colony/Chapter scholarship program continues to be implemented, evaluated and refined
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 11
_____ Scholarship Chairman meets with Graduate Scholarship Advisor on a regular basis to discuss the
progress of the Colony/Chapter’s scholarship program
____ Scholarship Chairman conducts semi-annual academic review (individual academic conference with each
member)
____ Colony/Chapter continues study hour requirements for all members
____ Colony/Chapter holds third scholarship dinner
____ Colony/Chapter has an active Faculty Advisor who conducts at least one educational program with the
members each semester
____ Colony/Chapter submits required paperwork for AAA scholarship awards for semester 4 pledge class,
encourages all members to apply for additional Educational Foundation scholarships
____ The Colony/Chapter’s GPA should be the highest among all fraternities on campus
____ Colony/Chapter holds second annual faculty reception
____ Scholarship is continually stressed as a major aspect of recruitment
Philanthropy/Community Service – Semester 4
____ Organized system is used for recording members community service hours
____ Each member completes, at minimum, 15 hours of community service
____ Colony/Chapter completes, at minimum, two community service projects
____ Colony/Chapter completes, at minimum, one major philanthropic event
**One philanthropic event each year should benefit one of Phi Gamma Delta’s philanthropies – The Red Cross or the USO
____ Colony/Chapter participates in all major IFC, sorority and fraternity philanthropic events
Finances – Semester 4
____ Colony/Chapter has sent all forms and fees for semester 4 pledges to IHQ
____ If necessary, all tax forms are completed
____ Colony/Chapter collects monthly dues in a timely manner
____ Colony/Chapter begins to develop budget for next academic year (in spring semester)
____ Colony/Chapter finalizes the budget for this academic year (in fall semester)
**Colony/Chapter sends copy of budget to IHQ
____ Colony/Chapter continues to hold 2-3 group fundraisers
Graduate Relations – Semester 4
____ All committee chairmen regularly communicate with their respective graduate advisors
____ The Board of Colony/Chapter Advisors and Cabinet meet twice collectively (at minimum)
____ Colony/Chapter holds at least one graduate event
____ Colony/Chapter holds one graduate relations event (e.g., graduate dinner reception, golf tournament, tailgate, etc.)
____ Colony/Chapter distributes graduate newsletter – Recommendation: distribute 3-4 newsletters each year
____ Graduate email list-serve is used to send monthly email updates to graduate brothers
PHI GAMMA DELTA
SEMESTER PROGRESS PROGRAM 12
Graduate Relations – Semester 4 continued
____ Colony/Chapter begins planning second annual Pig Dinner
Member Development – Semester 4
____ Colony/Chapter appoints Pledge Educator to conduct pledge education of the semester 4 pledge class
____ Semester IV pledge class is initiated after an eight week pledge education program
____ Colony/Chapter holds at least two ritual meetings each month
____ Colony/Chapter knows the Doxology and other Fraternity songs
____ Colony/Chapter attends all IFC/Greek life educational sessions as a group
____ Colony/Chapter holds, at minimum, two group educational seminars during semester 4 (i.e. alcohol/drug
abuse, personal health, male/female relationships, etc.)
**Recommendation: hold these seminars in conjunction with a sorority or open the invitation to the entire Greek community
____ All Colony/Chapter members are involved in at least one student organization other than the Fraternity
**Colony/Chapter members should begin to take leadership positions in IFC, student government, orientation leadership,
etc.
____ Colony/Chapter has planned to send three delegates to the upcoming Fraternity event (Fiji Academy –
winter, Ekklesia – summer)
Other – Semester 4
____ Colony/Chapter is successfully involved in all intramural events (or as many as possible)
____ Colony/Chapter continues weekly group dinners/lunches
____ Colony/Chapter holds several social events following all Fraternity, IFC and university risk-management
guidelines
**At least one of these events must be alcohol-free
____ If housing is available, the Colony/Chapter maintains an alcohol-free living facility