Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) announced that its Interfraternity Council, the governing body for fraternities at WPI, has invited Beta Theta Pi Fraternity to join the WPI fraternity and sorority campus community in the 2012–13 academic year.
Founded at Miami University of Ohio in 1839, Beta Theta Pi has 119 collegiate chapters and more than 130,000 members.
"Our partnership with Beta Theta Pi will help further enhance a fraternity community that works hard to dispel the stereotypes about fraternities," said Emily Perlow, director of student activities at WPI. "Beta Theta Pi's emphasis on principled decision making, accountability, and building leaders are exactly the characteristics that will further support the positive fraternal experience at WPI."
Following visits by three fraternities, the expansion committee, made up of representatives of the existing fraternities on campus, faculty, staff, and alumni, selected Beta Theta Pi. The selection was based on a range of criteria that included colony establishment plans, compatibility with the WPI mission, organizational accountability, success at technical institutions, and overall fit with the current institution.
Beta Theta Pi will join a continuous 121-year tradition of brotherhood and sisterhood at WPI. Currently WPI has five sororities and 13 fraternities, making up more than 30 percent of the student population.
