UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State's Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and the Phi Kappa Psi national organization have entered a three-year research partnership to study student-centered approaches to fraternity advising to increase retention, personal development, and reduce the number and extent of risky behaviors.
“Phi Kappa Psi is investing in assessment and research that will explore student-centered approaches to chapter support that yield stronger and safer chapters and support student success,” said Stevan Veldkamp, executive director of the Piazza Center. “This is an opportunity to see how a commitment to student development will dramatically increase positive outcomes and reduce risk.”
As part of the research study, the Piazza Center will assess Phi Kappa Psi’s professional advising program and provide data comparing the cohorts as well as a control group. The report will include survey data, focus group data, and chapter statistics from the center’s Fraternity and Sorority Experience Survey.
“We are excited to partner with the Timothy J. Piazza Center as we continue to use data and research to make informed decisions to improve the fraternity experience,” said Phi Kappa Psi Executive Director Ronald K. Ransom. “With our partnership, we seek to have a better understanding of how our members view the organization, what areas of focus we need to improve on, and how can we foster a positive and lifelong Phi Kappa Psi experience."
The Piazza Center is a multidisciplinary research initiative whose mission is to uplift fraternity and sorority life. The center’s research agenda is based on a change model focused on a two-pronged approach to stronger and safer organizations.
- Stronger: Enhancing student learning, specifically around leadership; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and service.
- Safer: Focusing on campus prevention and intervention, including prevention of hazing, substance misuse, and dangerous drinking.
The Piazza Center is currently seeking research partners to help assess what practices are working and collaborate to build a research agenda. Organizations or campuses who are dedicating resources to strengthen student character development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and civic engagement or who have targeted efforts for violence and hazing prevention can contact the Piazza Center at PiazzaCenter@psu.edu to discuss a research agenda around a student-centered approach to change.