Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity enters 3-year research partnership with Piazza Center

MAY 04, 2022

Penn State's Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and the Phi Kappa Psi national organization have entered into a research partnership to study student-centered approaches to fraternity advising. Credit: Provided by Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. All Rights Reserved.

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.