Why Alpha Tau Omega?

We believe that great chapters produce great men for the things that do not yet exist.

That's why we also believe the Alpha Tau Omega Expansion Program will benefit you and your campus. ATO has more than 140 chapters nationwide, more than 6,500 undergraduate members and 196,000 initiated members. Our undergraduate leadership development programs are unmatched nationally as ATO has earned the distinction of being America's Leadership Development Fraternity.

The Fraternity was founded on September 11, 1865, to help heal the wounds of the North and South caused by the Civil War.

Today, the heritage of ATO, including The Creed of Alpha Tau Omega, and the Christian principles upon which ATO was founded are as relevant as ever.

With a number of programs from the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, an undergraduate member is offered an opportunity unlike anything else in the Greek world. As the creator of The LeaderShape Institute, our purpose was to improve campus leadership. Now as its own entity, The LeaderShape Institute serves young adults representing a wide variety of organizations throughout the United States. To date, over 20,000 participants from colleges, universities, and corporations from across the country have attended The LeaderShape Institute. ATO is also extending the reach of LeaderShape through the Chapter-Based LeaderShape initiative where more ATOs from one chapter will be able to participate. To learn more about our chapter programming click HERE.

Objective

Our goal is to establish at least eight substance-free expansion groups per academic year.

ATO wishes to expand to campuses where it can help host institutions have a positive impact on its students. ATO wants to add something to the Greek community at each of the institutions we're affiliated with. This will be accomplished through a commitment to scholarship, fellowship, and character.

To learn more how Alpha Tau Omega determines its expansion sites click HERE.

Alcohol Policy

All of our new chapters are substance-free in nature. This means that there is no alcohol, drug, or tobacco use allowed on chapter property. This is a policy we have followed since 1997-98 and it has been very successful for us. We currently have over 35 substance-free chapters and 10 substance-free colonies and interest groups. These groups attract students who are responsible, who are concerned about their academics, and have the drive to be active on and off campus while still enjoying the social atmosphere of Greek life.

Alpha Tau Omega is ready to offer a great opportunity to those men who want to experience lifelong friendships, take advantage of a worldwide network of Brothers and further develop oneself as a strong leader. True leaders choose a different path by creating traditions instead of living traditions.

Support

The key to expansion success relies heavily upon alumni support as well as National Fraternity guidance. Each of ATO's expansion groups will have a Board of Trustees established by the National Headquarters staff. In addition, the Expansion Department, consisting of three full-time staff members of the National Headquarters will assist each expansion group to ensure quality operations through onsite visits. To this end, a new group can expect multiple visits throughout the course of a year.

Additional Information

To learn more about Alpha Tau Omega click HERE.

To acquaint yourself with some of our famous alumni click HERE.

To learn more about Alpha Tau Omega's history and accomplishments click HERE.

Expansion Phases

The Alpha Tau Omega expansion process consists of the following phases:

Interest Group Criteria

Members of the Interest Group must be full-time students in good standing with your respective college or university.

Members of the Interest Group may not be a member of another North-American Interfraternity Conference recognized fraternity.

This phase typically lasts two weeks to one month.

Colony Criteria

To become a Colony an Interest Group must:

• Recruit a minimum of 20 members with at least a 2.5 GPA or greater.
• Each member must submit a Colony Petition.
• Each member must pay a one-time $25 colony fee to the National Headquarters.
• The Interest Group as a whole must participate in a one-day Colony Retreat to be facilitated by the Director of Expansion.
• Become recognized by the college or university Interfraternity Council as an ATO Colony.

This phase typically lasts 9 to 12 months.

Chapter Criteria

To become a Chapter the Colony must:

• Recruit a minimum of 45 members with at least a 2.5 GPA or greater.
• The Colony as a whole should be above the campus all-men's average.
• Implement Chapter programming and operations based on our expansion model.
• Complete several brotherhood events throughout the semester including one brotherhood retreat per term
• Complete at least five documented social service events each semester.
• Construct a documented and approved recruitment and membership education program.
• Complete Charter Petition with full documentation.
• Have an established and functioning Board of Trustees.

Timeline

During each of these phases, the expansion group must fulfill specific criteria. ATO's experience indicates that the average time of the entire expansion process is roughly 9-12 months. However, this depends solely upon the progress of the individual group. ATO is more interested in the accomplishments the group has made as a whole rather than the pace of the expansion process.

Expansion Definitions

Interest Group — any group of men that ATO communicates to with the intent to colonize and eventually charter. See Interest Group Criteria.

Colony — after the interest group phase, it is the recognition as an official ATO group. However, the members, individually and as a whole, must meet certain criteria before being a chartered chapter. See Colony Criteria.

Chapter — after a colony has met its requirements for programming and membership. A chapter name is given to the group and members are initiated into the Fraternity. See Chapter Criteria.

NIC — North-American Interfraternity Conference. A federation of 67 men's national and international fraternities. Its purpose is to advocate the needs of fraternities through the enrichment of the Greek experience.

Contact Us

If you are a student interested in starting an ATO chapter on your campus please take a few minutes and fill out the Expansion Interest Form.