About

Brothers on Bid Day rallied around the Flag

We Are Theta Chi

Theta Chi is one of the oldest men’s college fraternities in North America. Founded in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity is a men’s collegiate fraternity with more than 250,000 initiated members and has established 246 chapters. Theta Chi’s mission is to develop college-age men into successful students, good citizens, lifelong brothers, and resolute leaders.

Founded on the principle of friendship through the mutual assistance of every member, Theta Chi aims to provide its members with an enjoyable and fulfilling collegiate experience that also prepares them for rewarding, successful lives after graduation.

Fast Facts

  • document of the founding of Theta Chi

    Founding Date

    April 10, 1856

  • A black and white photo of men in front of an old style military building.

    Founding Location

    Old South Barracks, Norwich University (Norwich, VT)

  • Founders

    Frederick Norton Freeman and Arthur Chase

  • Theta Chi convention ribbon

    Fraternity Colors

    Military Red and White

  • The Rattle - Winter 2025 Edition cover

    Magazine

    The Rattle of Theta Chi

  • International Headquarters

    Carmel, IN

Our Ideals

What We Believe In

  • True Friendship; we extend an “Assisting Hand” to one another; we seek to exact harmony and prevent strife among our members
  • The primacy of Alma Mater; we are loyal students and alumni for life
  • The promotion of knowledge and the advancement of culture
  • The virtues of Truth, Temperance, and Tolerance
  • The usefulness of our Fraternity; we seek the mutual benefit and improvement of all our members and strive to serve our country and our fellow man

Motto

Θηρόποεα Χείρ -“An Assisting Hand”

Maxim

“Alma Mater First and Theta Chi for Alma Mater”

The Fraternity Maxim is used in Theta Chi to emphasize our commitment to the missions of the institutions where Theta Chi is present. We believe that our members share a lifelong responsibility to be active participants in campus affairs and their local communities.

Position on All-Male Character of Theta Chi Fraternity

Since its founding in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission has been dedicated to developing resolute men. The Fraternity’s programs are designed specifically to assist college-aged men to become outstanding sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, and models of male behavior in society. As such, Theta Chi’s membership has always been, and will remain, limited to men only.

The rights of a private organization to select its own members is foundational to a free society. Freedom of association, is protected by both the United States’ Constitution and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Theta Chi Fraternity supports the rights of individuals and organizations to associate with those who share common aspirations.

Our Creed

“I believe in Theta Chi, its traditions and its ideals. Born of sturdy manhood, nurtured by resolute men, ennobled by high and sacred purpose, it has taken its place among the educational institutions of America as a promoter of knowledge, an advancer of culture and a builder of character.

It inspires true friendship: teaches truth, temperance and tolerance, extols virtue, exacts harmony, and extends a helping hand to all who seek it.

I believe in the primacy of alma mater; in the usefulness of my fraternity, in its influence and its accomplishments and I shall do all in my power to perpetuate its ideals, thereby serving my God, my country and my fellow-man.”

Written by Frank H. Schrenk (Kappa/Pennsylvania 1915), The Creed has become an important part of our traditions and is a public expression of our ideals and objectives as a fraternity

Theta Chi Fraternity’s Statement on Human Dignity

Since its founding in 1856, Theta Chi Fraternity’s mission has been dedicated to developing Resolute Men. The Fraternity assists college-aged men to become outstanding sons, brothers, fathers, uncles, and models of male behavior in society. As such, Theta Chi Fraternity maintains that every person is due respect and dignity regardless of race, creed, color, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry. Kindness, common courtesy, and decency are fundamental to a free society.

Theta Chi condemns racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, classism, ableism, ageism, hazing, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and those who engage in reprehensible acts that dishonor Human Dignity. The Resolute Men of Theta Chi denounce any activities or actions that are degrading and/or demeaning to others. Members are expected to deal fairly, honestly, and respectfully with others by being empathetic, considering personal bias, and avoiding prejudice.

As an American institution, Theta Chi holds the belief that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. Theta Chi believes in the freedoms and key concepts based in Human Dignity as outlined within the Bill of Rights. Anyone who denies the rights and liberty of others demeans Human Dignity, and such actions are inexcusable.

Each brother shares the responsibility of preserving the dignity and rights of all brothers, pledges, and guests at all times. Theta Chi members are expected to follow the rules and policies of the Fraternity, their chapter, and all federal, state, and local laws. No member or pledge should be required, coerced, forced, or influenced in any way to do anything that would be fundamentally wrong or unbecoming of a member of Theta Chi Fraternity. Our Fraternity will not defend bad behavior and has and will continue to hold chapters and members accountable to Theta Chi’s standards.

As The Creed of Theta Chi states, we believe in Truth, Temperance, and Tolerance, and we shall do all in our power to perpetuate the ideals of the Fraternity, thereby serving our God, country, and fellow-man. Theta Chi Fraternity charges its members to live up to their oaths and obligations, to exemplify the ideals of the Fraternity, and to comport themselves in alignment with this statement of Human Dignity.

Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct, and Sexual Harassment

The members of Theta Chi aspire to and are expected to live by high moral values, including having regard for all people as being worthy of respect. It is because of the adherence to such moral values that the members of Theta Chi reject and will not condone sexual assault, sexual misconduct, and harassment.

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