A pivotal part of what we do.

Parents

We understand that parents may have concerns about their son(s) joining a fraternity. They may wonder, will he have time for his academics and other extracurricular activities? Will he be subject to hazing? How much will it cost? Are all fraternities elitist? On this page we answer these and other questions to assure parents that joining a fraternity, and Delta Kappa Epsilon in particular, will benefit their sons greatly as they transition into adulthood and prepare for life after college. 

How is Delta Kappa Epsilon different than other fraternities?

Our founders sought to form a society that would consist of men who combined in the most equal proportion the gentleman, the scholar, and the jolly good fellow. This remains our criteria to this day. 

We aspire to be a highly respected fraternity, focused on excellent chapter performance, populated with men of distinction whose behavior is exemplary in all respects and who go on to become leaders in their chosen fields of endeavor. To this end, we conduct ourselves according to our DEKE values:

  • Dignity: As gentlemen, we conduct ourselves in a dignified manner and value everyone equally. 

  • Kindness: As jolly good fellows, we are friendly, generous, and considerate.

  • Excellence: As scholars, we pursue our academic and professional endeavors dutifully, honestly, and to the best of our ability. 

Our policies and educational programs challenge members to be better men, to embrace the values of diversity and inclusion, and to create safe environments where all members are heard and where the social and physical wellbeing of all individuals are protected.

 FAQs from Parents

  • Every man who has or will take the oath of membership is bound by our code of conduct, which includes a strict ban against hazing. Hazing is illegal and Delta Kappa Epsilon has an absolute zero-tolerance policy on it. We view hazing as a relic of the past and believe we can achieve our objectives without engaging in such boorish behavior.

  • We require that new members live in the chapter house. This is for many reasons, chiefly that it is pivotal in creating strong bonds between the brothers and new members. Due to the generous donations of alumni, we have remodeled the chapter house and are proud to say we do not have a sleeping porch, instead our rooms in the house range from singles to doubles. Many Dekes look back on their time living in the chapter house and regard those years as some of the best of their lives. Brothers are allowed to live out after the mandated year.

  • First and foremost is the brotherhood. The friends your son will make as undergraduate will remain his friends well beyond graduation day. Additionally, as a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, your son will have the opportunity to:

    Live with individuals of many different backgrounds, interests, characteristics, ambitions, etc.

    Serve as an executive or officer and/or on committees, which will allow him to develop his organizational, time management, and leadership skills.

    Engage in philanthropic pursuits to foster or reinforce the importance of volunteering and giving back.

    Network with Deke alumni to find internships and employment opportunities.

    Nearly every interaction that your son will have as a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon will be one that helps him become a better man and prepares him for life after graduation.

  • If your son is committed to his studies, Delta Kappa Epsilon will be a resource, not a distraction. We seek men who strive for excellence in the classroom. We believe that earning a degree should be the goal for every student at the University of Washington, though not their singular focus. We want our members to find the right balance between academics, social life, and personal wellbeing.

    To support our members, we elect a Scholarship Chairman who is responsible for fostering an environment within the chapter that is conducive towards scholastic excellence. Upperclassmen and recent graduates serve as mentors to freshman and sophomores. Members earn “points” for academic excellence (we use a point system to prioritize room selection). Our alumni annually award scholarships to undergraduates based primarily on merit.

    The evidence is in the numbers: Delta Kappa Epsilon routinely has a GPA equal to if not better than the GPA for all male students.

  • For those who live in the chapter house, there is monthly rent that covers the residential costs – payments to the alumni association who owns the property, utilities, food service, maintenance, etc. We strive to keep our monthly rent at or below off campus housing costs.

    Each member, whether they live in the chapter house or not, pays a quarterly social fee to cover the ancillary costs associated with brotherhoods, exchanges, and recruitment.

    DKE International collects fees from all undergraduates. There are the membership dues, collected twice each school year, which are returned to chapters and undergraduates through visits from DKE International staff, electronic and written programming materials, access to online resources, etc. There is the annual risk management fee, which pays for the insurance policy that covers a variety of activities associated to all chapters and undergraduates. There is a one-time associate member fee, which goes towards covering the cost of all educational materials needed during associate member education. Finally, there is the one-time initiation fee, which covers the administrative costs of creating a member’s unique pin and scroll in addition to enrolling a Deke into lifetime membership in Delta Kappa Epsilon.

    Please contact our recruitment chairman to learn the current cost for each of the expenses listed above.

If your questions aren’t answered by the information on this page, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of the members of our executive team.