Academics

Everyone in a Lambda Chi came to school to learn, to grow, and to prepare for pursuing goals and ambitions for the rest of their lives. Sometimes brothers forget that academics are the most important priority in their undergraduate careers. The Fraternity’s role is to keep the importance of this priority firmly and consistently enacted in the chapter and its programming. Lambda Chi Alpha’s success will not only enhance a chapter’s reputation for scholarship, but will help to ensure the future accomplishments of each brother. By supporting academic programming and by developing opportunities for brothers who are struggling with their grades, Lambda Chi Alpha will make an important and lasting contribution to the growth of our Fraternity and our brotherhood.

Study Tables

Here at Phi-Alpha Zeta of Eastern Illinois University, we try our best to be our brother’s keeper, and use the chapter’s assets as a resource to aid our efforts in the classroom. Study tables are utilized and maintained by the High Sigma in order to assist brothers who struggle with their schoolwork. Associate Members are required to take advantage of this program during their first semester with the fraternity by attending a certain amount of study hours each week, as outlined in their curriculum. For those brothers who receive a semester GPA that is below a 2.25, a certain number of hours are assigned to him, meant to be spent at those study tables. Hours given vary with the GPA, as decided by the High Sigma. Study tables are usually held in the chapter room at certain nights during the week. In certain circumstances, study hours may be made up or removed, as long as the issue has been communicated and agreed upon by the High Sigma beforehand. Brothers who do not attend their assigned study hours are subject to penalty by fines, suspension, and even expulsion if need be.

Scholarships

Scholarship Opportunities

For Members of

Phi-Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity

Alumni members of Phi-Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity have created two scholarships and individual Phi-Alpha Brothers have created three additional scholarships for a total of five scholarships with the EIU Foundation. In addition the Alumni members of Phi Alpha Zeta have created a fund at the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation to provide partial stipends to General Assembly, Leadership Seminar and Conclave attendance.

The alumni members of Phi-Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity have contributed over $120,000 in support of these scholarships and fund.  This is a significant commitment to the undergraduate members of Phi-Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha.  No other Fraternity at EIU has provided funds for undergraduate assistance as have the Alumni Brothers of Phi-Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha.

Four of the scholarships provide scholarship assistance to the undergraduate members of the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity at Eastern Illinois University while one Scholarship award is made to any student of EIU (Members of Phi-Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity are encouraged to apply the scholarship open to all EIU students). And the final award provides stipends to assist in the expenses of attending the annual International Lambda Chi Alpha General Assembly, Leadership Seminars and Conclaves.

Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Founders Scholarship

The first scholarship created in 1987 is the Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Founders Scholarship.  This scholarship now has assets over $23,000. The annual earnings from the scholarship are awarded annually.  The scholarship criteria include membership in Phi-Alpha Zeta of Lambda Chi Alpha; fraternal and other campus activities and demonstrated financial need, grade point average and Brothers who demonstrate that they are working to assist in funding their college education are all points considered in making this scholarship award.  Applications are made available early in the Spring Semester for award the following fall.

Lambda Chi Alpha Scholastic Incentive Scholarship

The second scholarship is the Lambda Chi Alpha Scholastic Incentive Scholarship established in 2003 which provides an award to an undergraduate member who has shown significant improvement in their GPA from the prior semester.  The corpus of this award exceeds $16,000.  The annual earnings from the scholarship are awarded annually and the award is based on improvement in Grade Point Average.  Applications are made available early in Spring Semester for award the following fall.

Ronald A. Wilson Scholarship

The third scholarship established in 1991 is the Ronald A. Wilson Scholarship awarded to an Illinois resident who is enrolled in Eastern’s College of Education and Professional Studies who plans to become a teacher and has a corpus of over $21,000. (NOTE:  This scholarship is not devoted solely to a Phi-Alpha Brother but you are eligible to apply.)

John D. Schmitt Scholarship

 The fourth scholarship was created in 2005 and is named the John D. Schmitt Scholarship which was created by alumnus John D. Schmitt (Phi-Alpha 12) and will make an annual award an officer of Lambda Chi Alpha for outstanding leadership of Phi-Alpha Zeta.  The corpus of that stands at over $10,000 and the earnings will be awarded annually.  The first award of the John D. Schmitt Scholarship will be determined in the Spring Semester 2010 and applications will be available at that time with the award made for the following Fall Semester.

Jack R. Kelly Scholarship

The fifth scholarship is the Jack R. Kelly Scholarship created in 2008 by Brothers Mike Bradle (Phi-Alpha 156), Dennis Grannan (Phi-Alpha 129) and Mike Mahoney (Phi-Alpha 161) in honor of Brother Jack R. Kelly.  This scholarship is awarded to a Brother who is involved in fine arts or student government.  The Corpus of this scholarship stands at $10,000 and the first award for this scholarship will be selected in the Spring Semester of 2010 for award in the Fall of 2010.  Applications will be made available Spring 2010.

Phi-Alpha Zeta Ronald A. Wilson Fund - administered by the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation

In addition, the Phi-Alpha Alumni have created a fund with the Lambda Chi Alpha Educational Foundation which annually provides stipends to assist in the attendance of undergraduate Brothers the Lambda Chi Alpha Leadership Seminars, Lambda Chi Alpha General Assemblies and Lambda Chi Alpha regional conclave meetings.  This fund annually is used to send several Brothers to learn skills for personal development and the benefit of Phi-Alpha Zeta.  This fund has approximately $40,000 in the corpus and the annual earnings on the corpus provide funds to provide partial stipends to assist in the registration fee of these sessions.  (In 2009 four undergraduates were assisted with the expenses of attending the Leadership Seminar and Centennial General Assembly in Indianapolis, IN.)