Cathedral Standards of Excellence (Cathy Standards)
The Cathedral Standards of Excellence is a Fraternity and Sorority Life program aimed at recognizing, awarding, and assessing chapter performance. The program was restructured and revised for the 2024-2025 Academic Year to increase relevancy and support for sororities and fraternities. The purpose of the Cathedral Standards is to help organizations align with their programs and activities with their organization’s espoused values and to enhance the student experience. Chapters are encouraged to utilize the Focus Areas, awarding categories, and rubrics to set goals and identify opportunities for growth.
Awards are presented each year to chapters based on their performance of meeting the assessment criteria for each Focus Area. Chapters are also recognized for outstanding performance in each Focus Area of the Cathedral Standards.
Individual members and advisors also receive awards each year.
Evaluation and Awarding Categories
| Title | Expectation |
| Emerging | Organizations established/re-established during the calendar year |
| Developing | Organizations who do not meet two (2) or more Focus Areas or submissions do not satisfy requirements1 |
| Meets Expectations | Organizations that Meet Expectations in three (3) Focus Areas1 |
| Chapter of Achievement | Organizations that Meet Expectations in three (3) or more Focus Areas1 |
| Monongahela Honors Chapter | Organizations that achieve a top 15 ranking in the Fraternity and Sorority Life community following the End of Year Presentation and Cathedral Standards grading |
| Allegheny Honors Chapter | Organizations that achieve a top 10 ranking in the Fraternity and Sorority Life community following the End of Year Presentation and Cathedral Standards grading |
| Cathedral Award of Distinction | The organization who demonstrated the greatest achievement among all recognized fraternities and sororities in their respective council |
| Certificate of Excellence | An organization can be distinguished in specific Focus Area categories based on high performance and achievement |
2024-25 Focus Areas
- Academics
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Members of the fraternity and sorority life community at the University of Pittsburgh will strive for academic excellence. Chapters will provide support for academic achievement to ensure their chapter members individual and collective intellectual development and academic success.
- Campus & Community Involvement
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Members of the fraternity and sorority community will participate in activities that allow them to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become well rounded and civically engaged. Chapter leadership will work with their members to identify appropriate opportunities for growth and development both in their individual and personal development, but also within the University of Pittsburgh Community.
- Organizational Management
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An important factor of organizational success is managing the effectiveness of chapter operations, ensuring values-aligned outcomes. These programs should promote integrity, responsible and ethical decision-making, and setting an example for others.
- Council Development
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Chapters should be building relationships between chapters and be fully immersed in the business and activities within their respective council.
- Civic Engagement
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Members in the Pitt fraternity and sorority community will participate in activities that allow them to become positively engaged in and give back to their local, state, national, and global communities. This includes involvement in direct service, community organizing and activism, and philanthropy, community service, service-learning, and philanthropic activities.
- Alumni & Graduate Chapter Engagement
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Fraternities and Sororities are most successful when they maintain an active and positive relationship with their respective alumni and graduate chapters. The University believes that fraternities and sororities should discover and implement opportunities for alumni and graduate chapter members to remain involved in and informed of chapter activities.
- Health & Safety
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Members of the fraternity and sorority community at Pitt shall comply with risk management policies set forth by the University and their inter/national organizations. Fraternities and sororities have a responsibility to create and maintain safe, constructive, and positive spaces for their members and guests.
- Member Development
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Fraternities and sororities at Pitt will enhance their members’ individual and personal development by providing high-impact experiences and learning opportunities. These activities should promote leadership, self-awareness, teamwork, critical thinking, cultural competence, creativity, and intellectual growth.
Award Applications
Every chapter is expected to participate in the Cathedral Standards as outlined by the FSL Policy and Procedures Manual (PPM). Chapters will submit their Focus Area evidence via Canvas. Resources to support a chapter’s submission are located on the Fraternity and Sorority Life page via ExperiencePitt.
Questions regarding the application process or award ceremony should be emailed to McKenna Ferris at mckenna.ferris@pitt.edu.
Individual Awards
In addition to awarding chapter performance, the Fraternity and Sorority Life office also recognizes the individual performance of those supporting the fraternity and sorority community. Each year we award several individual awards:
COMING SOON!
2025 Fraternity and Sorority Life Award Winners
Individual Awards
- Chapter Officer of the Year
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IFC – Anthony Schiro, Sigma Alpha Mu
NPHC- Azriah Crawley, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Panhellenic- Emily Novak, Alpha Delta Pi
- Chapter President of the Year
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IFC- Caleb Unterlack, Alpha Epsilon Pi
NPHC- Kayla Spivey, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Panhellenic- Evelyn O’Connor, Kappa Delta
- Council Officer of the Year
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IFC- Aleksander Bearden, Vice President of Community Engagement
NPHC- Yaneana Leedie, Vice President
Panhellenic- Taylor Shaner, Vice President of Risk Management
- Chapter Advisor of the Year
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Nicole Frankhouser, Sigma Delta Tau
- Fraternity Member of the Year
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Rashad Holloway Jr. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- Summer Rothrock Sorority Member of the Year
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Paige Harris, Alpha Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- Rising Star Award
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Christopher Conyers, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
- Alumni of the Year
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Jill Bounds, Kappa Delta
- Community Advocacy Award
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Caleb Unterlack, Alpha Epsilon Pi
Chapter Awards
- Cathedral Award of Distinction
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IFC - Triangle Fraternity
NPHC - Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
CPA - Phi Sigma Rho
- Highest Semester GPA (Fall 2024)
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IFC - Alpha Epsilon Pi
NPHC - Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Panhellenic - Alpha Delta Pi
- Highest Cumulative GPA (Fall 2024)
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IFC - Zeta Beta Tau
NPHC - Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Panhellenic - Chi Omega
- Cathedral Award of Distinction
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IFC - Triangle Fraternity
NPHC - Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Panhellenic - Phi Sigma Rho
- Academic Program of the Year
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Kappa Delta – Academic Achievement Plan
- Civic Engagement Program of the Year
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Alpha Epsilon Pi – We Walk to Remember
- Alumni and Graduate Chapter Engagement Program of the Year
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Delta Delta Delta – Career Panel
- Council Development Program of the Year
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Kappa Delta – Collaborative Events
- Health and Wellness Program of the Year
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Kappa Delta – Welllness Wednesdays
- Member Development Program of the Year
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Delta Delta Delta – DEI Potluck
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Excellence in Academics
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Alpha Sigma Kappa
Delta Delta Delta
Phi Sigma Rho
Pi Kappa Alpha
- Excellence in Community Development
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Alpha Sigma Kappa
Alpha Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc.
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Phi Sigma Rho
Pi Kappa Alpha
Triangle Fraternity
- Excellence in Organizational Management
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Delta Phi Epsilon
Phi Sigma Rho
Theta Phi Alpha
Triangle Fraternity
- Excellence in Council Development
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Delta Phi Epsilon
Phi Sigma Rho
Triangle Fraternity
- Excellence in Civic Engagement
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Delta Delta Delta
Delta Phi Epsilon
Phi Sigma Rho
- Excellence in Health and Safety
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Phi Sigma Rho
Theta Phi Alpha