Phi Beta Epsilon Fraternity at MIT Establishes Alumni Mentoring for New Members

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phi Beta Epsilon Corporation, the alumni association of the Phi Beta Epsilon fraternity at MIT, today announced that beginning this semester it will initiate a program providing alumni mentors for each of its New Members to support their adjustment to life at MIT and beyond. This program builds on the fraternity's existing New Member Education program designed to teach life skills complementing the technical content of the MIT education. This program has long included the assignment of an upperclass mentor (known as the Big Brother) as well as an MIT doctoral candidate in residence to provide academic support.

“MIT is an extremely stressful experience, even for students as gifted as our undergraduate members”

"MIT is an extremely stressful experience, even for students as gifted as our undergraduate members," said Steven Carhart '70, President of the Phi Beta Epsilon Corporation. "We see this program as an additional measure we can take to ensure that they have every measure of support in their education that we as a fraternity can offer. We further intend that this support will extend beyond the undergraduate years, by matching our students with alumni sharing their professional interests and geographic location. While mentorship and lifelong networking have always been a significant element of our fraternal life, this program is designed to increase its intentionality and effectiveness,” he added.

Unlike most fraternities, Phi Beta Epsilon makes the content of its New Member Training available to prospective members. “We have taken this measure in the spirit of the MIT-X initiative in which our parent institution is making its coursework publicly available to the broadest possible audience,” Carhart noted. "While our program may be too demanding or not of interest for many, we believe that making this information available enables prospective members to make an informed choice between living groups they might consider joining," he concluded.

Phi Beta Epsilon, established in 1890, is MIT’s oldest local fraternity founded exclusively by and for MIT students. Phi Beta Epsilon is a member of the MIT Interfraternity Council. The Phi Beta Epsilon Corporation is the association of the house's alumni which owns and maintains the fraternity house at 400 Memorial Drive in Cambridge, MA, and provides the undergraduate body with strategic support and mentoring. Additional background may be found on the fraternity’s website, http://pbe.mit.edu