Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity offers a series of website guidelines that are designed to help our chapters create and maintain their own sites. Information published on the Internet is not confidential and may be accessed by anyone. All materials should be designed in good taste, and ensure that your website represents your chapter and Kappa Alpha Theta well. If you have any questions about setting up a website or any questions or comments about these guidelines, please direct them to

Why is it necessary for chapters to adhere to Fraternity website guidelines?
These guidelines were developed to help each chapter ensure that its image is in line with the ideals and standards of Kappa Alpha Theta and to ensure a positive image of the chapter's location (college, university, or community). By asking chapters to follow its guidelines, the Fraternity can better ensure that chapters:

Present a consistent image. Adhere to Fraternity policies regarding publicity and the printed word. Abide by campus Panhellenic rules, university policies, and all applicable laws (federal, state, provincial, and local).

What is inappropriate material for a website?
Appropriateness of website content is the responsibility of the individual chapter. Inappropriate items that should not appear on the site include:

Chapter business (including minutes) Alcoholic beverages in photos Reference to alcohol (event names, T-shirts, containers), illegal substances, and drug paraphernalia Photos of or references to inappropriate behavior

The Fraternity monitors chapter websites on a regular basis. Chapter websites that include inappropriate material will not be linked to the Fraternity website, and violating chapters will be told to remove the items in question immediately. All Kappa Alpha Theta related websites are subject to approval by the Fraternity. If you are not sure whether specific material is appropriate, please contact your PRDD.

Website Setup Requirements
For the protection of each chapter and its members, all agreements and contracts with private website designers or providers should be reviewed by an attorney before they are signed. Each website should be registered with the Fraternity (contact Headquarters with the new URL address) immediately following the site's activation.

Finding a Host for Your Website
There are thousands of hosts from which to choose, and you might not know where to start. Some good websites to help you make this decision are www.tophosts.com   , www.findmyhosting.com   , and www.hostinghelp.com   . These are only a few, there are many other sites out there to help make this decision easier.

Website Content Suggestions
Before creating a site, it is important to understand your goals in wanting one. A website provides an opportunity for you to educate potential members and others about your Fraternity and your chapter. You may want to include, for example:

General information about Theta Lists of chapter or Fraternity events History of your chapter or facility Lists of famous Thetas from your own and other chapters Scholarship winners from your chapter Service projects Campus involvement activities

On your chapter's site, you are encouraged to include e-mail addresses that will allow visitors to submit comments, questions, and suggestions. You will want to provide regular updates, not only to keep your site interesting but also to make sure that all information is timely and correct. Note: Personal information about chapter members may not be posted without the members' written consent. (More information in "What to Exclude.") You are urged to provide links to the Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity website   , National CASA website   , other philanthropic organizations with which you are involved, and other Theta chapters. College chapters are encouraged to link with their university or college. You may want to provide links to other Greek organizations, but only if they meet the appropriateness guidelines of Kappa Alpha Theta. Specifically, chapters should not link with other Greek organizations whose sites depict alcohol, paddles, or inappropriate behavior.

What to Exclude

Information about Fraternity ritual, including chapter minutes, and photographs of paraphernalia and chapter composites. No reference to alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs. This includes party photos, T-shirts, event names, beverage containers, etc. In many cases, the only way for a chapter to have a website is to use free hosting with advertisements. If this is the case with your chapter, make sure that all advertisements are appropriate. These will be reviewed when the site is viewed by the webmaster. No political endorsements. To protect privacy and safety, personal information about members, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses, may not be posted on the site without the members' written consent. It is appropriate to include a list of chapter officers' names and an e-mail address for all officers where they can be reached. There is not a specific form for this. You may create one yourself and keep it in your files in the case that you need to prove you were given the permission. Copyrighted material from other sources or trademarks owned by third parties cannot be used without authorization from the copyright or trademark owner. Be careful when listing time and dates of events. Remember, your website is out there for the world to see, and it is not recommended that you let them know where your entire chapter will be at one time. Many groups have created a password-protected area to handle this type of information. Confidential Fraternity, internal association, or chapter matters may not be addressed on the website. It is strongly recommended that electronic "chain letters" not be posted on a Theta site or forwarded by e-mail. Many such letters are vehicles for computer viruses.