Beginnings

The origins of the Midwest Region began on December 14, 1974 when 16 men at Southern Illinois University chartered UPSILON CHAPTER.

The first Midwest Regional Director (later changed to Regional Polaris) was Aaron Byas. In April 1976, Upsilon Chapter initiated 4 men at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, which became ALPHA BETA CHAPTER.

In 1977, Upsilon Chapter hosted the National Conclave in Carbondale, Illinois. This was the first National Fraternity Event held outside of the East Coast. In 1978, the first Iota Chapter in Ohio was chartered at Wilberforce University (ALPHA IOTA CHAPTER).

ETA OMEGA CHAPTER (Chicago Alumni) became the Midwest Region's first Graduate Chapter in 1979. On April 14, 1980, ALPHA LAMBDA CHAPTER was established by 25 men at the University of Illinois.

This is recognized as the largest charter line in Iota's History. By the mid 1980's, the Midwest Region consisted of the following chapters:

1. Upsilon (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale) 1974
2. Alpha Beta (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville) 1976
3. Alpha Iota (Wilberforce University) 1978
4. Alpha Lambda (University of Illinois) 1980
5. Alpha Mu (Central State University-Ohio) 1980
6. Alpha Omicron (Kentucky State University) 1981
7. Alpha Rho (Illinois State University) 1983
8. Alpha Upsilon (Northeastern Illinois University) 1983
9. Eta Omega (Chicago Alumni) 1979
10. Kappa Omega (Champaign-Urbana Alumni) 1981
11. Lambda Omega (Carbondale Alumni) 1982
12. Mu Omega (E. St. Louis Alumni) 1982.

The growth of the Midwest Region continued through the mid 1990s, with chapters chartered in Indiana ALPHA ALPHA OMEGA Chapter (Indianapolis Alumni) and Missouri BETA TAU CHAPER (University of Missouri-Columbia).

By 1995, the Midwest Region had almost a third of all Iota Chapters and stretched from Western Pennsylvania and included Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin.

With Iota Phi Theta's entrance into the National Pan-Hellenic Council in 1996, the make-up of the Midwest Region was changed dramatically.

To better serve the Fraternity, Honorable Jerry O. Pittman, Grand Polaris, divided the Midwest Region into two regions.

Chapters in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Michigan and Western Pennsylvania formed the new Ohio Valley Region. The revised Midwest Region consists of Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska.

As we move through the new millenium, the Midwest Region will continue to develop the leaders of tomorrow and to exemplify through SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, CITIZENSHIP, FIDELITY AND BROTHERHOOD why Iota Phi Theta is "The Fraternity For Today's Black Man."