During the summer of 1985, Mr. Todd Mudd and
Mr. Mike Moreland, Director and Assistant Director of Chapter Development and Services, respectively, arrived in Fresno to form a colony of the
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Fresno State. They were in Fresno approximately eight weeks, leaving on September 22. On September 21, 1985, 24 men at Fresno State colonized to form the Fresno State Colony of Pi Kappa Alpha. The first President of the colony was Rudy Rodriguez and the Vice President was John Haskett. The Secretary selected was Brad Johnson, the Treasurer was Jon Thompson and the Sergeant-at-Arms was Randy Weaver.

On September 23, 1985, the colony held its first meeting in the Student Union on campus. Probably the greatest success of the colony at the early part of the semester was its first annual Mud Volleyball Tournament. In less than three weeks after colonizing, the colony members united to organize and implement the all-Greek function which was held on Sunday, October 13. Publicity for the event included local television coverage in addition to front page coverage in the school newspaper. This event set the stage for continued success that the colony would experience throughout the colonization period.

The fall semester of 1986 began with hope of a successful rush and a another chance to charter after IFC had refused to grant recognition to a PiKA chapter on campus the previous semester. The rush week began with a prospective list of almost eighty. At the conclusion of the week, 24 prospectives accepted bids to pledge PiKA. This was an accomplishment because it was the largest pledge class size in the entire Greek system.

On Wednesday, October 22, a presentation was made to the IFC Expansion and Development Committee with the intention to receive permission to charter. Colony President Rudy Rodriguez, V.P. John Haskett, and Treasurer Brad Johnson represented the colony. At the conclusion of the meeting, the IFC granted the colony a "provisional" charter based on the colony's completion of some administrative responsibilities. Having completed the responsibilities, the colony was granted full chapter status and recognition on
November 18, 1986.