Pledge Education Best Practices and Policies

Presenters Mike Corelli, Province Omicron Archon Joshua Welch, Assistant Director of Greek Life, Elon University Jeff Hall, Dennis Regional Director, Director of Extension James Irwin, Director of Educational Programs

Intended Outcomes Become familiar with best practices for pledge education Be alerted to potential pitfalls and bad practices and how to avoid them Understand what a pledge program should & must include Learn about the True Gentleman Model 8-Week Pledge Program

A Pledge Education Program Should Be well planned A.C.E. Our Values Be creative & interesting Develop essential leadership skills

Be Well Planned “Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail” For each week of the Pledge Program answer the following questions: What are your intended outcomes? What do you want them to walk away with? What resources do you have access to that could help? (The NEW TGI, Campus Staff, Community Partners) Plan around important dates on the academic calendar. Finals Week, Mid-Terms, Advising Days

A.C.E Our Values “What does it mean to be a member?” Achieve What does a brother who achieves the values of Sigma Alpha Epsilon look like – what actions, beliefs, or behaviors are common among our best members from the past and present? Communicate Teach members how to communicate our values to people outside of our organization. This doesn’t mean sharing the meaning of Phi Alpha, rather teach members how to talk about what it means to be a True Gentleman in today’s language and society. Expect Explain to members the expectation of behavior that is congruent with our values.

Be Creative / Interesting It’s not an 8:00 AM lecture – Make it interesting! Consider the different ways people learn things and find appropriate ways for members to truly learn what you want them to learn. (Example: University Challenge or Rope Course to explore leadership styles and teamwork.) Participate in activities your college or university has planned that tie in with The True Gentleman. (Example: Attend a campus speaker on Diversity and later facilitate a discussion on what the TG says about diversity. “who does not make the poor man conscious of his poverty, the obscure man of his obscurity, or any man of his inferiority or deformity” Invite university staff members to facilitate educational sessions. (Examples: Leadership Center discussing leadership styles)

Develop Essential Skills Interpersonal Communication Skills Recruitment. Working with other campus organizations / faculty / staff. Working with Alumni members. An individual’s personal endeavors. Learn more about specific leadership roles in the chapter that they may want to take on in the future.

Potential Pitfalls Bid Nights Big Brother Programs/Reveals Phi Alpha Weeks Interview Programs/Black Books

Potential Pitfalls – Bid Nights Original Intent Welcome new members to the chapter Complete the formal pledging ceremony Introduce new members, and their families, to members, alumni and university officials Pitfalls Generally associated with social events, and specifically alcohol Blurs the purpose and meaning of membership when associated with alcohol

Potential Pitfalls – Big Brother Pairings/Reveal Original Intent Connect new members with leaders of the active chapter Provide social, academic and emotion mentor Facilitates assimilation into the active chapter Pitfalls Generally associated with social events, specifically alcohol Relationships can be focused more on social connections, as opposed to academic In many cases, presents opportunity for hazing

Potential Pitfalls – Phi Alpha Week Original Intent Introduce/review values of our organization via ritual Implement structured program that facilitates the transition from new member to active member Complete formal Initiation ceremony Pitfalls Associated with late night events with limited learning outcomes Focuses less on ritual, and more on “earning” initiation through passing tests, completing tasks In many cases, presents opportunity for hazing

Potential Pitfalls – Interview Programs/Black Books Original Intent Facilitate interactions between new and active members through a structured process of meaning Q&A Pitfalls Associated with questions ranging in relevancy and appropriateness Major emphasis on new members completing 99% of the work, while active members passively permit interactions In many cases, presents opportunity for hazing via the addition of contingency factors in order to complete interviews

Carson Starkey OCP Overview and Purpose Provide foundational overview of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, its mission, purpose and risk management polices and expectations Developed in memory of Carson Starkey Tenants of Program Complete overview of the Minerva’s Shield, Crisis Management Protocol and Good Samaritan Policy Introduction to SAE mission and purpose Review of SAE signature events Introduction of the Supreme Council, Province Archons and FSC Staff Explanation Ensures all new members across the realm receive the same foundational information prior to initiation From the onset of affiliation, provides clear overview of what is expected of all members with regard to chapter operations and social programming

Scope of Association (SOA) Overview and Purpose Overview of the expectations and standards of membership in Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) Signed agreement of adhering to expectations of membership to SAE Tenants of Program Financial Expectations Academic Expectations Behavioral Expectations Indemnification Expectation Explanation Provides a clear overview and understanding as to the expectations of membership with Sigma Alpha Epsilon Outlines the potential outcomes for acts that fall outside these clear expectations

Required Components of Pledge Program Ritual/Pledging Comprehension of The Phoenix Learn and recite “The True Gentleman” Learn names of Supreme Council, Province officers Learn names and campuses of all SAE chapters in province Learn names and insignia of all Greek-letter organizations on campus Learn the songs of SAE used by the chapter and in the Initiation Ceremony Fraternity Laws Must be between 4-12 weeks in length (or meet university req’t if different) Cease all non-academic activities that may take placed 7 days before the first final exam and ending the day after the last scheduled final exam Distributed written program to all new members

Required Components of Pledge Program Minerva’s Shield Program must include that pledgeship is a dry process Include alcohol awareness Include information on We Stand Together Event Planning if pledges required to plan an event Crisis-Management Include copy of SAE and college/university hazing policy Miscellaneous Include information about the Carson Starkey Online Pledge Certification Program and Scope of Association Calendar of all pledge activities, including content/description and start and finish times Is the program, as written, free of hazing activities Does the program include the NOT-HAZE hotline?

Introducing The NEW True Gentleman Initiative

Question-and-Answer Session Do not forget to complete the post-webinar survey. Resources Available The True Gentleman Initiative Library Pledge Education Area True Gentleman New Member Program True Gentleman New Member Syllabus Pledge Educator Online Certification Program