S IGMA L AMBDA G AMMA N ATIONAL S ORORITY, I NC. Associate Member Education Program …welcome to The Journey.

W ELCOME Welcome to the beginning of your journey into the sisterhood of Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority! This orientation will give you an overview of what is to come as you embark on your journey. We encourage you to keep an open mind, be willing to self-explore, actively participate, and embrace the journey. Week One is focused on the expectations and the commitment that are essential for a meaningful and successful experience. This week, you will be introduced to the curriculum and learn what you should expect from the Initiated Members who will assist you. As a Sorority, we value open and honest communication and want your journey to becoming a sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma to be an empowering and purposeful experience. As a result, we are committed to living the Sigma Lambda Gamma’s values. You will be introduced to the foundational tenants of the Sorority that will guide you to making a lifetime commitment to Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority. Weeks 1 and 2 of this curriculum will lay the foundation for your associate member journey--logistically, structurally, and contextually.

L EARNING O UTCOMES Understand the expectations and purpose of the Associate Member Education program. Establish and comprehend the expectations for self, for the Ship and for the Initiated Sisters of this entity. Practice self-management skills for organizing personal commitments of family, school, work, and the journey to becoming a sister of Sigma Lambda Gamma. Identify personal connections with the Sigma Lambda Gamma values, specifically focusing on the purpose and mission of the Sorority.

G ROUND R ULES A few days ago, we officially invited you to begin your journey as an Associate Member of Sigma Lambda Gamma. During Induction, our first Ritual, you had the opportunity to state your commitment and our Initiated Members renewed their commitment to being Women of Distinction. We are now beginning to spend time together as a Ship, learning about our common connections. The next step in developing our Ship is ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to learn and reflect in a safe environment. We will now develop ground rules for how we will interact with one another.

S IGMA L AMBDA G AMMA N ATIONAL S ORORITY V ALUE S YSTEM Mission Purpose Principles Creed

I NTRODUCTION TO A SSOCIATE M EMBER G UIDE

M ISSION & G OALS OF THE A SSOCIATE M EMBER P ROGRAM Begin the journey of becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Woman Maintain and enhance commitment of a lifetime of service to Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Develop and enhance an understanding of Self Leadership Development Understand and apply the Sigma Lambda Gamma Value System to self Develop a sense of sisterhood that empowers both self and others Understand entity operations

P ROCESS VS. J OURNEY What is the difference between a process and a program? A Process has a beginning, a middle, and an end. A Journey is a passage or progress from one stage to another. Within Sigma Lambda Gamma, the Associate Member Education Program, The Journey should be an uplifting journey that doesn’t end when you are Initiated. This is a journey that you are on for life. This education manual seeks to empower, educate, and begin that journey.

R EVIEW OF A SSOCIATE M EMBER M ANUAL Sigma Lambda Gamma is about Me Sigma Lambda Gamma is about Us Sigma Lambda Gamma is About Community Sigma Lambda Gamma is About Commitment Sigma Lambda Gamma is About Action and Being a Catalyst for Change Sigma Lambda Gamma is About Embracing our Diverse Sisterhood Sigma Lambda Gamma is About Becoming a Woman of Distinction At the end of each week there is an opportunity for reflection on the week’s activities, as well as how each week relates to your personal growth and development. Reflections Glossary of Terms At the end of the Manual you will find a glossary of terms used in Sigma Lambda Gamma and Fraternity and Sorority Life.

A SSOCIATE M EMBERS R ESPONSIBILITIES AND E XPECTATIONS A GREEMENT As an associate member of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. commit myself to the Sigma Lambda Gamma Associate Member Education Program. This means that I will… Attend all of the Associate Member meetings that are required. Keep all ritual activities confidential, which includes Induction Ritual and Initiation Ritual.* Do my part to create and participate in a safe, supportive and engaging atmosphere for my fellow Associate Members. Exemplify Sigma Lambda Gamma’s Five Principles in my behavior and in what I say. Treat everyone with respect and hold others to treating me with the same respect. Confront with compassion any Associate Members’ behaviors that are contrary to the SLG Values System. Make an effort to get to know Initiated Members. Make an effort to share myself with my fellow Associate Members. Be on time and prepared for meetings. Maintain open communication both inside and outside the Journey activities. Fulfill all financial responsibility in a timely manner and discuss any difficulty with the Educator if it arises. Will not share individual, personal information about another member with anyone outside of Journey meetings and activities. Follow all Sorority, campus, and city rules, regulations and laws.

I NITIATED M EMBERS R ESPONSIBILITIES AND E XPECTATIONS A GREEMENT Individual members have expectations, also, that are known to contribute to a successful and positive journey for both associate members and initiated members. Any initiated sister directly involved with The Journey must have completed the national training to do so. All initiated sisters will comply with all sorority, campus, and local rules, regulations and laws. All initiated sisters will support the sorority’s stance on hazing. All initiated sisters will self-evaluate her interactions and learn from them, as well as look how to improve those interactions and deeds that were less successful. All initiated sisters will also confront with compassion behaviors of others that are contrary to the SLG Values System. All initiated sisters are a part of the team with the common goal of providing positive physical, emotional, and intellectual experience for all involved. All initiated sisters are willing to accept various roles that will allow this program to be successful. All initiated sisters will attend all meetings that are necessary and will be prepared and on time for all meetings. All initiated sisters are role models and are expected to conduct themselves as such. All initiated sisters will treat everyone with unconditional respect. All initiated sisters will make an effort to get to know Associate Members and make an effort to share themselves with Associate Members.

T IMELINE The curriculum for this journey is 8 weeks. There may be accommodations made for unforeseen events and/or university schedules or holidays. Complete schedule form with standing commitments, confirm schedules, and inform associate members of current entity calendar.

F INANCIAL O BLIGATIONS National Sorority Dues Induction: $120 15Initiation: $ 145 Membership Dues: $110/semester (include due dates implemented by entity) Local Colony/Chapter and Council Dues (insert the local breakdown) (include due dates)

M YTH OF S ECRECY AND F ACT OF C ONFIDENTIALITY Myth You may not discuss ANY part or ANYTHING related to your associate member program with anyone outside this room. Fact The only absolute secrecy and/or confidentiality is the content and operations of the  induction ritual and initiation ritual. **Remember, some of the best public relations and effective recruiting you will do is by sharing your positive experience through informal and formal conversations and interactions with others.

A NTI -H AZING S TATEMENT Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.(SLG) is an organization dedicated to the empowerment of all women. Therefore, it is our responsibility to treat all women with the respect and dignity they deserve. We strive to maintain a healthy culture that uplifts and supports one another and our community. In achieving this purpose, we assert that our organization is intolerant of all forms of hazing. As defined in the SLG Policy Manual, hazing is “any act or tradition that endangers the physical, mental or emotional well-being of an Associate and/or Initiated member” regardless of intent or willingness to participate. In addition to SLG policy, there are hazing policies that exist on your campus and laws that vary from state to state. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with your campus policies and those laws specific to your state:

Despite what other organizations may consider “traditions,” we must use reasonable judgment in all of our actions and recognize the profound consequences of hazing. On an individual level, we are hurting those who look up to us and wish to join our organization, as well as perpetuate an unhealthy cycle. On an organizational level, we are not truthfully fulfilling our purpose and principles if we publicly denounce hazing with our words but support it behind closed doors with our actions. This compromises our integrity and prevents us from achieving all that we are capable of for our sisterhood and for our community.

C AMPUS H AZING P OLICY (insert your campus hazing policy from the university student handbook or student code of conduct)

S TATE H AZING L AWS (insert the hazing law for your state)

3 T YPES OF H AZING

S UBTLE H AZING Behaviors that emphasize a power imbalance between new members and other members of the group or team. Termed “subtle hazing” because these types of hazing are often taken-for-granted or accepted as “harmless” or meaningless. Subtle hazing typically involves activities or attitudes that breach reasonable standards of mutual respect and place new members on the receiving end of ridicule, embarrassment, and/or humiliation tactics. New members often feel the need to endure subtle hazing to feel like part of the group or team. Taken from

E XAMPLES OF S UBTLE H AZING Deception Assigning demerits Silence periods with implied threats for violation Deprivation of privileges granted to other members Requiring new members to perform duties not assigned to other members Socially isolating new members Line-ups and Drills/Tests on information Name calling Requiring new members to refer to other members with titles (e.g. “Mr.,” “Miss”) while they are identified with demeaning terms Expecting certain items to always be in one's possession

H ARASSMENT H AZING Behaviors that cause emotional anguish or physical discomfort in order to feel like part of the group. Harassment hazing confuses, frustrates, and causes undue stress for new members. Taken from

E XAMPLES OF H ARASSMENT H AZING Verbal abuse Threats or implied threats Asking new members to wear embarrassing or humiliating attire Stunt or skit nights with degrading, crude, or humiliating acts Expecting new members to perform personal service to other members such as carrying books, errands, cooking, cleaning etc Sleep deprivation Sexual simulations Expecting new members to be deprived of maintaining a normal schedule of bodily cleanliness. Be expected to harass others

V IOLENT H AZING Behaviors that have the potential to cause physical and/or emotional, or psychological harm. Taken from

E XAMPLES OF V IOLENT H AZING Forced or coerced alcohol or other drug consumption Beating, paddling, or other forms of assault Branding Forced or coerced ingestion of vile substances or concoctions Burning Water intoxication Expecting abuse or mistreatment of animals Public nudity Expecting illegal activity Bondage Abductions/kidnaps Exposure to cold weather or extreme heat without appropriate protection

I S IT H AZING OR NOT ? The following is a list of questions to ask to determine whether or not it is hazing: 1) Is alcohol involved? 2) Will active/current members of the group refuse to participate with the new members and do exactly what they are being asked to do? 3) Does the activity risk emotional or physical abuse? 4) Is there risk of injury or a question of safety? 5) Do you have any reservation describing the activity to your parents, to a professor or University official? 6) Would you object to the activity being photographed for the school newspaper or filmed by the local TV news crew? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” the activity is probably hazing. Adapted from Death By Hazing Sigma Alpha Epsilon. 1988

R ISKS OF H AZING Hazing carries a number of risks, including: Civil lawsuit Criminal prosecution for an illegal act Most states consider hazing a felony Discipline by the Sorority Example: probation/suspension, loss of membership Discipline by the College/University Example: degree taken away, suspension Possible loss of insurance coverage “If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.”

A CADEMICS

T HE ΣΛΓ S TART R IGHT P ROGRAM The Start Right program will help you learn how to utilize college and campus resources to set goals, develop an action plan, and identify a supportive academic partner. The objectives of this program are to help you: Identify a set of semester goals (grade point average, commitment to study time); Create an action plan that will support your academic success; Identify an academic partner (university staff, faculty, advisers) who will help you implement and fine-tune your action plan; Complete a contract that defines your goals and, semester plan and lists your academic partners.

S TART R IGHT P ROGRAM C ONTINUED STEP #1: Goal Setting/SMART Method S – Set specific, not general, goals. M – Goals must be measurable. A – Are the goals attainable? R – There should be a certain level of risk involved. T – Set a time limit. STEP #2: Action Plan Identify critical elements that support your SMART goals. List items as intentions statements: “I will…” STEP #3: Academic Partner Identify someone who can help you achieve academic success. Your partner should review your goals and action plan and meet regularly. The should encourage you, provide feedback, direct you to resources and hold you accountable to meet your goals. The FINAL Step… Meet with your Academic Partner and sign the Academic Success Contract.

S TART R IGHT P ROGRAM C ONTINUED

T IME M ANAGEMENT This program will help you see how you currently spend your time so that you can assess your current schedule and make changes if needed. The objectives of this program are to help you: Identify how your time is currently being spent Identify open time Prioritize commitments Create an action plan that will support your academic success

T IME M ANAGEMENT C ONTINUED Step #1: Time Management Log Log how many hours you spend each week doing each activity, then total the week’s hours and answer the questions Step #2: Create a Master Calendar Utilizing your syllabi, prior commitments, appointments, work, class hours, SLG meetings, etc create your quarter/semester schedule using color code. Step #3: Weekly Schedule Go through week by week (you can make additions as you go) completing your weekly schedule Step #4: Goals/Objectives & Priorities List your top three goals, determine their priority Step #5: Short-Term Schedule Creating your daily schedules the day/night before

Quarter ScheduleWeekly Schedule

S TUDYING Study Hours with both Sisters & Associate Members Plan time, days and locations Studying Tips Best practices shared by Sisters & Associate Members

C REST E XERCISE 1, 2, 3, 4: Create four symbols (pictures) that represent your deepest, most cherished values in life. Do these in order of importance (1, 2, 3, 4). Use written statements (short phrases or words) to describe the following: 5.Who am I? 6.My happiest moment or experience or greatest achievement. 7.Three things I do well. 8.Three areas, traits, characteristics, or attitudes I want to improve. 9.Personal motto by which I (try to) live. 10.One thing I would like to have said of me if I died today. 11.Three things I would like to learn to do well. 12.Three accomplishments I want to realize during my lifetime. 13.Three things I would like to start doing now. 14.My three highest priority life goals.

O NE ON O NE To aid in Sisterhood bonding each week Associate Members will be paired with a Sister for a minimum of one hour dates The objective of this bonding time is to increase awareness of: Commonalities Personalities Interests Aspirations Backgrounds

N EXT S TEPS (insert details of next meeting and any directives)