SigEp is committed to being A Valued Partner in Higher Education. The origins of that partnership begin with the relationship between the collegiate chapter and the campus-based fraternity/sorority advisor (FSA). Most campuses have identified a professional staff member to provide support, advice and guidance to the fraternity and sorority community, and that person is uniquely qualified to work with both undergraduate members as well as fraternity volunteers. It is imperative that SigEp chapter members and volunteers create a strong working relationship with this professional to ensure alignment with the fraternity mission.
For some, creating a relationship with the campus FSA may not seem essential, as they feel fully supported by the AVC. However, a relationship with the FSA can have an impact on the health and welfare of the chapter, and engages another advocate for the SigEp experience and the Balanced Man Program.
Creating a relationship when the chapter is doing well allows for the FSA to have a better understanding of the work of SigEp, the commitment to excellence and the individual leaders involved. Then, if and when something more challenging arises, the fraternity and sorority advisor is already armed with information on the chapter, the key volunteers and information about the positive attributes of the chapter.
There are many ways in which the chapter and volunteers can engage the FSA. Options may include:
— Invite the advisor over for dinner to meet the members of the chapter, AVC and mentor board.
— Ask the FSA to present a sound mind program or participate in a sound body program.
— Engage the FSA in providing a session on fraternity and sorority life beyond Sigma Phi Epsilon as part of the Sigma challenge for the new members.
— Ask the fraternity and sorority advisor to serve on the mentor board to work with member development or academic programming.
— Seek advice from the FSA when completing award applications or the Buchanan Cup application.
If the chapter wishes to further engage the fraternity and sorority advisor, setting up a monthly meeting with key chapter officers may be an option.
Asking the FSA to attend an AVC meeting once a year would also be a way to ensure open lines of communication. The SigEp chapter could also coordinate a meeting for all other fraternity and sorority volunteers in partnership with the FSA and host it at the SigEp house or other on-campus facility.
Being a valued partner in higher education also means that the SigEp chapter leadership and volunteers should identify other campus officials engaged in the development of the fraternity and sorority experience. These people may range from residential life staff to recreational sports and admission staff to alumni relations team members. Chapters should consider the full range of programming taking place within the chapter and then seek the campus content experts for their ideas, support and influence.
— Planning a homecoming gathering? Encourage the vice president of communications to meet with the alumni relations staff to determine the ideal timing of a SigEp event in the overall homecoming program.
— Need a recruitment workshop? Reach out to the staff in the admission office and see if they have a team member who would be willing to develop a workshop for the chapter.
— Expanding the chapters sound body program? Seek out coaches during their off season to see if they would develop a sound body experience for the chapter. Maybe the football coach would develop a fun workout experience or the volleyball coach would engage the men in some drills on the court.
— Developing an academic mentor program? Connect with academic support services staff and seek guidance on building the program and using all available on-campus resources.
— Managing interpersonal dynamics in the chapter? Invite a member of the residential life staff to host a chapter program on communication and working through difficult situations. They are specifically trained in mediation skills and can apply that knowledge to the fraternity setting.
Engaging as many campus professionals as possible in the SigEp experience will also engage additional allies for not only Sigma Phi Epsilon, but for the entire fraternity and sorority community. That is what being a leader in the fraternal world looks like, and that is an example of being a valued partner in higher education.
Dr. Carrie Whittier has been volunteering for SigEp since graduate school, and as her career took her from state to state, she stayed involved and volunteered with five different chapters in three states. She has facilitated at four Conclaves, the first in 1999, and has drawn from her expertise in student affairs to facilitate at Carlson and facilitate sessions during the Kenneth S. Maddox Summer Development Program. She helped three chapters recharter as she earned her masters and doctorate and then began her career in student affairs. Dr. Carrie Whittier is currently the assistant dean of students for Greek life and is still volunteering with the SigEp chapter on campus, serving as balanced man steward and mentoring executive board members. At the 2016 Carlson Leadership Academy in Chicago, Dr. Carrie Whittier was named the Distinguished Volunteer.
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