New members,
As initiation season begins to arrive here at Samford you are about to hit a "no turning back" point with your fraternity or sorority membership. Once you have accepted full membership into the organization you have chosen then you are a part of that organization for the rest of your life. With that in mind, nationally known collegiate speaker TJ Sullivan has written a web posting about the significance of committment to your respective organizations. TJ's posting is linked here for you to read and consider as you get ready to continue your membership journey.
http://tjsullivan.com/you-are-always-wearing-your-letters/
Something to think about..
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Panhellenic Recruitment Dress
During Orientation, we recieved a high number of questions regarding dress for the Panhellenic Recruitment process. In the below column, Panhellenic President Savannah Cyree provides a brief overview of attire for the Recruitment week and what you can expect.
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Recruitment can be a stressful time. Meeting lots of new people, constantly making decisions, and feeling as though you've asked the same question time and time again can be exhausting. The one thing you shouldn't have to worry about is what you are wearing. The recruitment process for the Samford Panhellenic community consists of 5 different days. In order to make this process as simple as possible, we have put together a basic guideline of what to wear during recruitment.
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Recruitment can be a stressful time. Meeting lots of new people, constantly making decisions, and feeling as though you've asked the same question time and time again can be exhausting. The one thing you shouldn't have to worry about is what you are wearing. The recruitment process for the Samford Panhellenic community consists of 5 different days. In order to make this process as simple as possible, we have put together a basic guideline of what to wear during recruitment.
The first day of the process, known as Open House, is a very calm day. Parties will last no longer than 15 minutes per house. This means that the outfit required for the day is simple as well. There is no need for high heels, wedges or anything of the sort. A cute top and shorts or jeans are the appropriate attire. Something similar to what you wore during orientation would be fine.
The second day of recruitment is even easier to dress for than the first. This day, known as Philanthropy, will be a day that everyone dresses alike. Women participating in recruitment will be provided with a t-shirt to wear. We encourage you to pair it with shorts or jeans. Flip flops, tennis shoes or flats are the recommended shoe choice.
The third day of recruitment, known as Theme Day, is a bit more creative in attire. On this day, you'll most likely see women in cute skirts and tops or casual sundresses. This is a day when you would not wear jeans. Flats and nice sandals are encouraged.
The fourth day of recruitment, known as Preference Night, is the most formal of the 5. Women are likely to wear something between a sundress and a cocktail dress. Many often note this as a "church" dress. If you desire to wear heels, this would be the night. However, wedges and flats are just as common. It is most important that you feel comfortable in whatever you choose to wear.
The final day of recruitment is known as Bid Day. This attire is extremely casual. Shorts or jeans are the most commonly worn thing. Additionally, we encourage our women to wear a tank top under their shirt. Each sorority will provide their new members with a t-shirt. It is much easier to just swap out the top layer in clothing for a new one. Plus, who doesn't want to wear their new letters?!
Hopefully, this explains everything you might want to shop for this summer in preparation for recruitment. Please don't hesitate to contact us with questions at greeklife@samford.edu, or comment below and we will answer!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
So, what really goes on during the summer?
One of the questions that we often hear is-do Greeks have anything happening over the summer? On the surface the answer may seem like not much, but ironically, it may be one of the busiest times of the year.
Depending on volume of "to dos" the first few weeks of the summer are knee deep in spring wrap-up. This may include wrap up of any outstanding council issues, finishing up any spring projects that can be closed, end-of-year and end-of-semester reporting and likely more depending on the activity of the semester.
June is Orientation time. We want to put the best foot forward for the Greek community and in the process the Samford community as well.
July and August are often the "kick off" for fall preparation months as the groundwork is laid for IFC and Panhellenic recruitment, starting the new year off on the right tone and everyone on the same page, and making sure that the greeks are appropriately engaged with start of school activities.
With individuals off participating around the country at conventions and more (representing their chapters and Samford in the process), hopefully you can see we are always running, always on the go, and constantly working for the betterment of the Samford Greek community and the Institution as a whole.
Depending on volume of "to dos" the first few weeks of the summer are knee deep in spring wrap-up. This may include wrap up of any outstanding council issues, finishing up any spring projects that can be closed, end-of-year and end-of-semester reporting and likely more depending on the activity of the semester.
June is Orientation time. We want to put the best foot forward for the Greek community and in the process the Samford community as well.
July and August are often the "kick off" for fall preparation months as the groundwork is laid for IFC and Panhellenic recruitment, starting the new year off on the right tone and everyone on the same page, and making sure that the greeks are appropriately engaged with start of school activities.
With individuals off participating around the country at conventions and more (representing their chapters and Samford in the process), hopefully you can see we are always running, always on the go, and constantly working for the betterment of the Samford Greek community and the Institution as a whole.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
The National Pan-Hellenic Council is born at Samford..
With the recent weather outbreak and like with many of you, the close of this semester, we are a bit behind on getting this out but as promised, a brief update for you on the creation of the newest Greek Governing Council, the NPHC.
Here at Samford, we have been working this year to establish a formal council for the NPHC affiliated chapters on our campus. We have had three active chapters for some time, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority,Inc; and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc..
As we made word of this effort public a great many questions spawned about the logic, need, etc. for this third council to be created. In an effort to add more information to the discussion the next several paragraphs I'd like to offer some follow up here, and I'll offer it in several formats, please bear with me on that.
To understand the need for three councils you must first look at the organizations management and some of the differences. While I cannot hope to cover all the ins and outs in a blog, I hope that some of these will illustrate the differences.
*Membership recruitment for IFC, Panhellenic and NPHC are dramatically different. IFC and Panhellenic both permit the recruitment and membership of first semester students. NPHC, as a part of their national standards, asks that students have an established, college, gpa. As such, the earliest a member can think about joining an NPHC based organization is the spring semester of their freshman year. IFC and Panhellenic are consistently looking for new members within the framework of their national guidelines (Panhellenic has a maximum cap per chapter on membership). NPHC organizations must follow a strict set of guidelines beginning with securing permission from their overseeing graduate chapter (alumni chapter) to have a new member class. So as you can see, where IFC and Panhellenic are pretty much open ended with recruiting, NPHC organizations may not necessarily be that way.
The longevity of chapters on campus in the NPHC community ebbs and flows. It’s not unusual to see edicts from somewhere in an NPHC organizations’ hierarchy such as moratoriums on recruitment. These are typically in response to challenges the organizations face around the country. This process often kills undergraduate chapters that may have been operating well within appropriate parameters simply because, at most campuses, NPHC member numbers are very low. Based on what I know about Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at Samford, I believe this may have been one example of this type of chapter closure. NPHC organizations, typically at any institution, aren’t “housed” and this actually helps them in that it is one less business operation for them to manage. IFC organizations and Panhellenic organizations typically don’t close unless the chapter has “fizzled” or there is a significant problem that could create liability issues or endanger the health of the membership.
There are also issues of retention and recruitment to consider. On the retention side, it is noted often in student development literature that students seek out mentors that frequently come from similar backgrounds. These students often seek mentors and organizations engaged in activities that acquaint them with not only the greater community but with their own ethnic communities as well. These connections are often made very early in a student’s academic career. Having these organizations that facilitate this process, if we are managing them effectively, can prove the chapters to be very valuable in the retention of ethnic based populations. We also have to work continuously to be in appropriate partnership with their alumni, headquarters, parents, as well as other constituencies. Additionally, the family lineage that exists within these organizations may play significant roles in students choosing colleges to attend, or the interest to stay in one (for better or worse, it can play a role). It is not unusual to see third, fourth and fifth generation family members within the NPHC organizations and that it has played a significant role in their lives. As an example, at the last fall preview day this past semester, a female student asked about an NPHC chapter and that she was looking for that organization at the school she attended because of her families involvement with it. Right or wrong again, that was a priority in that student’s college search.
The IFC and Panhellenic governance structures are not equipped for NPHC chapter issues. All of our chapters are a part of one of three national governance bodies. IFC, represents largely the member organizations of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), Panhellenic represent the members of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Conference (NPHC) are the need for a third council. As a few examples of management differences existing between the three bodies, are the recruitment processes for new members, advisory structures on the alumni side of the partnership, event management, and more. In fairness, we have had NPHC chapters on campus for some time, but have done them a disservice by attempting to lump them into councils that aren’t built for their operational frameworks. Creating a third governance body has raised the organizations profile on campus and put all of our chapters on an equal playing field.
Here at Samford, we have been working this year to establish a formal council for the NPHC affiliated chapters on our campus. We have had three active chapters for some time, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority,Inc; and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc..
As we made word of this effort public a great many questions spawned about the logic, need, etc. for this third council to be created. In an effort to add more information to the discussion the next several paragraphs I'd like to offer some follow up here, and I'll offer it in several formats, please bear with me on that.
To understand the need for three councils you must first look at the organizations management and some of the differences. While I cannot hope to cover all the ins and outs in a blog, I hope that some of these will illustrate the differences.
*Membership recruitment for IFC, Panhellenic and NPHC are dramatically different. IFC and Panhellenic both permit the recruitment and membership of first semester students. NPHC, as a part of their national standards, asks that students have an established, college, gpa. As such, the earliest a member can think about joining an NPHC based organization is the spring semester of their freshman year. IFC and Panhellenic are consistently looking for new members within the framework of their national guidelines (Panhellenic has a maximum cap per chapter on membership). NPHC organizations must follow a strict set of guidelines beginning with securing permission from their overseeing graduate chapter (alumni chapter) to have a new member class. So as you can see, where IFC and Panhellenic are pretty much open ended with recruiting, NPHC organizations may not necessarily be that way.
The longevity of chapters on campus in the NPHC community ebbs and flows. It’s not unusual to see edicts from somewhere in an NPHC organizations’ hierarchy such as moratoriums on recruitment. These are typically in response to challenges the organizations face around the country. This process often kills undergraduate chapters that may have been operating well within appropriate parameters simply because, at most campuses, NPHC member numbers are very low. Based on what I know about Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity at Samford, I believe this may have been one example of this type of chapter closure. NPHC organizations, typically at any institution, aren’t “housed” and this actually helps them in that it is one less business operation for them to manage. IFC organizations and Panhellenic organizations typically don’t close unless the chapter has “fizzled” or there is a significant problem that could create liability issues or endanger the health of the membership.
There are also issues of retention and recruitment to consider. On the retention side, it is noted often in student development literature that students seek out mentors that frequently come from similar backgrounds. These students often seek mentors and organizations engaged in activities that acquaint them with not only the greater community but with their own ethnic communities as well. These connections are often made very early in a student’s academic career. Having these organizations that facilitate this process, if we are managing them effectively, can prove the chapters to be very valuable in the retention of ethnic based populations. We also have to work continuously to be in appropriate partnership with their alumni, headquarters, parents, as well as other constituencies. Additionally, the family lineage that exists within these organizations may play significant roles in students choosing colleges to attend, or the interest to stay in one (for better or worse, it can play a role). It is not unusual to see third, fourth and fifth generation family members within the NPHC organizations and that it has played a significant role in their lives. As an example, at the last fall preview day this past semester, a female student asked about an NPHC chapter and that she was looking for that organization at the school she attended because of her families involvement with it. Right or wrong again, that was a priority in that student’s college search.
The IFC and Panhellenic governance structures are not equipped for NPHC chapter issues. All of our chapters are a part of one of three national governance bodies. IFC, represents largely the member organizations of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), Panhellenic represent the members of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Conference (NPHC) are the need for a third council. As a few examples of management differences existing between the three bodies, are the recruitment processes for new members, advisory structures on the alumni side of the partnership, event management, and more. In fairness, we have had NPHC chapters on campus for some time, but have done them a disservice by attempting to lump them into councils that aren’t built for their operational frameworks. Creating a third governance body has raised the organizations profile on campus and put all of our chapters on an equal playing field.
I hope this adds a bit of background for all of you to the creation of the NPHC here at Samford. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Greek Life at greeklife@samford.edu for more information.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Perspective on Service..
Today's post is from Kelsey Caffey, Director of Service Programming for the Panhellenic Council
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My name is Kelsey Caffy and I am serving as Samford’s Panhellenic Director of Service. Philanthropy and community service are integral parts of the Greek experience at Samford, and Panhellenic hopes to continue to provide sorority women opportunities to support the Birmingham area, as well as to discover specific areas of service that they are passionate about. As a Samford student and member of a sorority, the opportunity to volunteer has benefited me and created a deep appreciation for philanthropy that has overflowed into other areas of my life. One of the most important aspects I have learned about service is that even volunteering once at a given organization for a few hours can have a lasting impact. It can give you insight, change your perspective, and help foster a lifelong commitment to service.
At the start of the semester, Panhellenic sponsored a University-wide blood drive. Each sorority volunteered at a given time slot during the day, and Samford students were able to serve by donating blood. The goal of this project was to get the entire University involved, rather than labeling the drive as a “Greek” event. Additionally, the blood drive gave students the opportunity to give the very most with the least cost, by donating their own blood, as well as their time.
Presently, we are working toward organizing a service project with the Foundry in Bessemer, Alabama. The Foundry is a Christ-centered drug and rehab clinic that seeks to provide constructive assistance to those in need through its recue, recovery, and re-entry programs. We are looking into bringing Samford’s sorority women together by serving a meal or sponsoring a women’s event on a Friday night. By offering conversation and a listening ear, we hope to have a positive impact on those undergoing the recovery process.
As the emphasis on community service continues to grow within the Samford student body, Panhellenic hopes to expand on a relational level by creating lasting ties with Birmingham service organizations. Even by simply going out into the community a few times during the semester and offering our time, we aim to keep with the Samford tradition of service and to know that our effort is being combined with the efforts of other campus groups and organizations to create a lasting effect on the community. As we expand, we hope to promote service projects like the blood drive that are open to the University as a whole. We want to maintain a strong commitment to campus-wide unity and participation for a greater cause.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
So can we really open recruit?
The title of this post is a question that seems to run in a lot of people's heads when we get to talking about recruiting of new members and how it can be done..Well, the short answer to that question in the title is most emphatically yes.
The next question, how do I do it? Easy, open recruitment is all about building relationships and building "up" to asking them to join the chapter. For our NPHC interfraternal brothers and sisters though, the process is a bit different, so let me speak to our IFC and Panhellenic brothers and sisters with this post.
Numerically speaking, roughly, each of us will run into about 20-25 people throughout the course of the week that we have regular contact with that is not already greek affiliated who could potentially be a brother or sister within our (or another) organization. People join people, organizations are often the secondary thought in a person's mind if we really tell the truth about it. How did you build that relationship with people you have called your friends for years? What did that first start as? Same principle here..
Once you have gotten to know someone, introduce them to your chapter friends, start small, build up. Think of it as a trickle down effect. Your relationships that you build with them and that they see between you and your other members of the chapter will ultimately be one of the telling factors in whether they will keep interest. People sell people, and the positive true relationships that you have with each other based on your common bond through ritual, will be the ultimate head turner as you pursuade others to join.
Introduce the idea of being "Greek" and get them thinking in those terms. For some, fraternity and sorority do not necesarily equate to "greek" unless you are talking about the ABC Family Channel show, which is another topic for another time :) This is where, if you haven't indirectly already, you may be stereotype busting, things like "Do I have to buy my friends"..may be things that surface here.
Educate them! Take the time to help them understand completely what they would be getting into, appropriately.
Sell them on the chapter and close the deal.
For some it may be a quick process, you have those you know that will be gung ho joining your chapter and being a part of your organization, others may be a bit more work, and take a bit more investment, but the key is that they are thinking about it and taking it seriously. They are worth the investment just as much as the person who will join you quickly.
Be smart about it all, treat them as you would be treated, respect the frameworks that are in place right now recruitment rule wise and good luck. If you need any help, give the office a shout and we'll be glad to coach you through this in person.
The next question, how do I do it? Easy, open recruitment is all about building relationships and building "up" to asking them to join the chapter. For our NPHC interfraternal brothers and sisters though, the process is a bit different, so let me speak to our IFC and Panhellenic brothers and sisters with this post.
Numerically speaking, roughly, each of us will run into about 20-25 people throughout the course of the week that we have regular contact with that is not already greek affiliated who could potentially be a brother or sister within our (or another) organization. People join people, organizations are often the secondary thought in a person's mind if we really tell the truth about it. How did you build that relationship with people you have called your friends for years? What did that first start as? Same principle here..
Once you have gotten to know someone, introduce them to your chapter friends, start small, build up. Think of it as a trickle down effect. Your relationships that you build with them and that they see between you and your other members of the chapter will ultimately be one of the telling factors in whether they will keep interest. People sell people, and the positive true relationships that you have with each other based on your common bond through ritual, will be the ultimate head turner as you pursuade others to join.
Introduce the idea of being "Greek" and get them thinking in those terms. For some, fraternity and sorority do not necesarily equate to "greek" unless you are talking about the ABC Family Channel show, which is another topic for another time :) This is where, if you haven't indirectly already, you may be stereotype busting, things like "Do I have to buy my friends"..may be things that surface here.
Educate them! Take the time to help them understand completely what they would be getting into, appropriately.
Sell them on the chapter and close the deal.
For some it may be a quick process, you have those you know that will be gung ho joining your chapter and being a part of your organization, others may be a bit more work, and take a bit more investment, but the key is that they are thinking about it and taking it seriously. They are worth the investment just as much as the person who will join you quickly.
Be smart about it all, treat them as you would be treated, respect the frameworks that are in place right now recruitment rule wise and good luck. If you need any help, give the office a shout and we'll be glad to coach you through this in person.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Greek Speak goes live!
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the Greek Blog for Samford University. This blog will cover events and happenings for the Samford University Greek Community. Answers to questions that are floating around out there, event coverage, current discussions and more will pop up here. We will, more than likely, update this weekly and will from time to time have guest posters. If you are interested in posting or have a question you would like for us to address, please let us know by emailing greeklife@samford.edu and we'll do our best to answer you through the blog.
Thanks and we'll blog something for you soon!
Samford University Greek Life
Welcome to the Greek Blog for Samford University. This blog will cover events and happenings for the Samford University Greek Community. Answers to questions that are floating around out there, event coverage, current discussions and more will pop up here. We will, more than likely, update this weekly and will from time to time have guest posters. If you are interested in posting or have a question you would like for us to address, please let us know by emailing greeklife@samford.edu and we'll do our best to answer you through the blog.
Thanks and we'll blog something for you soon!
Samford University Greek Life
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