I you good afternoon and welcome to the National pan-hellenic Council also his nphc parent webinar we’re just going to talk to you a little bit about what you need to know when considering joining a black Greek letter organization I’m just designed for parents who have sons or daughters may be interested in joining
Impatiens ations at any time during this presentation you have questions please feel free to leave them in the comment box I have the director of Greek life Kristen Torre also on the call with me I mean she will be more than willing to answer the questions when the need be
We’ll save the questions for the end and be able to answer those at the end of this webinar so it’s not me further ado like I said welcome my name is anthony williams and i’m the coordinator of Greek life working primarily with the National Palace silent council as well
As well as the parent council so the historically black fraternities and sororities as well as our story white sororities here at Vanderbilt University like I said we have christened Tori she is a director of Greek life here at Vanderbilt i’m james crawford he’s a coordinator of Greek life working with
The Interfraternity Council which is our primer primarily white fraternities on campus we have to graduate assistants Samuel Amir Sarah mirin and Karen season is our administrative assistant I’m she helps keep everything together and helps keep our ship afloat so just a little bit about what you can expect from this
Webinar but I give you a brief history of Greek life also for those of you who might not be as aware of not gotten to this point in Greek life looks a little bit about that and we’ll talk some about the relevance of impatient organizations will mention briefly the challenges that
We currently face with our membership talk about the benefits of membership and then we’ll go into the joining process so what you can expect from the application process from the membership intake process and just kind of the commitment that it will take to continue being remove these organizations for the
Rest of your life so like I said give me the Greek life here’s a little bit of history fraternities first began to appear on the coast campus in 1776 they were based out of literary society also back in the day I mean in the 1700s students felt like they didn’t have a
Place to express themselves when it came to controversial topics in society so they form these groups out of these groups formed fraternities very similarly sororities first appeared on the college campus in 1851 they want organizations of their own they thought we need a space where we can discuss
Things that are relevant to us as women on the college campus because we’re not allowed to join submit to join the men’s organizations I’m so out of that need sororities were formed so if you go into the early 1900s when our nphc or historically black Greek letter organizations were founded under a few
Blacks attending parameter light institutions no also allies in the historical black college universities across the country so if we were to go into the black organizations and we see there are currently nine of them some found that parameter white institutions at a time where they had a knee they
Thought they knew the space to to come together and talk about issues are relevant for them I’m so organizations such as alpha kappa alpha or alpha phi alpha fraternity incorporated were founded at Cornell University I’m you have sigma gamma rho that was founded above the university of indiana a lot of
Our other organizations were founded at HBCUs I’m Howard University in Washington DC is considered the mecca of black life because alpha kappa alpha sori omega sci-fi kappa alpha side actually founded by Indiana University in Bloomington Indiana but Delta Sigma Theta Phi Beta Sigma Zeta Phi Beta were
All found at howard and without a Phi Beta being founded at Morgan State I’m so a variety of different organizations that students can be a part of that were founded at a variety of times at different types of institutions Brownlie institutions as well as historically black colleges and universities I’m
Serving need for those students to to really have the space on the organizations that they could call their own which has been an amazing experience I’m allow these organizations as you can see I’ve been around for for hundreds of years for 100 years and hopefully will be around for 100 more
But in 1930 you see that the National pan-hellenic Council was founded as a group to be an umbrella organization for the historically black quickly organizations on these college campuses the national parliament counselor MCHC is designed to be that group who helps unify the thought of all these organizations to put programming lon I’m
Together I together on the same page and talk about issues that are relevant to the black community international appellate counsel MCHC has grown there was 48 organizations but now iota phi theta is the night calling in phc the divine nine so just a little break history about Greek organizations each
Organization has I’m their own distinct history that is very important very valuable I mean it’s primarily the reason that people join a particular organization so if you would talk about impatient organizations in present day as i mentioned i’m a lot of organizations are celebrating or house celebrating 100 years of service to the
Community I’m I know you might have noticed a few years ago I guess last year the deltas celebrating their 100 years they had a float in the Macy’s anatomy she’s been Rose Bowl parade which was kind of cool my particular fraternity Phi Beta Sigma is celebrating
100 years this year and this it’s an exciting time to say that organization has been around growing and it survived Wars has survived um depressions the call to action in in the 1900s with men were sent off and women were I will call to do other things besides being use
Organizations but I’m to see our organizations have membership across the world with over 6,000 chapters between the novel organizations organizations are constantly doing community service projects to impact the community that they live in impact the world any of the kind of big things that you see Camilla back community sometimes have some sort
Of infancy organization connection to them I know that up Phi Alpha they have a very influential in the MLK memorial that’s in Washington DC there’s a lot that organizations are doing in the community and if you think about sports figures people entertainment business figures people in politics we
Can name hundreds and thousands of individuals that are prominent members of organizations that make them organizations that I’m students are interested in joining and make the LifeLock communities organizations I’m something that cannot go unnoticed now it sounds great I’m those are some of the amazing things by organizations but
We’re in a time where there are also some challenges that we’re facing on a daily basis with imputations one of the biggest challenges his membership selection I’m depending on the type of institution that you go to other super white institution Hispanic serving institution or historically black college university the number of
Individuals interested in in case your organization’s can vary dramatically i’m here at vanderbilt numbers are relatively low at this time I’m going to me go to a school like Tennessee State which is on the other side of town and they can assistant you have lines of twenty thirty people for some of the
Sororities and maybe 10 or 15 and so on the fraternity so we’re always worried about my racial selection I mean what happens once it seems like we’re having some technical challenges hold with us one second you in my back okay I’m so sorry about that I’m a lost my network connection but we
Have been faced the organization’s we struggle sharing our narrative because there are so many other people who want to come to tell us for us what it needs to be more of an inpatient musician movies like stop the yard if you think about in an older movie such as school
Days maybe even drumline a lot of things being put in the media that are telling individuals on the community what it means to be American MPs organization which might not be true I’m sore constantly in batting those stereotypes and those stiglitz that leads to this negative public perception about
Fraternities and sororities you often hear about the negative things that are happening the hazing incidents are happening on college campuses that make it difficult to actually appreciate the positive things that are coming our organizations something else that we struggle with this leadership development college students need this development but from the question is
Also arises is our organization is increased organizations actually providing the sorry for the continued technical difficulties we’re working on getting it fixed right now thanks for your patience okay it looks like I’m back I’m connecting I’m not sure what’s happening sorry about I’ll bet everyone but the
Last point I was talking about is is hazing hazing is something that will threaten organizations if we’re not able to put a strong hold on what’s going on insurance premiums are arising in organizations are becoming more and more in danger map available for these dudes are increasing I’m as costly conversation by eliminating
Undergraduate chapters as a whole so this hazing is something that is really going to drain organizations and could prevent us from seeing 100 years a more of service to our community thank you all for holding or have any questions like I said please feel free to leave
Them in the comment box I’m not sure what’s going on my connection but I will try to work our way through it all right so while there are challenges are also benefits of membership and simpatia organizations one of the greatest membership or benefits membership are the friendships the Brotherhood and
Sisterhood that you have much you join organization these relationships are the ones that we choke about it but it’s it’s real there’ll be the people who will be in a wedding in 10 years they’ll be the people who you might see her your child when they’re first born we’ll be
There in the hospital with you number people who if you’re going through a bad time will help pick you up we’ll only five dollars will give you a ride will give you help you change your spare tire and what you can call on the other night these will be the people who already
There for you I’m through thick and thin because of the bond that you have between your organization academics while all organizations do require you to at least have a 2.5 or higher I’m a lot of them really stress all really stressed academics in the importance that has on the college student on a
College campus statistically speaking members of impatient organizations I’m tend to do better than non-affiliated members so this is definitely a point of emphasis for organizations while some people do question the leadership development happens on the leadership opportunities that are afforded because of being American organization and are
Great the other place I’ve rented over chapter sizes are small you have the opportunity to really step in as the first year student and the second year student and even even a senior and really impact some organizations you can create programs the next thing your community service
Events clearly get out to the community and make a difference I’m all of that helps dilution of skills and traits that are in return you alright sorry once again I’m all the organizations have philanthropy that they support also an opportunity for career networking I myself have been introduced to different job
Opportunities because the people in my fraternity people and other Greek letter organizations have have said oh yeah you’ve been I know what leadership opportunities are available to you as a member of these organizations so I think you would be excellent this opportunity here my on my team with the staff so i
Think the career networking opportunities are are are unbelievable when it comes to two Greek letter organizations also these organizations are fun we do have a lot of fun whether it’s preparing for a step show or stroll off or whether she’s hanging out late at night i’m getting to know other members
Of the community members in your own chapter i’m going on road trips I’m you’re spending time with your brothers or your sisters being a member of a Greek letter organization especially increased organization is a lot of fun and of course a lifelong commitment it’s also very rewarding to go to a
Conference and see people a better organization for 50 60 years my grandfather celebrating 50 years actually this year I’m so he’s even been around for a while I seeing a lot of different things I’m going to see those individuals be involved and to care about the lifeline bloodline of the
Organization means a lot and really connect you want to continue being involved from this with your life so it talked a little bit about the challenges benefits of membership so I’m going to tell you now what right so if you’re your son or daughter is interested in joining an increase your organization
Here at Vanderbilt they of course must currently be enrolled as an undergraduate student and have a minimum of 12 completed college credit hours have minimum GPA of 2.5 cumulative that is a minimum for our office and some of the organization’s you require you to have higher than that as high as a 275
Three point oh so that’s specific for the organization from University standard units at least have a 2.5 you cannot be on disciplinary probation I’m at the time of joining have to go through an intake seminar this is something that our office puts on that talks about hazing that talks about membership I’m
That talks about the experience that you can expect the religious connects are the resources on campus I’m something we require everyone who’s interested in joining to go through we have a couple of those of semester we encourage students to get involved in the campus and in the community to get their name
Up there to get some different experiences to start already developing that leadership potential chapters will look for that as well as a character good morals and good ethics when it comes to selecting those winners those individuals from membership so people often ask you know impatient organizations are they seem standoffish
How do I show interest what do i do always tell people the one the easiest way for you to show interest in the patient organization is to browse organization and chapter websites the web has a ton of information about all organizations some of it better than others always caution people about the
Things that they find on the web sites but you can generally find about you know about the history the projects the program’s the services are the law really should provide I’m getting really good glimpse of the types of things that organizations on the college campuses as well as nationally are doing I’m attend
Events here at Vanderbilt each organization has either leaning week or a week throughout the year they also do some other targeted programming I’m focused around whether it’s there the programmatic thrusts or the things that the National Organization and designates for them to to put on they all have a
Minute I learn that members put on that interested members can attend make connections so getting out there in the community is a great opportunity to meet people to get to know individuals at our Greek that are not Greek and with the more connections you make more relationships you build within
Jules will increase the chances that you have of joining an organization I’m an express interest not being afraid to tell somebody in organization that you know I’ve seen the good work patrol during on campus and one day I can see myself being memorable organization that might be hard for some of our students
To actually say but we encourage students to tell members those things and the message to members do not be surprised if somebody comes up to you and says I’m interested in our organization but they know how in the Shahada respond to that and taken information I’m moving forward each
Organization will also have something some sort of informational meeting info social atty they call it a variety of things interest meetings to get the information out until interested members about the organization so those will happen generally at the beginning or the end of a semester I’m to Gardner inches
For that semester or the next semester just depending on the time frame but those are very informative they’ll have typically members of the chapter as well as well as advisors the graduate members will come in to tend to talk about their experience what it means to be a member
Organization I mean also you can begin the membership application process for a lot of organizations that application can be found online you can just kind of know the types of things that need to be in that application I mentioned application just to talk a little bit about what’s included in that so of
Course there’s a letter of application that maybe you or the student as an individual expressing their interest in telling widen wanna join they may submit resumes math to submit recommendations or some organizations that varies they might need a recommendation from an active member within the organization to vouch for them somebody who’s been
Financial for a few years or could be recommendation from a teacher from a professor it just very special for the organization most organizations will require you to do some sort of interview I’m so we also and always encourage our students to to practice their interview skills go to Career Service Center
To to brush up on those to be prepared for not only fraternity or sorority interviews well so just raining news outside a Greek life I’m potentially just in their in their future endeavors I’m going to dress the part organizations don’t always want to see people who are wearing sweatpants and
T-shirts to class but if you know people are going to advance looking like they want to be there look like they want to participate that goes a long way in the application process you have an interview dressing appropriately for that interview is always encouraged so we talked about the application and in
The process has it comes to membership intake for every organization the process itself looks different for some organizations it may be a three-day process over the course of the weekend we get all the information you need Indians once you leave you remember some organizations it could be a six-week
Process where there’s a little more flexibility in the schedule where you may have obsessions on the quote concessions on the weekend I have to go to lay go away to a cluster meeting map to come back do some other educational programs before I should get initiated so that process lasts anywhere from
About three days to six weeks if it goes beyond that there should be some questions ask some questions raised like I said of educational meetings that happen in their bonding activities where members get a chance to get to know each other I get a chance to to experience
Some of the things that in my experience what’s there in the organization or that’s planning a community services then potentially going to an alumni meeting of all of our chapters have a sponsoring alumni chapter i may go tell em not meeting and get to know people
Who are already in the area in the natural area can find out what it needs to be member of an inpatient organization and of course there are tests and evaluations that they’ll be required to take to prove that they have learned all the information that has
Acquired at them as a part of their membership in the inpatient organization this is a lot of words on this slide but once they get in expectations of membership are that is a lot it’s a lot i’m one of the biggest expectations can be different commitment depending on the organization
Initiation fees are those one-time fees and can range anywhere from nine hundred dollars to two thousand dollars after that you know chapter dues doing or decrease to be a little more I want to say medicals extra pencil who you are good to be a little more reasonable potentially anywhere from you know a
Couple hundred dollars to five hundred dollars a year or semester of all the organizations here they do have a housing feet because of the housing that they have here on campus on the men’s groups stay in one location together I’m Heather on cell phones and the little ears groups all have apartments that
They can use on campus for any conferences or trainings that they want to attend they may have to pay for those out of pocket and sometimes the chapter has they will has been able to do fundraising efforts and support or supplement them attending conferences or different training sessions but other
Times that money can need to come out of their pockets oh and there’s always Greek paraphernalia and then apparel nets on sell it almost any Greek or Greek event that you go to I’m sure your student will be interested in purchasing so those things can also get kind of
Pricey whether it’s a keychain a dog tag a new jacket with their line jacket letter and main one in the number those things can can add up in terms of cost I we kind of talked to our earlier the organization and chapter expectations every chapter has national programs and
Mandates I’m neither required to do and that looks very different for each organization some organizations like I said have certain programmatic markers that they must meet every year and then some organizations I’m just encouraged their chapters to do X number admits over the course of the year so very it
Varies by organization but at a bare minimum we as an office of Greek life require that our chapters do a certain set of programs and that’s called our fraternity and sorority standards so each organization will be expected to work towards and filling those standards so those there anywhere from community
Service hours educational programming to just involvement on campus and so there are expectations once you get in in terms of the types of programs and things that you do as a member of our community I’m at the time commitment we talked about membership intake process I’m lasting anywhere from three days to
Six weeks for some people the amount of studying that happens it could take up the amount of time as the class if they put that much effort into it I mean much more than that and some questions may arise is about about what they’re actually doing but immersive intake
Process can be time-consuming for a particular individual I’m just learning the information and spending time with the chapter the graduate remember is going to advance those types of things I’m can take up time and once you get in the chapter the expectation that you will have to get involved immediately is
There like I mentioned here at Vanderbilt especially our chapters are relatively small so there could be a time when you join in the spring of your sophomore year and you come back as following your junior and you are expected to be president of your chapter
That can be a lot for somebody to take on your town quickly jumps from from 0 to 100 real quick so that’s a that’s interesting to see but try to make people very aware of that commitment in the beginning then the social engagement and of course I’m something that you
Want to do as a as a part of your membership like you said is to have fun so whether I was going on road trips I’m hanging out practicing for different things I’m engaging on campus with other groups going to other people’s events just being involved takes up a lot of
Your time so it’s definitely a a balancing act to balance all of the financial commitments the commitments from on the chapters perspective as well as the top communis ever happen but it can definitely be done and that leads to the last community which is on the lifelong commitment these organizations
Were started at a time where there’s a need for for them within the community and it’s powerful to see like i said earlier those individuals who have continued to be involved are continuing to have an impact it’s the network that you have is amazing and being able to share that
With people for rest of your life is is one of the best experiences that I’ve had personally and that i can think of me think of an impatient ization so just that lifelong commitment is something that we encourage people to never forget yes you’re joining now for your
Undergraduate years but you are joining an organization that has hundreds of thousands of members across the world you’re always going to be interviewed and create show organization always remember being patient so tips for success for the students were always telling to build up your reputation in a
Positive way so like I said it well that’s getting involved on campus somebody who is reliable somebody who is a leader who is going to do things the right way I’m building up your reputation I’m not taking to social networks whatever I tell this to students they always say we don’t you
Know don’t be messy this is what they tell me I’m so staying away from social networks like Facebook and Twitter that shed light on you in a negative way if you’re going to use those social networks they should always be positive Charlotte’s be uplifting and promoting high ideals remain humble I’m something
That people do not like to see is cocky individuals who think that being a member of a Greek organization is a right being a member of a Greek organization is absolutely a privilege that’s why we have an application process that’s that’s bedded I’m that people everyone doesn’t join this is not
For everybody and it’s something that people should remember when we’re going through expressing interest that it’s important to express interest but it’s important to remember that these individuals are earned organizations that you’re interested in joining so having some sort of humility is very important but like I said an approach
Your organization of interest with confidence being yourself we want to want to see people who are are unique and feel comfortable with their skin encourage people to do their research to to know what is their joining before they’re joining something that’s different about impatient organizations versus some of the other organizations
On campus is you don’t get a chance to kind of just go and look at every organization most times once you submit your application you submit it once because you’ve done the research you know what organization is actually going to join also to be the most successful
Before you decide what it is that you’re going to join you need to have done your research so that you’re clear about why it is that you want to be a part of an increased organization and what it is is actually expecting and gather the organization I mean don’t pre pledge I’m
So prefetching pre pledging would be if you know you want to be an XYZ sorority before their actual in tech period starts individuals contact you a quest that you do things and that you feel are necessary premiership so that is something that that shouldn’t happen
That can look like you know I need you to go to McDonald’s and pick me up a large fry and a coke anywhere from that to more severe forms of a more severe forms of hazing that may happen so don’t pre pledge and then we always tell our
Students you know contact the office we’re here we have a relatively large staff for our student population that’s always ready and willing to help out there’s any concerns that the students have that you always parents have let us know we want to be there to support your
Students we want to be there to make sure that they’re successful not only as as whether the Greek community but just as people I’ve been to both students so contact the office of Greek life if there’s ever anything that you need so especially for parents we have some tips
I’m just going to kind of kind of read through these but encourage your son or your daughter to attend as many campus events as possible being in love is the best way to me active greek members i’m going to learn about the chapters i’m involved with another organizations is
Looked favorably upon during the membership selection process so that’s huge is to encourage them to be themselves and to get out on campus and participate I’m beautiful put themselves out there because that’s going to look great so being supportive learning and learning as much as you can so listening
To webinars and things like this asking questions of your students knowing what it is that they they want that they need making sure that you know what it’s going to be expected of them so it’s not a surprise for you as well keeping an open mind might be center of your Greek
Life isn’t for everyone I mean just because you have been in a fraternity or sorority doesn’t mean that that’s the right choice for your son or daughter so if you’ve been in one particular organization they might not want to be in the organization and please still be
Supportive of them and and help them through their process I mean keep it open mind I can say let your standard order cheese that goes directly back to I’m keeping an open mind they might see something here on campus that is not affected within the family structure
Right at home they might see one particular organization but once they got into school they realize that they want to do something else also it’s important for you let your son or daughter choose the group that he or she feels most comfortable joining talk to your son or daughter beforehand about
The financial obligation I’m you know determine who’s going to be the one that’s going to pay for this experience and know where the limits are I’ve learned the most disappointing things for me is to hear of a student who was able to muster up just enough money work
Just enough hours to be able to pay for their initial doobs but after that they can’t do anything else because they weren’t either supported by their family or they didn’t realize how much money was actually going to take also being very upfront about the financial obligations asking questions about that
And helping when you can you know if you can’t being clear with the students who they understand what it is that they’re expected to fulfill in terms of the financial obligation I’m allowing the students to fight their own battles no don’t become too evolved in the shore your fraternity process this is your
Your son and daughter’s decision you know there will be plenty of activities in the vestry to attend or even help playing what’s your student Jones one of organizations so let them have it we have support systems here on campus that are willing to help at the same time there are any
Concerns any concerns ever about your son or daughter and the things that they are going through as a limited organization I mean it starts about their experience any questions that you have just keep our contact information on hand you can find all of our email addresses on our website we have
Facebook pages we have Instagram accounts we have twitter so there’s ever anything that you all need Please Please Please Please Please I can’t cast you enough to contact us and let us know what is it we can do to to try to assist your son or daughter s thing i’m joining
Our organizations and even throughout the membership so i can finally connect with this mebane fhc has facebook page Vanderbilt Greek life we have a Facebook page better with NPCs Twitter and Instagram are listed there and we’ll be more than happy to to interact with you
Can’t wait to meet or see your son or daughter as they join organizations or I’m coming to an intake seminar attend an event I’m socialized with this more than than happy to welcome them into the nphc family and if there are any other questions feel free to ask them now you
Can type them in the box if not this webinar will be posted on our website will be more than happy like i said answer any question that you have here’s our contact information or email address once again if you have any questions please type them now and we’ll answer
Them but if not thank you for attending
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