Advisors' Corner:

By Samantha Armstrong, M.Ed., Assistant Director, Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life

Learning to Lead

What I enjoy the most about the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life (CFSL) is actually getting to work with new leaders to develop their skills and leadership style. As a professional in the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life, I have the unique opportunity to reach students in a variety of ways. For several years, Washington State University and the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life have offered a variety of developmental leadership opportunities to assist the student leaders we work with in reaching their full potential as leaders. Below is a breakdown of the leadership opportunities we offered this semester and a list of those opportunities yet to come!

Greek Council Retreat

The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council headed to Uniontown, just south of Pullman, in early January for a few days of education and team-building. The focus of the retreat was to have the Councils connect with one another, learn how to work together effectively, and set goals for the year. Additionally, the retreat served to give the leaders a broader perspective of the community they would be working with and for in the coming months. Topics and goals discussed included bringing the community together, being intentional about creating community, restructuring how philanthropies are carried out, and working to change the current alcohol policy.

Spring Risk Management/Social Chair Workshop

In mid-January the Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council held their bi-annual Risk Management/Social Chair Workshop in conjunction with the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life and University of Idaho’s Office of Greek Life.  Brett Sokolow, a specialist in campus safety, security and high-risk student health and safety issues, and the President of the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management (NCHERM), a national multidisciplinary risk management consulting firm was the keynote speaker for the workshop. Each social chair and risk manager in attendance also received a Washington State University Fraternity & Sorority Risk Management Manual. The manual was designed via student/administrator collaboration and serves to help students plan and implement effective functions and ensure their living environment is a safe one.

Greek Leadership Academy (Formally Known As  T.E.A.M Weekend)

Towards the end of January, the Center of Fraternity & Sorority Life, in conjunction with Eastern Washington University’s Office of Greek Life, held its annual leadership retreat at Camp In-Sid-Sen in Northern Idaho. Braving the winter weather, approximately 150 student leaders and staff members set out to lay the foundation for building a stronger Greek community. Specific officers from each chapter were invited to attend; Chapter Presidents, Standards/Judicial Chairs, and New Member Educators. Topics discussed over the course of the weekend included respect, competition, alcohol policies/BYOB, appropriate forms of electronic communication, hazing, and how to be a Greek Community rather than a Greek System. All students in attendance seemed to be responsive to the idea that change is necessary for the Washington State University Greek Community in order for it to continue to prosper. Overall, the weekend was a success and several of the topics brought up are still being discussed in constituent group meetings.

Mid-American Greek Council Conference & The National Black Greek Leadership Conference

In mid-February, four Panhellenic Council Officers, three Interfraternity Council Officers, one NPHC Council Officer, and 2 advisors made the trek to Chicago, IL for the Mid-American Greek Council Association Conference & The National Black Greek Leadership Conference. Programming included position-specific information for Greek governing councils, chapters, advisors, and graduate students. The conference also included specific information about current events and issues that impact the Greek community on campus and exposed students to several leading experts/speakers in area of Greek Life. Nearly 2,000 participants came together creating the ideal setting for networking and idea sharing.  Even with travel complications, the students that were able to attend learned a lot and have brought back information to share with the groups they work with!

Phired UP!

The first weekend in March, the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council sponsored a weekend workshop with Phired Up Productions to help chapters work on their recruitment strategies. Several chapters were in attendance and the feedback has been positive. Phired Up is an education firm providing recruitment services to membership organizations. Phired Up Productions has delivered training and programming to the college fraternity/sorority community, and to other membership organizations, since 2002.  With the publication of Good Guys in 2006 and I Heart Recruitment in 2007, the company has become widely recognized as The Recruitment Experts.

COMING UP: (Below is a list of upcoming events/leadership development opportunities. We encourage you to speak with your Chapter about the following leadership opportunities and see if any of them will be in attendance or are interested in attending! Additionally, we would love your input on the Fall Risk Management/Social Chair Workshop – what would you like to see covered?) 

• Fall Greek Council Retreat: This typically occurs in August before school starts and is only open to governing council officers!
• Cougar Summer Leadership Institute: June 24-28 http://www.getinvolved.wsu.edu/ 
• Fall Risk Management/Social Chair Workshop: TBD