New Member Education Guidelines

“New Member” means pledge, associate member, aspirant, etc.

New member education shall begin immediately after the end of formal recruitment, which is the moment the results of bid matching are announced (in 2009, on Saturday, February 1 for the Interfraternity Council, and on Sunday, February 2 for the Panhellenic Council).

New member education activities will conclude before Spring Break begins. For 2009, new member education activities must conclude on or before March 20, the Friday that Spring Break begins. During the week after Spring Break, activities are limited to one day for initiation, to be completed no later than 7 p.m. on Sunday, April 5. The date of initiation must be submitted to each chapter’s respective GLC in the initial New Member Education plan.

Greek chapters not participating in formal recruitment have six weeks, excluding spring break or fall break, from the date of affiliation/induction to conclude all new member education and initiation activities. Initiation for these chapters must be completed no later than three weeks before the week of final exams; for fall 2009, initiation must take place bySunday, November 22, 2009. For spring 2010, initiation must take place by Sunday, April 25, 2009.

No more than twelve (12) hours of activities per week may be required, not including study hours.

Because members and new members must be allowed time for sleep and study on evenings prior to classes, no activities may occur between midnight and 7 a.m. Monday through Friday. No overnights are allowed without prior written permission from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and must be included on the calendar submitted to and approved by your chapter's respective Greek Life Coordinator.

Academic performance by a new member class must take priority over new member activities. No required new member activities may be scheduled which conflict with academic commitments.

No alcohol shall be present at any new member program, activity or ritual of the chapter.

Hazing is prohibited; see DePauw's Hazing Policy. The chapter must provide each new member with a copy of the University’s hazing policy and new member education guidelines on the first day of new member education.

New Member Education Program Content

Contents of the new member education program must be approved by the Chapter Advisor and the chapter's respective GLC. Once approved, the program may not be altered without approval.

Contents of the new member education program that must be filed with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and must be provided to all new members at the beginning of the program, include the following:

Statement of Purpose, including mission and goals of the program. This should be a paragraph introducing the principles of the fraternity or sorority, and the primary objectives of the new member education program.
Expectations of a New Member. New members should be told in the beginning everything they will need to accomplish as a new member. Examples include GPA requirement, community service hours, study hours, dues, chapter activities, etc.
Expectations of a current Member. Before new member education begins, each chapter should discuss with all members the role(s) each member plays during new member education and what is acceptable and what is not. All members should take responsibility for member education.
Scholarship Program. Academics should be the new members’ first priority during new member education. Programs should be designed in a way that emphasizes the importance of academics, and new member activities should never interfere with studying for serious projects or exams. Study hours/tables should be included on the calendar. University space can be reserved for study hours.
Big Brother or Big Sister Program. A Big Brother or Big Sister, when used correctly, can provide valuable resources for the new member, and can help the new member become better acclimated to fraternity or sorority life. A list of expectations should be articulated in the program for the big brothers/sisters, including academic support and integrating the new members into the chapter.
Membership Contract. A membership contract should be included for each new member. This contract should include all requirements for initiation into the fraternity or sorority and for remaining an active member. Many national organizations provide and require such a document.
Letter to Parents sent at the beginning of process. Communication with parents is critical in the new member education process. Fraternities and sororities should communicate with them on a regular basis. Each new member educator should send a letter immediately following rush introducing himself or herself to the family, discussing financial obligations, and providing contact information. Parents should be encouraged to contact the fraternity or sorority if there are perceived problems with the new member process. The initial letter that will be sent by the new member educator should be submitted with the program.
Internal judicial procedure to ensure all members are following the program. Each chapter should have an internal judicial procedure to deal with violations of the new member education program. Members should be held accountable for going against the ideals of the program and engaging in any hazing activities.
Calendar of all new member and chapter events, including dates and locations. All new member activities (including dates and times) should be listed on a calendar of events for the entire duration of new member education.
Explanation of confidential reporting system for hazing violations within chapter. New members should have the ability to talk with members regarding any hazing activities. The chapter should have a system in place that encourages new members to come forward to members regarding hazing incidents that may have occurred. The system must include a prohibition on any form of harassment or retaliation against a member or new member who in good faith reports possible hazing activities to the chapter or its officers, the national organization, the University, or law enforcement officials.

The following sections must be detailed and approved by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life but do not need to included in the new members’ information binders.

Detailed description of all new member activities. The program should include a detailed description of all new member activities. As some activities are ritualistic in nature, please indicate those on your calendar.
Chapter and organizational history. Education about your fraternity or sorority is very important. Please include the basic information you plan to teach the new members, including the methods that you plan to use to test them.
Leadership Development. Leadership is an important aspect of fraternity and sorority life. Leadership should be nurtured in new members from the beginning of new member education. New members can learn leadership skills through responsibility (such as planning a service project), or by holding elected positions in the new member class, and pairing the new member officers with their chapter counterparts.

New Member Educator Workbook and Resource Guide

Fraternity & Sorority Life

New Member Education Guidelines

“New Member” means pledge, associate member, aspirant, etc.

New member education shall begin immediately after the end of formal recruitment, which is the moment the results of bid matching are announced (in 2009, on Saturday, February 1 for the Interfraternity Council, and on Sunday, February 2 for the Panhellenic Council).

No more than twelve (12) hours of activities per week may be required, not including study hours.

Academic performance by a new member class must take priority over new member activities. No required new member activities may be scheduled which conflict with academic commitments.

No alcohol shall be present at any new member program, activity or ritual of the chapter.

Hazing is prohibited; see DePauw's Hazing Policy. The chapter must provide each new member with a copy of the University’s hazing policy and new member education guidelines on the first day of new member education.

New Member Education Program Content

Contents of the new member education program must be approved by the Chapter Advisor and the chapter's respective GLC. Once approved, the program may not be altered without approval.

Contents of the new member education program that must be filed with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and must be provided to all new members at the beginning of the program, include the following:

Statement of Purpose, including mission and goals of the program. This should be a paragraph introducing the principles of the fraternity or sorority, and the primary objectives of the new member education program.

Expectations of a New Member. New members should be told in the beginning everything they will need to accomplish as a new member. Examples include GPA requirement, community service hours, study hours, dues, chapter activities, etc.

Expectations of a current Member. Before new member education begins, each chapter should discuss with all members the role(s) each member plays during new member education and what is acceptable and what is not. All members should take responsibility for member education.

Membership Contract. A membership contract should be included for each new member. This contract should include all requirements for initiation into the fraternity or sorority and for remaining an active member. Many national organizations provide and require such a document.

Calendar of all new member and chapter events, including dates and locations. All new member activities (including dates and times) should be listed on a calendar of events for the entire duration of new member education.

The following sections must be detailed and approved by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life but do not need to included in the new members’ information binders.

Detailed description of all new member activities. The program should include a detailed description of all new member activities. As some activities are ritualistic in nature, please indicate those on your calendar.

Chapter and organizational history. Education about your fraternity or sorority is very important. Please include the basic information you plan to teach the new members, including the methods that you plan to use to test them.

New Member Educator Workbook and Resource Guide