North American Interfraternity Conference members and the Governing Council propose and vote on standards that guide the larger fraternal community and help unite fraternities to be who we say we are. As the needs of fraternity communities and their campuses are constantly changing, these standards call upon leadership to create changes to what “fraternity” means and asks each member to live to the highest standards of fraternity membership.
The NIC is a voluntary trade association and membership in the NIC requires each member organization to adhere to the following Standards of Membership, known as the NIC Standards. Realizing that undergraduate chapters are self-governing, nothing in the NIC Standards shall be interpreted to imply that a member organization has a duty to provide day-to-day supervision or direction, or control the daily activities of undergraduate chapters and/or individual members associated with that member organization. It is further understood that each member organization shall strive to work collaboratively with host institutions through these Standards and The Campus Advocacy Protocols, while supporting its respective chapters to maximize student enrichment.
Member organizations are expected to provide appropriate follow up and ongoing education with their chapters on compliance with NIC Standards in a similar manner to which they accomplish the same regarding member organization policies and expectations.
NIC Standards
Standards
(A) Each member organization shall maintain a policy of a 2.5 minimum cumulative high school or college, if established, GPA for joining an undergraduate chapter.
Each member organization shall have health and safety policies which mirror NIC Alcohol and Drug guidelines and address the following.
(A) Alcohol and Drug policies consistent with those adopted by the NIC
(B) Hazing
(C) Sexual Abuse and Harassment
(D) Fire, Health and Safety
(E) Carry Commercial General Liability Insurance.
(F) Have and enforce a policy prohibiting women’s auxiliary groups (i.e. “little sisters”) associated with their undergraduate chapters.
(G) Adopt and implement a medical Good Samaritan policy.
(H) Provide ongoing education on member organization Health & Safety Guidelines.
(I) Provide ongoing education on member organization Big Brother and Mentor Programs
Each member organization will strive to work collaboratively with host institutions while supporting its respective chapters to maximize student enrichment.
Each member organization shall:
(A) Have and enforce a policy that supports the opportunity for all NIC member fraternities to flourish through responsible access to open expansion. “Responsible access” requires that the CEO of the Conference has confirmed that
- (i) the member organization has openly and in a timely manner communicated its expansion intention and timeline to the host institution, the IFC, and the Conference;
- (ii) the member organization has made reasonable efforts to partner with the host institution, IFC and fraternity/sorority community in its expansion efforts; (iii) there are no significant documented risk concerns with any existing interest group of the member organization on such host institution campus; and
- (iii) the member organization has assessed and taken into consideration any campus readiness assessment developed by the Conference regarding such institution.
(B) Commit to responsibly colonizing chapters that enhance the campus community by working collaboratively with other member organizations and the host institution and adhering to responsible access expectations.
Each member organization shall:
Maintain and enforce a policy supporting student choice as to the ability of any male to freely choose when he can join an undergraduate chapter of any member organization without restrictions on the date, time and place of membership invitation, extension, and acceptance; or which would violate IFC SOPs.
(A) Each member fraternity shall have and enforce a policy that all of its eligible undergraduate chapters and colonies shall maintain membership in an Interfraternity Council, where applicable, that is in alignment with NIC Standards and IFC SOPs.
Each member organization shall:
Have and enforce a policy establishing minimum GPA requirements for joining any of its undergraduate chapters by requiring the following:
- In order to join an undergraduate chapter, a potential new member who has yet to establish a collegiate GPA shall have a minimum high school GPA of 2.50. A member organization, at its discretion, may establish a policy on minimum GPA requirements for joining that is higher than a 2.50.
- In order to join an undergraduate chapter, a potential new member who has established a collegiate GPA shall have at least a 2.50 collegiate GPA. A member organization, at its discretion, may establish a policy on minimum GPA requirements for joining that is higher than a 2.50.
Provide ongoing education to its undergraduate chapters on its policy establishing minimum GPA requirements for joining.
Each member organization shall:
Have and enforce a policy establishing a minimum annual cumulative GPA requirement for its undergraduate chapters by requiring either a cumulative GPA:
- Of 2.70 or higher; or
- That is at or above the all men’s GPA for the host institution where an undergraduate chapter exists, if the all men’s GPA for the host institution is below a 2.70.
Provide ongoing education to its undergraduate chapters on its chosen policy establishing minimum annual cumulative GPA requirements.
Member fraternities will make available upon request at least three years of confirmed chapter conduct history to members, new members, prospective new members, and to the parents of members, new members, or prospective new members.
Each member fraternity should submit annual membership data as requested within 30 days of the request. Failure of a member organization to accurately submit the required data shall be referred to the NIC Membership & Accountability Committee for consideration of disciplinary action pursuant to Article X of the Constitution.
By September 1, 2021, each NIC member fraternity will have a public position or policy addressing its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Furthermore, each member fraternity will establish and maintain a system for reporting of and acting on bias-related allegations/incidents. Any member fraternity that does not have a business meeting before September 1, 2021, will be granted a one-year extension in adopting the above policy if such a meeting is required to comply with this standard.
The authority for holding member organizations accountable to NIC Standards derives from Article X, Sections 2 and 3 of the NIC Constitution.
