Indianapolis, Dec. 12, 2016—Exhibiting strong commitment to emerging and culturally-based fraternities, the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) welcomes Veronica Moore to its team.

As the Director of Emerging & Culturally-Based Fraternal Initiatives, Moore will develop educational programs for these NIC groups, as well as focus on their advocacy within higher education. She will advance collaboration, resources and services to support the continued growth and development of organizations in the Fraternity Growth Accelerator, an initiative established in the historic NIC 2.0 reforms.

Moore is joining the staff after completing her term as President of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) earlier this month. In her six years on the AFA board, she helped create and implement the organization’s strategic framework and led it to unprecedented growth.

As a member of a culturally-based sorority who has strong interfraternal leadership experience under her belt, Veronica is the perfect person to help us establish these programs,” said Judson Horras, NIC President & CEO.

In its first year, this will be a part-time position with the intention of expanding it to a full-time role as the initiatives evolve. Delta Upsilon International Fraternity recently hired Moore and is sharing her time with the NIC for initial program development.

“We are thrilled we have the opportunity to partner with our interfraternal friend, Delta Upsilon,” said Horras.

Moore has more than 10 years of professional experience in higher education. She most recently worked as Associate Director of Student Activities at Temple University in Philadelphia, where she developed a chapter assessment program, established a framework for community operations, and grew the community and its councils through intentional expansion. Additionally, in her five years as the Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs at Lehigh University, Veronica created valuable educational resources, helped grow the multicultural fraternal community, enhanced the chapter educational and assessment plan, and developed relationships with campus partners and faculty from multiple disciplines.

I’m excited for this opportunity because of the NIC’s intentionality to make sure allgroups are successful as it seeks to improve fraternal communities across North America,” said Moore. “It’s important for emerging and culturally-based organizations to have awareness of and access to resources, and through my role, I hope to help these fraternities increase their positive impact.”

Moore became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at Carthage College. She earned her master’s degree in College Student Counseling and Personnel Services at Western Illinois University. She will work from her home in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and will begin her role with the NIC in January 2017.

Indianapolis, Oct. 5, 2016—The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) and four regional interfraternal leadership programs are partnering to bring council officer training to students in 2017.

In its pilot year, new Interfraternity Council (IFC) Academy curriculum will be facilitated at four regional conferences and new College Panhellenic Academy curriculum will be facilitated at two conferences. Programming will emphasize interfraternal leadership, establish a community mindset and goals, and take a deep dive into officer-specific training. Program collaborators are focused on recruiting seasoned content experts to deliver training. NPC will host its third annual College Panhellenic Academy in late January in addition to the regional program pilots.

By joining efforts and bringing our Academy programming to different parts of the country, we have a greater opportunity to provide current and consistent education to a broader set of student leaders,” said Dani Weatherford, NPC Executive Director. “Additionally, we hope this collaboration can model how fraternity and sorority communities can work together to solve challenges faced on many campuses today.”

The program will be piloted in several ways, allowing collaborators to assess which model is most effective. For this reason, logistics and registration will be unique to each conference, and the hosting organizations will provide information on their websites in the months to come.

This coalition is another example of the industry coming together to make a better future for all students,” said Judson Horras, NIC President & CEO. “While we are focused on College Panhellenic and IFC in year one, our vision is to continue to refine the program to include all fraternity and sorority councils in the future.”

Organization leaders are excited to introduce the new officer education at each of their regional events.

Northeast Greek Leadership Association (NGLA) Annual Conference

“This collaboration is important because it helps us elevate the training available to our students and fosters community-wide change conversations across the country,” said Emily Perlow, NGLA Chairman. “Such partnership helps build collaboration between councils, empowering leaders to steward change and place the values of their organizations at the forefront of decision making.”

Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) Central and West

“We wanted to go to the source; the NIC and NPC are partners uniquely suited to provide clear expectations and training to the student leaders who serve on IFCs and College Panhellenics,” said Ryan O’Rourke, AFLV Executive Director. “As a new course is charted for interfraternal communities, it would be counterproductive not to connect students to those efforts and provide training on how they can use them to make the organizations more effective.”

Southeastern Interfraternity Conference (SEIFC) Leadership Academy

“Officer training has been the centerpiece of our program for the past 10 years,” said Gary Wiser, SEIFC Executive Director. “By transitioning the Victor Felts CORE Institute to the IFC Academy, this partnership will allow us to expand our programming opportunities and outreach to councils in various functional areas.”

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Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association representing inter/national men’s fraternities. The NIC’s member organizations boast more than 6,000 chapters located on more than 800 campuses in the United States and Canada, with approximately 375,000 undergraduate members and nearly 5 million alumni.

Indianapolis, Sept. 22, 2016–The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) welcomes Beta Upsilon Chi as its newest member fraternity. Beta Upsilon Chi has joined the NIC to “align itself with the fraternal movement” and access advocacy and resources that will elevate its value in higher education, said Jason Hoyt, Beta Upsilon Chi President and Chief Operating Officer.

Membership in the NIC will allow Beta Upsilon Chi to learn from the collective experience of dozens of other fraternities while maintaining our unique identity and our strong commitment to a Christian brotherhood, which reflects our purpose, values, mission and goals,” said Hoyt.

The NIC advocates for young men to have the opportunity to join fraternal experiences that best reflect their core values for lifelong membership.

We are thrilled Beta Upsilon Chi has joined the NIC family, which represents a large cross-section of students from diverse backgrounds and interests including historically black, multicultural, religious and emerging organizations,” said Judson Horras, NIC President & CEO.

Since its founding at The University of Texas at Austin in 1985, Beta Upsilon Chi has had tremendous growth to include 2,500 undergraduate men in 34 chapters on campuses in 16 states. The fraternity brings powerful programs to its members, like the COR Leadership Retreat, which over 10 days, provides students with professional development, mentorship, outdoor experiences and team building.

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Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association representing inter/national men’s fraternities. The NIC’s member organizations boast more than 6,000 chapters located on more than 800 campuses in the United States and Canada, with approximately 380,000 undergraduate members and nearly 5 million alumni.

At this year’s Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Annual Meeting in Boston, the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) will host a special pre-conference program:

THE FUTURE OF FRATERNITIES

Wednesday, November 30, 2016 | 1 to 4:30 p.m.

The meeting will feature both presentations and small-group conversations that:

• Provide an update on the progress of NIC 2.0
• Explore what our priorities and initiatives mean for you as a campus professional and how they can positively impact your community
• Provide an update on the progress of the NIC Presidential Commissions on alcohol, hazing and sexual assault
• Gather input to explore how together, we can chart a course for the future of fraternities

This program is presented at NO COST for attendees thanks to the sponsorship of Sigma Phi Epsilon and the partnership of AFA. Those interested in attending can reserve their spot when registering for the AFA Annual Meeting. The online form will prompt attendees to choose any special programs they plan to attend. Select “The Future of Fraternities.”

Click here for more information. AFA early-bird registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 30.

If a registered attendee for the Annual Meeting would like to add this program to their registration, simply email Kyle Moyer, AFA Membership & Client Service Associate.

Indianapolis, Aug. 8, 2016—Fraternities have reached out to the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) for insight around inclusion as the needs of transgender college students have recently received increased attention. The NIC has established a working group to review the student development and legal perspectives in this area.

We have heard from fraternities that they would like more education in this area,” said NIC President & CEO Judson Horras. “They are listening to their members and constituents and seeking out greater information around potential policy options and their implications.”

The Transgender Inclusion Working Group will:

• Conduct a scan of existing membership inclusion and/or anti-discrimination policies of fraternal organizations, higher education associations, universities and other such groups.
• Survey interests and concerns, interviewing experts and constituents.
• Obtain legal insight around impact on the Title IX exemption of single-sex fraternities and sororities, as well as exposure to discrimination-based claims.
• Outline leading practices and provide member fraternities with a report enabling them to make informed policy decisions.

The charge of this group is not to recommend a specific policy or set an industry-wide standard. Each NIC fraternity is a sovereign organization that selects its own members based on its guidelines. The group will provide information and leading practices to fraternities to support their members.

Many organizations across society—from campuses to businesses to government entities—are currently working through these same policy questions,” said Horras. “Fraternities are selective organizations that get to choose their members, and we have an opportunity to be more inclusive.”

We welcome input on this topic. Please reach out to Patrick Jessee, Executive Director of Delta Sigma Phi and Chairman of the work group, or Heather Kirk, NIC Chief Communication Officer, to provide information or your perspective throughout August.

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Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association representing inter/national men’s fraternities. The NIC’s member organizations boast more than 6,000 chapters located on more than 800 campuses in the United States and Canada, with approximately 375,000 undergraduate members and nearly 5 million alumni.

(updated) Indianapolis, July 6, 2016—After Harvard University announced May 6, 2016, that it would sanction students who are members of single-gender organizations, fraternal organizations came together to urge the university to reconsider its policy. Today, Campus Pride, the leading national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups, joins the organizations to advocate for student rights and ask Harvard to refocus on effective strategies to further campus safety and inclusion.

Harvard’s policy will not fix the serious campus problems of sexual assault or discrimination—much less classism and racism,” said Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer. “It will only drive them further underground. Blocking access or restricting rights is never the answer to complex issues. Simple solutions only end up hurting more people in the long term. Instead, we encourage Harvard to reconsider its policy and take a more complex, strategic ownership and responsibility in directly addressing the concerns at heart by all its student populations.”

Read Campus Pride’s full statement. Read the updated joint statement from Campus Pride, the NIC and other fraternal organizations below.

FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS RESPOND TO HARVARD POLICY ON SINGLE-GENDER ORGANIZATIONS

Indianapolis, May 9, 2016—Officials from the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), and Campus Pride, issue the following statements in response to the policy announced Friday, May 6, 2016, by Harvard University that would sanction students who are members of single-gender organizations, beginning with the class entering 2017. At Harvard, fraternities and sororities—which are private organizations—are not affiliated with the university.

JOINT STATEMENT FROM DANI WEATHERFORD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL PANHELLENIC CONFERENCE; FRANCISCO LUGO, COMMISSIONER OF MEMBER SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LATINO FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS; JUDSON HORRAS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INTERFRATERNITY CONFERENCE; MARK KOEPSELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FRATERNITY/SORORITY ADVISORS; AND SHANE WINDMEYER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS PRIDE

While we understand and share Harvard’s goals of creating a safe and equitable environment for students, we are discouraged and disappointed by the policy announced Friday, as it mistakenly assumes the way to achieve those ends is to punish students for participating in single-gender organizations. We urge Harvard to reconsider this policy. Not only does it deny students the basic right of free association, it penalizes them for involvement in fraternities and sororities—experiences that foster leadership, personal growth and the very sense of engagement college is designed to create.”

Additional Statement from Weatherford, National Panhellenic Conference

“Sorority membership calls on women to empower each other and provides powerful spaces of support, something as important today as it has ever been. We strongly encourage our Harvard colleagues to consider the ramifications this policy shift will have on programs and opportunities for women on campus. While we support efforts to forcefully address sexual assault on every campus, punishing women for being members of single-gender organizations is not the answer.”

Additional Statement from Lugo, National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations

“Students in culturally-based fraternities and sororities are also punished by Harvard’s policy. Our organizations provide a powerful experience for underrepresented students, and if Harvard is seeking to make campus more inclusive and equitable, removing opportunities for these students goes directly against that goal.”

Additional Statement from Horras, North American Interfraternity Conference

“This policy not only violates student rights, it takes focus off real issues around campus safety. Our organizations and the university need to get back to the problem at hand—reducing violence. The NIC represents a diverse range of fraternities—including historically black, multicultural and emerging organizations—and our member groups stand ready to come to the table as willing partners to improve campus communities.”

Additional Statement from Koepsell, Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors

“Harvard’s long-held intentional decision to not recognize or support fraternities and sororities has been a disservice to students in those groups. Harvard’s proposed solution to control these students through top-down policy rather than mentorship and professional support completely misses the mark on how to improve campus safety and inclusivity.”

Additional Statement from Windmeyer, Campus Pride

“Harvard’s policy will not fix the serious campus problems of sexual assault or discrimination—much less classism and racism. It will only drive them further underground. Blocking access or restricting rights is never the answer to complex issues. Simple solutions only end up hurting more people in the long term. Instead, we encourage Harvard to reconsider its policy and take a more complex, strategic ownership and responsibility in directly addressing the concerns at heart by all its student populations.”

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About the National Panhellenic Conference
NPC is the umbrella organization specifically charged with advocating on behalf of the sorority experience. It is comprised of 26 national and international sororities that are autonomous social organizations. Collectively, NPC sororities are located on more than 670 campuses with approximately 380,000 undergraduate members and more than 4.5 million alumnae.

About the North American Interfraternity Conference
Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association that represents a diverse range of inter/national men’s fraternities, including historically black, multicultural and emerging organizations. NIC’s 69 member organizations boast more than 6,100 chapters located on more than 800 campuses in the United States and Canada, with approximately 375,000 undergraduate members and nearly 4.2 million alumni.

About the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations
Established in 1998, NALFO promotes the advancement of Latino fraternities and Latina sororities. NALFO shares a commitment to fraternal unity, family values and empowering Latino and underserved communities.

About the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors
Through programs, publications, networking opportunities and other resources, AFA represents the community of campus-based fraternity and sorority advisors and is the leading voice in aligning the fraternity/sorority and higher education experiences.

About Campus Pride
Campus Pride is the leading national educational organization for LGBTQ and ally college students and campus groups building future leaders and safer, more LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities. The organization provides resources and services to thousands of college students and nearly 1,400 campuses annually. Learn more online at CampusPride.org.

July 12, 2016

The North American Interfraternity Conference and NIC Foundation are moving! While we are just heading several miles from our existing location, this move will require you to update your records with our new address.

As of Aug. 1, 2016, our new home will be:
865 W Carmel Drive, Suite 116
Carmel, IN 46032

Please, use this address for both mailing and shipping.

You can still reach us via the same phone lines and email addresses:

North American Interfraternity Conference
Main Line: 317-872-1112
General Email: admin@nicfraternity.org

NIC Foundation
Main Line: 317-536-6435
General Email: foundation@nicfraternity.org

We will lease space from our interfraternal friends at Theta Chi Fraternity. By downsizing our physical footprint, we are able to focus greater resources on our efforts to transform fraternity communities.

Indianapolis, July 11, 2016—Experienced higher education professional Rick Barnes will join the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) staff in the role of Vice President of Campus Operations.

When he comes on board in early August, Barnes will help develop a robust campus support model to increase alumni, undergraduate and Interfraternity Council (IFC) effectiveness. He will establish relationships with campus professionals and NIC stakeholders to coordinate a national education and advocacy strategy. Barnes will work alongside Will Foran, the existing VP of Campus Operations, which strengthens the capacity and impact of the NIC’s campus support team.

Very few people bring the breadth and depth of Rick’s experience to the table,” said NIC Chief Operating Officer Mike McRee. “We are excited to leverage his knowledge and experience in working with campuses, alumni and organizations in his role supporting university fraternity communities.”

Barnes brings a unique blend of experience and vast familiarity with the collegiate landscape to the NIC. He worked in student affairs for 15 years at Texas Christian University and Clemson University. Since 2001, Barnes has been an educational and motivational speaker, presenting to more than 1 million students at over 600 campuses.

I am honored to have the opportunity to join the NIC team during this important time in our history,” said Barnes. “I have long been committed to the interfraternal movement, and I welcome the opportunity to be a part of the future of fraternities throughout North America.”

He shows commitment to the fraternity experience through significant volunteer service, which has been recognized by numerous associations. Barnes was President of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and served as Chairman of the AFA Foundation. AFA recognized him with its highest honor, the Jack L. Anson Award, for his impact within the interfraternal community. A member of FarmHouse Fraternity, he has served on the organization’s International Board of Directors for 12 years, including four as President, completing his service this summer. Barnes was also a member of the NIC’s Board of Directors from 2001-2010 and was awarded the NIC Gold Medal in 2011 for his lifelong service to the interfraternal community, the highest honor the Conference can bestow.

Barnes joined FarmHouse while attending Texas Tech University, and he earned his master’s degree from Texas Christian University. He will work from his home in Keller, Texas, where he also serves as Mayor Pro-Tempore for the city.

Indianapolis, June 23, 2016—The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is pleased to announce Julie Cain Burkhard will join staff in the new role of Chief Legislative Officer (CLO).

A long-time champion for the fraternal movement, in this role Burkhard will produce effective advocacy programs that strengthen higher education partnerships and utilize government and legal affairs. Her work will directly contribute to the NIC 2.0 priorities established with the passage of landmark reforms in late 2015.

The NIC needs strong leadership in our government relations efforts as public policy has a growing impact on universities and our members,” said Judson Horras, NIC President and CEO. “Julie’s dedication and relationships in this area will help the NIC build a legislative affairs program that is transparent in its intentions and unified around influencing public policy to support the fraternal community.”

Burkhard joins the NIC after working in higher education for 36 years, including positions at The University of Georgia, University of Virginia and University of South Florida. She has made an impressive impact through professional and key volunteer roles in fraternal organizations, serving as chairman of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), leading the Phi Mu Foundation for four years as executive director, and spending 10 years on the Alpha Chi Omega board, including four as national president. The Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) recognized Burkhard with one of its highest honors, the Jack L. Anson Award, for her long-term commitment to the fraternity/sorority community.

I am honored to work for the NIC at a time when advocacy for the fraternity experience and government relations is a primary focus,” said Burkhard. “It’s an exciting team to join; I welcome the opportunity to accomplish many things that will help to solidify a positive fraternity experience in North America.”

Burkhard has been a consistent, positive force within fraternal government affairs. She was a founding board member of the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee (FSPAC) and the organization’s first female president. She most recently served as the Fraternity and Sorority Action Fund (FSAF) president. Independent of her role at the NIC, Burkhard has also been hired as a fundraising consultant for the FSPAC and FSAF. Serving those organizations as Director of Development, Burkhard will focus on growing their financial resources to fully engage fraternities and sororities in the public policy debates that affect the fraternal experience.

Burkhard became a member of Alpha Chi Omega at The University of Georgia, where she also earned her master’s degree. She will work from her home in Atlanta and will begin her role with the NIC in July 2016.

Indianapolis, June 13, 2016—The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is pleased to announce the addition of Michael Wilson to NIC staff in the new role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

In this position, Wilson will lead the NIC’s accounting, as well as the implementation of a data warehouse—one of the five NIC 2.0 priorities. The system will allow members to make data-driven decisions, share best practices and streamline operations.

For the past 13 years, Wilson has worked for Kappa Alpha Order, serving most recently as Assistant Executive Director for Alumni Engagement, where he led the development and execution of strategy to engage the organization’s 120,000 alumni members. In this role, he oversaw information technology, contributed to organization-wide budgeting, planned large-scale events, and developed and fostered critical relationships. During his time with Kappa Alpha Order, Wilson also served as Director of Fraternity Services, Director of Operations, and as an Educational and Leadership Consultant.

Wilson has also honed his business acumen interfraternally as the Executive Director of NovakTalks. He manages business development, marketing and contract services for the consulting and advocacy agency for campus safety and risk management.

Michael’s experience in overseeing two membership database implementations and his vast interfraternal leadership experiences made him the ideal person to head our accounting and data system development,” said Judson Horras, NIC President and CEO.

Wilson became a member of Kappa Alpha Order at Transylvania University and has a degree in accounting. He and his family will move to Indianapolis, where he will officially begin his work on the NIC staff in July 2016.

I am excited to join such a talented team,” said Wilson. “It is humbling to be afforded the opportunity to continue to assist in the advancement of the fraternal movement on a greater level.”

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Founded in 1909, the NIC is the trade association representing inter/national men’s fraternities. The NIC’s member organizations boast more than 6,000 chapters located on more than 800 campuses in the United States and Canada, with approximately 375,000 undergraduate members and nearly 5 million alumni.