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.

Indianapolis, June 6, 2016—Each year the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) recognizes excellence in the fraternity industry by conferring awards to individuals, groups and organizations who exemplify leadership, service and fraternal values.

We are proud to announce the 2016 honorees for the NIC Awards of Distinction, Gold Medal and Laurel Wreath Awards. This year, we made an important shift in the awards process to personalize the recognition and raise greater awareness of the NIC’s impact and the impact of the recipients. Rather than presenting the awards at the NIC Annual Meeting, throughout the summer and fall we will honor recipients in their local communities through public ceremonies on their campuses or at inter/fraternal events and programs.

UNDERGRADUATE AWARD OF DISTINCTION

The Undergraduate Award of Distinction seeks to recognize fraternity men who have found in their experience an outlet for developing as both a leader and a better man. The recipients are those who embody the values of their fraternity and expect the same from those with whom they associate. Read about each of the following 2016 honorees here:

• Ryan D’Ercole – Sigma Phi Epsilon, Christopher Newport University
• William Marcus Gibson – Theta Chi, The University of Alabama
• Peter Inge – Alpha Tau Omega, The University of Alabama
• Agassy Rodriguez – Lambda Theta Phi, University of Florida
• Nick Sweetman – Delta Sigma Phi, Arizona State University

CHAPTER AWARD OF DISTINCTION

The Chapter Award of Distinction recognizes the undergraduate chapter which is highly functioning, in compliance with NIC Standards, seeks to educate others about the benefits of a values-based fraternity experience, and works to maintain a healthy relationship with their inter/national organization. Read about each of the following 2016 honorees here:

• Alpha Tau Omega, Belmont University
• FarmHouse Fraternity, Kansas State University
• Sigma Nu, Butler University
• Sigma Phi Epsilon, Stevens Institute of Technology
• Theta Chi, Missouri State University

COUNCIL AWARD OF DISTINCTION

The Council Award of Distinction is given to the Interfraternity Council (IFC) which operates in full compliance with NIC Standards and works to maintain an environment on its respective campus which is conducive to the success of member chapters. The 2016 recipient is the Arizona State University IFC.

NIC GOLD MEDAL

As one of the oldest traditions in the interfraternal world, the presentation of the NIC Gold Medal dates back more than 70 years. The Gold Medal is presented for lifelong service to the interfraternal community and is the highest honor the NIC can bestow. The NIC is pleased to announce the presentation of the Gold Medal in 2016 to Robert L. Off of FarmHouse Fraternity.

LAUREL WREATH AWARDS

The Laurel Wreath Award is presented to individuals or groups in recognition of their unique programs, community outreach, or influence within the fraternal world. The NIC is pleased to announce the presentation of four Laurel Wreath Awards in 2016. Read about the honorees here.

• Alpha Sigma Phi, Toastmasters’ Lite
• Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Sigma Phi, Kappa Alpha Order, Phi Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Tau, Sigma Nu, Social Strengths Workshop
• Theta Chi, Sacred Purpose
• Zeta Beta Tau, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Delta Tau in conjunction with the Anti-Defamation League, Words to Action

For specific information related to the award recipients, please contact Kristin Fouts.

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Founded in 1909, the North American Interfraternity Conference is the trade association representing 70 international and national men’s fraternities. Through advocacy, collaboration, and education the NIC works to ensure that fraternities can operate in an environment conducive to their success.

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), and the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA), 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; AND MARK KOEPSELL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CEO OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FRATERNITY/SORORITY ADVISORS

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.”

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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.

Indianapolis, Dec. 3, 2015—The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) passed landmark reforms today to enhance the fraternity experience and increase standards for its member organizations and the 375,000 undergraduate fraternity men across North America.

The reforms, as recommended by the NIC 2.0 Commission, were discussed through a comprehensive internal dialogue in an effort to best serve the needs of all 73 member fraternities. As a result, the NIC has established five priorities to instill trust and confidence in fraternities:

• Create an effective grassroots program for all Interfraternity Councils (IFC) and provide exceptional support for “Focus Campuses” in an effort to strengthen and build healthier fraternity communities.
• Develop consistent educational programming for all IFC officers, staff, and volunteers.
• Create a database that allows members to make data-driven decisions, share best practices, and streamline operations.
• Lead a sophisticated public relations efforts to advance the “fraternity” brand.
• Produce effective advocacy programs that strengthen higher education partnerships and utilize governmental and legal affairs.

This is a new day for the NIC. These actions are the product of a significant collaborative effort between fraternities and our higher education partners. We are appreciative of the commitment NIC members have made to invest in a stronger, more robust trade association that is prepared to serve the needs of the 21st century fraternity and education community,” Interim NIC President and CEO Judson Horras said. “It is a true testament of the organization’s devotion to the key cornerstones of Fraternity men: developing lifelong friendships, scholarship, and leadership skills.”

As part of a diverse and inclusive fraternal community, the NIC’s member fraternities also unanimously supported an investment in multicultural and emerging fraternities.

I am encouraged by the NIC’s effort to advance the development of student communities,” Veronica Moore, President of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) said. “Throughout this process, the NIC listened to the voices of our members to ensure their perspective was represented in this reorganization.”

The NIC is committed to ensuring each fraternity sets an example of academic success, service, leadership, and philanthropy. The new direction of the NIC will allow fraternities to be a vital and productive part of the educational experience both now and in the future.