Join the NIC team for a panel discussion with students and advisors well as students and advisors who have successfully hosted virtual recruitment along with President and co-Founder of Phired Up, Matt Mattson. We will focus on what has worked, what hasn’t, and what we have learned that can help you have a more successful recruitment this spring.
DOWNLOADS:
We’ve learned a lot about virtual (and hybrid) recruitment over the past few months, and have seen many success stories. Join Matt Mattson (President and co-Founder of Phired Up and TechniPhi) and Kenny White, an IFC Growth Expert for Phired Up & TechniPhi) in an engaging session on planning for virtual recruitment this spring. No matter the size of your community or structure of your recruitment, this webinar will provide you with tools and resources to help your council and community prepare, strategize, and get “Phired Up” for an important recruitment season.
As college students deal with more anxiety, depression and feelings of social isolation, a new report from the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, found fraternity affiliated students report higher levels of positive mental health along with lower rates of depression and anxiety.
“One of the impacts of public health restrictions meant to keep people safe is that many students feel distanced and alone this year,” said Judson Horras, president and CEO of the North American Interfraternity Conference. “Fraternities are helping students cope, and they have always played an integral role in helping new students successfully transition to college life.”
The ability of students to succeed in higher education and beyond is dependent on their physical and mental well-being, and the nation’s higher education institutions are seeing increasing levels of mental illness, substance use, and other forms of emotional distress among their students according to a study published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Fraternity and sorority members believe that good support systems exist on campus and are more likely to seek therapy or counseling at some point in their lives, according to the PERC report. Members have a lower chance of being diagnosed with depression throughout their lives. This is important at a time when a survey of more than 300,000 students finds 60 percent of college undergraduates are having an increasingly difficult time accessing mental health care, even before campuses closed and instruction moved online due to the pandemic.
The PERC report continues to reinforce the benefits of fraternity membership. In fall 2020, a study by Dr. Gary R. Pike of Indiana University supported his previous findings that fraternity and sorority membership is associated with significantly higher levels of engagement on a number of measures including high impact practices, collaborative learning, student-faculty interactions, perception of a supportive campus environment and discussions with diverse others—including people from different races, ethnicity, economic backgrounds, religious beliefs and political views.
“There have been several studies, including mine, that find positive relationships between fraternity/sorority membership and student engagement and student learning. While specific findings on a scale differ from study to study, the overall results are consistent about fraternities and sororities having this positive effect on students’ engagement in college,” said Dr. Pike.
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February 22, 2021
Full report: Mental Health Study Grant Report from the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC) at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, by Assalone, Grace and Biddix | DOWNLOAD
February 15, 2021
We support Duke University student leaders’ in forming the Durham Interfraternity Council to focus on a safe and healthy fraternity experience while ensuring students have the opportunity to join fraternities, or any student organization, at the time that they feel is best for them. As research shows, fraternity members benefit from engagement significantly more than non-members, particularly in first-year students, and report higher levels of positive mental health along with lower rates of depression and anxiety which is important during the current pandemic.
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Media contact:
Todd Shelton
The IFC Awards Program aims to recognize and celebrate outstanding IFC communities, student leaders and campus partners positively impacting and advancing the fraternal experience. Notably, those selected for these awards exemplify NIC Standards and Positions, and align with IFC Standard Operating Procedures.
Note: The IFC Awards Program is separate from the NIC Awards of Distinction. These awards recognize the Council, not the organizations/chapters comprising the IFC. Individual awards are given to Outstanding IFC President and Outstanding IFC Advisor.
Requirements
Nominations require two (2) letters of endorsement (recommendation) — one from the college/university, another from an organization (inter/national fraternity, Council, student or community organization).
IFCs are strongly encouraged to complete the IFC SOP Alignment Report in FS Central. This report helps demonstrate council operations in accordance with the IFC SOP. To access this report in FS Central, log in and navigate to Reporting, Submit Other Reports.
Check out the 2024 IFC Award winners.
Please direct questions to awards@nicfraternity.org.
This award recognizes Interfraternity Councils that excel in overall operations that positively impact their member chapters, fraternity/sorority communities and host institutions.
This award recognizes Interfraternity Councils that participate in and provide opportunities for meaningful community outreach, service, and actively engage campus and community partners to enhance belonging and inclusion in the fraternity experience.
Note: Outstanding Community Impact and Outstanding Commitment to Belonging & Inclusion award categories have been combined to “Outstanding Community Impact,” encompassing belonging and inclusion criteria.
This award recognizes Interfraternity Councils that excel in operations, member accountability, safety and prevention efforts.
This award recognizes IFC Presidents whose leadership has been a driving force for growth, positive change and interfraternalism on their campus. Must currently hold or have held the role of IFC President within the past year.
This award recognizes campus-based professionals working in fraternity/sorority life providing exceptional support to an Interfraternity Council in a manner that contributes to overall Council excellence, enhances peer-governance among students, exemplifies interfraternal values and models effective partnerships. Must currently hold or have held the role of IFC Advisor on the campus within the past year.
December 17, 2020
We are disturbed and disheartened to learn of this investigation and the alleged criminal involvement by some fraternity members. The reported activities are not representative of fraternity expectations and standards. We support the ongoing investigation and believe anyone found to be involved should be held accountable by law enforcement, the university and their individual fraternity.
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Media contact:
Todd Shelton, Chief Communication Officer
December 9, 2020
INDIANAPOLIS—The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is excited to announce that educational experience leader Association of Fraternal Leadership & Values (AFLV) will be leading the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) for thousands of fraternity and sorority leaders. This action continues to enhance the long-standing collaborative partnership that exists between AFLV and the NIC.
“AFLV has long established itself as an expert in student learning experiences,” said NIC President and CEO Judson Horras. “With their focus on high-impact education for the fraternity and sorority community, Ryan’s team is the perfect fit to take UIFI to the next level.”
UIFI is the immersive living-learning fraternity/sorority experience where facilitators lead small groups of members from all organizations and councils. Since its inception in 1990, over 30,000 students have benefited from the ever-evolving curriculum which has increased students’ commitment to ritual, ability to develop a vision and confidence to create change.
AFLV will continue with plans to shift UIFI to a four-day institute with sessions to be held throughout the country. Student leaders will engage in experiential learning activities and deep, challenging conversations while building a community with fellow participants. True to AFLV, these leaders will challenge conventional wisdom, discover new solutions to critical problems and accelerate progress in their fraternity/sorority communities.
“We would like to thank the years of facilitators, interns and staff members whose efforts have made UIFI the premier fraternity/sorority leadership institute over the past 30 years,” said AFLV Executive Director Ryan O’Rourke.
“We are honored and excited to have UIFI become an AFLV experience. We look forward to working with leaders at all levels to continue to evolve and put a fresh spin on the program.”
The transition is effective January 1, 2021. AFLV intends to move forward with UIFI as soon as possible but will monitor the coronavirus pandemic’s impact before making scheduling decisions for 2021. For individuals who want to get involved with UIFI, please complete this interest form.
AFLV has more than 10 years of proven experience leading high-impact fraternity/sorority educational experiences. The association engages thousands of student leaders from more than 230 campuses annually, creating a broad reach to accelerate progress in fraternity/sorority communities.
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AFLV Contact:
Ryan O’Rourke, Executive Director
(970) 372-1174
NIC Contact:
Todd Shelton, Chief Communication Officer
This past year has been challenging for all of us. College Fresh wants to thank you, our valued partners, for trusting us and allowing us to continue to serve your members across the United States. We have always guaranteed the highest standards of quality, service, and safety. Due to the onset of COVID-19 this past March we have consistently adjusted our operations to ensure we are adopting the best practices for your chapters and our team members. We continue to
adapt to ever-changing guidelines and policies set in place by federal, local, and university officials. Follow along with our webinar here: https://youtu.be/luteDuRC01M as we discuss the three areas outlined below: health + safety, operations, and client services. You will learn how we continue to adapt in order to provide exceptional and safe service to our partners during this unprecedented time.
We strongly disagree with and do not accept Duke University’s decision to restrict first-year students from joining fraternities or sororities until their sophomore year that was recommended by the Next Gen Living & Learning 2.0 Committee. Ironically, first-year students are encouraged and permitted to join any other student organization or intercollegiate athletic teams on campus. We are further concerned that the university is using COVID-19 as part of their justification for implementing this inequitable application of student policy. We believe in Duke students and their right to make decisions for themselves and encourage Duke University to do the same. On hundreds of other campuses this fall, students have successfully and safely engaged in fraternity/sorority recruitment and new member education. Duke students are more than capable of doing the same.
Students should have the opportunity to join any organization at the time that they feel is best for them. Research shows fraternities/sororities play an integral role in helping new students successfully transition to college life. A successful fraternity/sorority experience provides students with a sense of community and a support network—which COVID-19 has shown is critical to positive mental health. And for most students, fraternity/sorority membership leads to higher retention rates and higher graduation rates.
We stand ready to support Duke students and seek to work with the University to collaboratively identify solutions that support and enhance the development of students.
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Campus Support contact:
Will Foran
Senior Vice President of Campus Operations
Media contact:
Todd Shelton
Chief Communication Officer
The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is a trade association that represents national and international men’s fraternities, including a diverse range of culturally and religious-based organizations, on campuses in the United States and Canada. The NIC is committed to supporting opportunities for young men to seek and form positive, enriching fraternal bonds. The health and safety of students guides our advocacy, standards and education.
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