Spring 2021 Cessation Plan Update

Published on Thursday, March 18, 2021

The following email was sent to all of Fraternity and Sorority Life on Fri, Mar 12, 2021, at 2:11 PM.


Dear VCU Fraternity and Sorority Community,

Fraternity and sorority life has been a significant part of the undergraduate experience at VCU since the founding of the institution. The University’s continuing commitment to these diverse groups stems from the significant opportunities they provide for intellectual, cultural, and interpersonal growth—opportunities that complement the university’s mission. With that, this information is to reinforce expectations and to communicate the requirements of the cessation for the remainder of the semester and the action items associated with it.

The current cessation requires that each organization comply with the following:

In an effort to allow chapters to resume recruitment, intake, and new member processes, the following requirements must be met by current and prospective new members before those processes resume. (A full description of how each requirement is met can be found at the end of this communication.)

Please note, all active members in every chapter must complete the training sessions. Chapters that fail to comply with these requirements will be subject to receiving a Poor Standing status with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Any chapter on Poor Standing status will be suggested for removal and be referred to their respective council, the Associate Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, as well as the Director of University Student Commons and Activities for further review on their status as a recognized fraternity or sorority chapter.

The training we are asking you to complete addresses issues that are not exclusive to fraternities and sororities. We recognize that not all students involved in fraternity and sorority life engage in behavior that violates our community norms. We feel our community is enhanced by a vibrant fraternity and sorority life and want to ensure your success. Hard work lies ahead. Our goal is to navigate the cessation and complete all requirements as quickly and efficiently as possible and train all community members. Again, the cessation of all new member and intake activities across all councils will remain in effect until the University authorizes individual chapters to resume.

Beginning next week, we will begin to reach out to each chapter to schedule individual chapter meetings. We will provide additional instruction via email on how and when to submit the required documentation. As a reminder, the continuation of the ban on all social events for the Spring 2021 semester will remain in effect. Any chapters or individual students found to have violated the law and/or University policies will be held accountable and may be subject to a range of disciplinary actions, including removal from the University.

Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you for your continued support and assistance during this time.

Sincerely, 
Aliyah Simmons, President The National Pan-Hellenic Council of VCU
Courtney Maitland, PresidentCollege Panhellenic Council of VCU
Koroush Banakhojaste, President Interfraternity Council of VCU
Anna Isabel Asesor, President Multicultural Greek Council of VCU
Dr. LaDarius Thompson, Riley Vespoli, Jessica McKee, Nicole Patterson, and James Hutzler Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life

Complete mandatory hazing, bystander, and alcohol training

Individual chapter review and new member communication meeting

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