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:
- Immediate cessation of all new member and intake activities across all councils including Interfraternity Council (IFC), College Panhellenic Council (CPC), Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), and National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), until the University reviews and assesses the plans each chapter has in place to prevent and address hazing.
- Consider hosting or participating in processing-spaces for healing and spaces for crucial conversation about community issues.
- The assessment of, and where appropriate the revamping of anti-hazing and risk management training for all community members.
- Complete review and assessment of all currently approved recruitment and intake plans for the Spring 2021 semester.
- Continuation of the ban on all in-person social events for the Spring 2021 semester due to the university’s health and safety protocols designed to mitigate the risk of COVID-19.
- If there are any questions, please bring them to your chapter review meetings when scheduled or reach out to the Office in advance.
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.)
- Complete mandatory university hazing, bystander, and alcohol training.
- The first training will begin on March 22, 2021
- The last day to complete training is projected to be March 31, 2021
- Conduct individual chapter review and new member communication meetings.
- Receive official communication from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life that confirms your chapter’s authorization to resume activities based on your completion of all requirements.
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
- Partnership with The Gordie Center at UVA: The Office has partnered with The Gordie Center to assess current anti-hazing and risk management training and align them with best practices. The mission of the Gordie Center is to end hazing and substance misuse among college and high school students nationwide. In partnership with the Gordie Center, the following training sessions will be required for the following entities:
- For all active fraternity and sorority members: Hazing, Alcohol, and Bystander Intervention Training Session- Everyone has a role to play in preventing hazing and its associated harms. These training sessions will review hazing policies and laws, and provide solutions about what can be done to prevent hazing. There will also be specific options for Chapter Advisors and Campus Partners to attend as well.
- Training dates can be found on RamsConnect and registration will be required for attendance.
- March 22 (Advisors and Campus Partners only): 6 pm
- March 22: 8 pm
- March 23: 12 pm or 6 pm
- March 25: 12 pm
- March 26: 4 pm
- March 28: 3 pm
- March 29 (Advisors and Campus Partners only): 7 pm
- March 30: 12 pm or 7 pm
- Training dates can be found on RamsConnect and registration will be required for attendance.
- For all active fraternity and sorority chapter and council leadership positions: Positive Organization Expectations Conversation- This conversation will focus on how to demonstrate and uphold the VCU and FSL community core values. In addition, a discussion around how your organization can not only support and complement the mission of your organization but that of Virginia Commonwealth University. There will also be specific options for Chapter Advisors and Campus Partners to attend as well.
- Training dates will be released on RamConnect once confirmed and registration will be required for attendance.
- For all active fraternity and sorority members: Hazing, Alcohol, and Bystander Intervention Training Session- Everyone has a role to play in preventing hazing and its associated harms. These training sessions will review hazing policies and laws, and provide solutions about what can be done to prevent hazing. There will also be specific options for Chapter Advisors and Campus Partners to attend as well.
Individual chapter review and new member communication meeting
- Individual chapter review meetings: A staff member will be reaching out to all chapters, however, we will begin with the chapters that have submitted recruitment/intake paperwork to schedule meetings. The chapter president, new member educators, chapter advisors, and national headquarters representative will be required to attend. In preparation for the review meetings, chapters will be asked to submit an updated version of the following:
- A copy of the organization’s anti-hazing / risk management protocols and procedures
- List of current officers, members (via the RamsConnect)
- List of alumni advisors and faculty/staff advisors
- Current constitution and by-laws of the National organization and local chapter.
- An updated copy of the organization’s New Member Education/Membership Intake policy and outline of procedures.
- A copy of the organization’s current insurance certificate.
- New member communication: After further deliberation, at this time chapters should be limiting communication with potential new members and/or new members regarding recruitment, intake, or membership. Any communications should come directly from a chapter advisor. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will be issuing communications to directly to new members and other students regarding expectations during the cessation period.