Table of Contents

Fraternal Life and Conduct Policy

Policy Statement

  1. Policy Statement
    1. Each Chapter and all members are expected to comply with federal, state and local laws and university regulations. Each Chapter and all members are expected to comply with this risk management policy in situations in which the university policies are less restrictive.

Reason For Policy

  1. Reason For Policy
    1. The ultimate goal of any risk management program is to achieve the safest environment possible for our members, members-in-training, and guests.

Enforcement

  1. Enforcement
    1. Reporting a Situation
      1. Anyone may report a situation to a Chapter.
      2. When a Chapter becomes aware of a situation, the Chapter will:
        1. Administer the Chapter’s crisis management plan;
        2. Inform the National Vice President of Chapter Maintenance of the situation within 24 hours of the notice;
        3. Refer the situation to university or law-enforcement officials, as warranted or required by federal, state and local laws or regulations and policies of the educational institution;
        4. Conduct an investigation of the situation as specified by Chapter governing documents.
      3. The Chapter may consult with the National Organization to determine an appropriate remedial action.
      4. When the Chapter concludes its investigation, the Chapter will:
        1. Take timely and appropriate remedial action;
        2. Inform the National Vice President of Chapter Maintenance of the investigation and its outcome;
        3. Inform a Chapter advisor of the investigation and its outcome.
    2. Support
      1. Anyone involved in an investigation may be relieved of fraternal obligations while the investigation takes place.
      2. The Chapter will provide information about university and community resources to each individual involved in an investigation.
    3. Interference and Retaliation
      1. Any attempt to interfere with a review or investigation may be treated as a separate violation of this policy, regardless of the outcome of the review or investigation.
      2. Any attempt to retaliate against a person involved with an investigation may be treated as a separate violation of this policy, regardless of the outcome of the investigation.

Procedures

  1. Procedures
    1. Training
      1. The Chapter will annually instruct members and Members-In-Training on its fraternal life and conduct policies and procedures.
    2. Monitoring
      1. The Chapter will conduct risk assessments to evaluate new policies, bylaws, activities, and procedures.
      2. The Chapter will annually monitor their existing policies, bylaws, activities and procedures.
      3. When the Chapter identifies a policy, bylaw, activity or procedure that does not comply with this policy, the Chapter will conduct a review.
      4. The Chapter may consult with the National Organization to determine an appropriate remedial action.
      5. When the Chapter concludes its review, the Chapter will:
        1. Take timely and appropriate remedial action;
        2. Inform the National Vice President of Chapter Maintenance of the review and its outcome;
        3. Inform a Chapter advisor of the review and its outcome.

Maintenance

  1. Maintenance
    1. The National Committee on Chapter Maintenance will review this policy for technical and substantive updates at least every five years.
    2. The National Vice President of Chapter Maintenance will update related information when notified of updates.
    3. The National Committee on Chapter Maintenance will annually review and update guidelines and educational materials.

Forms/Instructions

  1. Forms/Instructions
    1. There are no forms associated with this policy

Definitions

  1. Definitions
    1. Interference
      Behaviors or actions that create a hindrance or affect the outcome of enforcement. Such behaviors or actions may include, but are not limited to, the following:
      • Suggesting or encouraging a person to overlook a situation
      • Asking a person to participate in a cover-up
      • Pressuring a person not to report a situation
      • Pressuring a person not to participate in a review or investigation
      • Spreading negative rumors about a person involved in a review or investigation
      • Providing false or misleading information about a review or investigation
    2. Remedial Action
      A set of corrective, disciplinary, and preventative actions that are warranted by the outcome of an investigation to comply with this policy, and to avoid organizational repercussions
    3. Retaliation
      Behaviors or actions that intimidate, threaten, coerce, harass, or discriminate against any person for the following:
      • Opposing unsafe conditions, practices, and situations
      • Collecting materials or saving evidence
      • Reporting a situation
    4. Situation
      • Accidents or injuries involving members, members-in-training, or guests
      • Behavioral issues
      • Violations of this policy or perceived violations of this policy

Responsibilities

  1. Responsibilities
    1. Members-in-Training and Brothers
      1. Read and be familiar with fraternal life and conduct policies
      2. Participate in educational sessions
      3. Report unsafe conditions, practices, and situations
      4. Support Chapter leadership in risk management efforts
    2. Chapter President
      1. Exhibit leadership and accountability in risk management efforts
      2. Appoint a trusted member of Chapter leadership as the risk manager. The risk manager shall be active in the Chapter and enrolled at its respective school.
      3. Draft, understand, and be prepared to administer a crisis management plan
      4. Review national policies with initiated and trained members each semester
      5. Ensure Chapter policies and bylaws comply with federal, state and local laws and university regulations
      6. Assist the social chair with planning
      7. Keep Chapter leadership actively involved with fraternal life and conduct, and setting an example of positive behavior
    3. Risk Manager
      1. Obtain proficiency with federal, state, local and university regulations that relate to fraternal life and conduct
      2. Notify the National Vice President of Chapter Maintenance when state and local laws and university regulations that relate to fraternal life and conduct are modified
      3. Develop and implement a plan for monitoring fraternal activities and procedures
      4. Consult with other officers to develop a crisis management plan
      5. Coordinate educational sessions for members and Members-In-Training
      6. Assist Chapter and National leaders in conducting investigations, preparing risk assessments, and preparing reports regarding accidents, injuries, and situations
      7. Coordinate regular training of active membership
    4. New Member Educator
      1. Know and understand the policies that relate to fraternal life and conduct
      2. Coordinate educational assessment for Members-In-Training
    5. Social Chair
      1. Know and understand the policies that relate to fraternal life and conduct
      2. Coordinate the planning of social events with consultation from the risk manager and other officers
      3. Coordinate security and identification of guests and the guest list at events at which alcohol is present
      4. Plan for member and guest safety
    6. National Vice President of Chapter Maintenance
      1. Manage the fraternal life and conduct program
      2. Collect and review reports of situations, investigations, and reviews
      3. Advise Chapters seeking to determine appropriate remedial action
      4. Request, review, and assess Chapter crisis management plans
      5. Maintain and distribute educational materials
      6. Coordinate the development and maintenance of national policies, guidelines, and procedures

Policy

  1. Policy
    1. This policy shall be revised as necessary by the National Committee on Chapter Maintenance and approved by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the National Executive Committee.
  1. Related Information

The following information expands upon, constrains, or relates to the policy. Laws, policies, and regulations at the federal, state, or campus level that relate to the policy may change.

1. Guidelines

  1. Laws and Regulations of Alpha Chapter
    1. State of North Carolina
      1. Substance Abuse:
      2. Hazing and Harassment:
    2. County of Wake, North Carolina
    3. City of Raleigh, North Carolina
    4. North Carolina State University
      1. Substance Abuse
      2. Hazing and Harassment
      3. Substance Abuse, Hazing, and Harassment
  2. Laws and Regulations of Zeta Chapter
    1. State of Michigan
      1. Sexual Assault
      2. Alcohol
      3. Drugs
      4. Hazing
    2. Michigan Technological University
  3. Laws and Regulations of Nu Chapter
    1. State University of New York at Oswego
  4. Laws and Regulations for Pi Chapter
    1. New Brunswick, New Jersey
    2. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
  5. Laws and Regulations for Rho Chapter
    1. State of Michigan
      1. Sexual Assault
      2. Alcohol
      3. Drugs
      4. Hazing
    2. City of Marquette, Michigan
      1. Alcohol
    3. Northern Michigan University
  6. Laws and Regulations for Tau Chapter
    1. American University
  7. Laws and Regulations for Alumni Association
Policy Owner: National Vice President of Chapter Maintenance
Last Amended March 13, 2018
Robert Smith
National Secretary