NIC Blog
NIC to Restore Affiliation with IFCs
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The North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is pleased to announce it will be restoring its historical affiliation with Interfraternity Councils (IFCs). Given its unique position in the industry, the NIC has a responsibility and an opportunity to utilize its collective knowledge and experience to reconnect with IFCs in order to assist in their development of optimal operations and effective educational opportunities. It is our hope that our efforts to raise each local fraternity community will collectively raise the global fraternity community.
Overview
Our goal is to bolster the level of support and resources interfraternity leaders receive to advance the local fraternity community. The NIC will provide increased staff, resources, and services to assist Interfraternity Councils in instituting optimal operations, officer competencies, and best practices. At any host institution where two or more NIC Member Fraternities have established undergraduate chapters, an Interfraternity Council shall be established which will be chartered by the NIC. An IFC will be composed of all undergraduate chapters of NIC Member Fraternities present at a host institution.
Benefits to Interfraternity Councils & Host Institutions
Through direct interactions with IFCs, the NIC will be able to work with councils and host institutions to:
- Develop optimal IFC operations through dedicated staff (Coordinators of IFC Services) and volunteer positions (Regional Advocates) responsive to IFC operational needs, advocacy concerns, and policy inquiries from students and/or host institutions;
- Deliver base-level training and education, and ongoing services for all IFCs and IFC officers;
- Provide guidance and support in constitution/bylaws/policy changes, recruitment processes, and officer transitions;
- Develop resources and tools to assist IFCs with recruitment, marketing, and public relations to augment interest in joining fraternity, to better educate the potential recruit and his parents, and to promote fraternity on campus;
- Assist IFCs in crisis intervention and response, brand management, and values-based decision-making;
- Offer guidance in identifying and preempting impending issues concerning campus relationship statements, recognition agreements, and indemnification clauses;
- Provide all IFCs with IFC best practices, NIC Standards education, and other generally accepted industry policies established by the NIC through attendance at IFC Academy at least once every two years;
- Provide host institutions with highly qualified volunteers who have close proximity, local expertise, and institutional knowledge;
- Establish formal reporting mechanisms for campus data and statistical information to better track industry information and trends for use by IFCs; and
- Discounts on NIC educational programming (UIFI, Futures Quest, IMPACT).
Staff & Volunteers
The NIC Staff will be responsible for the successful implementation and execution of restoring the affiliation of IFCs with the NIC.
- Jameson Root, Director of Student Affairs, will manage day-to-day operations and provide strategic leadership for the initiative.
- Tim Mousseau and Matt Welch, Coordinators of IFC Services, provide on-going education and training, and serve as a point of contact for IFC officers.
- Wade Lowhorn, Director of University Relations & Public Policy, will supervise IFC advocacy efforts, NIC Standards and policy compliance, and monitor and respond to industry trends.
- Will Foran, Vice President of Education, will lead the development of innovative IFC educational resources and program curriculum.
In addition to current NIC Staff, we will be hiring additional professional staff, through the newly created Coordinator of IFC Services position, to provide ongoing education, training, and serve as points of contact for IFC officers and host institutions. At least one Coordinator of IFC Services will be hired for the 2012-13 school year, with the hope of adding 1-2 additional Coordinators for the 2013-14 academic year. This position announcement can be found here.
What does an IFC need to do to affiliate?
Current INTERCHANGE campuses will automatically be transferred to the new program at the start of the Fall 2012 academic year. You will receive your IFC charter, and access to the IFC Resource Manual, IFC Executive Board Officer Guides, and other resources online. The updated Annual IFC Chartering Fees can be found on the FAQs page. Non-INTERCHANGE campuses will need to remit payment of Annual IFC Chartering Fees before receiving the official IFC charter and access to resources.
The NIC will provide IFCs with an IFC Resource Manual and will assist IFCs in reviewing and establishing governing documents that are in accordance with NIC Standards and policies and do not infringe upon the sovereignty of Member Fraternities and their chapters. At a minimum, IFCs will establish officer positions performing the following functions: President, Judicial Affairs, Recruitment, Finance, Scholarship, Member Development, and Community Relations. Additional resources and materials will be developed and provided to IFC officers and host institutions to assist with officer competencies, transitions, goal setting, and general operations. The NIC will also be forming an IFC Resource Group comprised of campus-based professionals and headquarters staff to offer comments on emerging resources and services for this initiative.
What are students saying?
"I believe that this initiative comes at a perfect time. The opportunity for Interfraternity Councils to work directly with the NIC on a regular basis will promote operations and growth at each respected campus. This is exactly what IFCs need to help promote the values and standards we strive for through fraternity life." -Kyle Franz, University of Cincinnati
"The NIC's commitment to excellence and guidance lays out the foundation for a highly collaborative and self-governing Intefraternity Council. A stronger partnership with the NIC can only benefit an IFC's cause for a better fraternity community." -Brian Titus, Carnegie Mellon University
Additional Information
We are excited to restore this partnership with Interfraternity Councils and we will be communicating more information about the initiative throughout the summer. If you have not updated your IFC contact information, please do so here. If you have any questions, please review the FAQs page or contact Jameson Root, Director of Student Affairs, at the NIC office 317-872-1112 or Root@NICindy.org.
Health Management Systems of America and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity Team Up to Help College Students
Tags: HMSA, Pi Kappa Phi, Associate Member, Student Health, Counseling Services
Media Contact:
Ann Marie Fortunate
Franco Public Relations
(313) 567-5040
fortunate@franco.com
Health Management Systems of America and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity
Team Up to Help College Students with Tough Problems
Unique program provides 24-hour access to help students cope with stress factors
DETROIT, MI - Health Management Systems of America (HMSA) recently partnered with Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity in a Campus Assistance Program (CAP), that enables them to provide access to 13,000 behavioral health counselors for confidential and anonymous counseling and assistance to 8,000 undergraduate students at 165 universities across the country.
Stress, anxiety and depression are common realities for college students. When it reaches a point where it becomes overwhelming, many students are either too embarrassed to seek help or aren't sure where to go to find help.
"The Campus Assistance Program offers a new way to help students, who are experiencing more stress than ever before, find an easy, confidential manner to meet with counselors who can help them work through their problems," said Steve Lovett, director of marketing for HMSA. "This new program offers active fraternity members access to counseling and assistance services in a quick easy way that they are comfortable with - via phone or computer. With the option to call or log-on online, there is always help available."
Dr. Lori Hart is the director of alcohol education for Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. While there are viable options for counseling assistance on American college campuses, CAP provides another layer of service for our members and this service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
"There are challenges with the current system - students need to find the time to seek help, there are stigmas associated with getting help and on a very basic level there is a lot of paperwork to be completed," Dr. Hart says of some current campus programs.
The customized program Pi Kappa Phi chose provides 24-hour access to behavioral counseling either via the internet or phone wherever and whenever it is needed - including near campus during the semester, but also close to home during college and university breaks. The HMSA/Pi Kappa Phi CAP program also provides assistance with stress management techniques, legal counseling and forms, financial counseling and services, life balance resource and online tools and helpful information.
"The program is very complimentary to our current menu of programs," says Hart. Pi Kappa Phi uses the CAP program in addition to a number of other programs from the national level of the fraternity as well as the fraternal information and programming group in addition to local campus programs.
HMSA Campus Assistance Programs are a voluntary and confidential program, providing short term counseling and referral services to help students with personal or family problems that if they didn't seek help for could negatively impact their school performance or their own well-being. There are a number of program options available, including a toll-free 24-hour crisis line, referral services, enhanced legal and financial services, critical incident stress management, campus messaging and other online resources.
About Health Management Systems of America
Health Management Systems of America (HMSA) is a nationally recognized leader in wellness and behavioral healthcare services. Established in 1980, the company has grown from a regional provider of behavioral health services to a nationwide leader in the field. Today, they provide customized behavioral health, Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work-Life services to thousands of clients across the country - including FORTUNE 500 corporations, government agencies, top universities and hospital systems. HMSA currently has programs in each of the 50 states in addition to international capabilities. HMSA is a privately held, independent corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. With a credentialed staff of more than 14,000 behavioral health counselors in 3,000+ cities across the country, they provide unparalleled access to counseling and wellness services.
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HMSA is an Associate Member of the NIC.
