North-American Interfraternity Conference - advocate • collaborate • educate

The North-American Interfraternity Conference is the trade association representing 75 national and international men's fraternities.  Through advocacy, collaboration, and education the NIC works to ensure that fraternities can operate in an environment conducive to their success.

Recognition plays an important role within trade associations around the world.   In diverse groups, such as in the NIC, you will find a membership body that places great value in the sharing of best practices, recognition of outstanding service, and improving on past performance.

Currently the NIC recognizes its members in several categories:

NIC Gold MEDAL
The NIC Gold Medal first presented in 1940, is presented in recognition of lifetime service to the fraternity movement.

The NIC believes that it is important to recognize those men who have helped to improve the fraternity experience and to publicly thank those who are looked to as lifelong contributors to the college fraternity.

NIC Silver MEDAL
The NIC Silver Medal presented to an individual for specific acts of leadership within the fraternity movement.

It is important to recognize those individuals or groups whose programs and acts have provided leadership and enduring value to the fraternity movement.

Laurel wreath
The Laurel Wreath Award presented to individuals or groups in recognition of their unique programs, community outreach, and/or influence within the fraternal world.

Fraternities are always seeking ways to raise the bar for their organizations and members.  The Laurel Wreath Award recognizes those programs that are truly elevating the Greek Movement.

NIC awards of distinction
The NIC Awards of Distinction first presented at 2002 to recognize fraternity leaders and high performing individuals, chapters, and Interfraternity Councils.

The Awards of Distinction are another way the NIC seeks to advocate for the fraternity experience, collaborate with both internal and external stakeholders, and educate others about the positive achievements of fraternity men, chapters, and councils across North America.  Additionally, an Award of Distinction serves as a way for the NIC to recognize and advance full standards compliance and implementation. When groups say that the standards are "impossible" or "too lofty", we are able to point to our winners and say, "think again".

What is each seeking to accomplish?
Each of the recognition programs of the NIC has, at its core, the belief that positive reinforcement and public praise leads to continuing high performance and collective benefit.

The Gold Medal is a way that the NIC can say thank you to the men who have left a positive legacy.  They are standard bearers who have taken the interfraternal world to new heights with a lifetime of dedication.

The Silver Medal & Laurel Wreath are ways that NIC is able to identify individuals or groups for outstanding service and/or accomplishment.  Additionally, the medal and award are a way to draw attention to a program, outreach effort, or initiative that may warrant emulation or attention from the greater community.

The Awards of Distinction allow the NIC, as a trade association, to publicize the best practices of its members and to recognize outstanding achievement.  The mission of the NIC is to ensure that fraternities can operate in environments that are conducive to their success.  What better methods than to show what is possible when the standards of our conference are fully implemented and practiced on a regular basis.  The Awards serve the member fraternity in that they provide another tool that can be leveraged to show society the greater impact of fraternities and their members.

The NIC is dedicated to advocating for the needs of its member fraternities through full standards implementation and compliance.  The recognition programs offer a public method through which to accomplish not only those individuals and groups which are performing at a high level but also those that have dedicated themselves to advancing the fraternal movement.