Special Feature: Adopt-a-Family

Adopt a Family is an annual event hosted by Lehigh Athletics. Lehigh Athletics invites Greek life fraternities and sororities to take part in this great event with them. Each organization "adopts" a family by Christmas gift shopping for the children.

This year marked the 20th Annual Adopt-A-Family program, which began innocently enough in 1998 and has grown to include fraternities, sororities and other departments around campus.

Check out the video below to see this year's event!

Message from University Leadership

The following message was sent to the Lehigh University community on December 12th

Dear Members of the Campus Community,

In advance of winter break, we are writing to inform all students, faculty, and staff of important legislation and campus action intended to help ensure the safety and welfare of our students.  As many of you are already aware, the recent enactment of Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law addresses prevention, enforcement, and transparency around hazing activities on college campuses.  The law applies to student organizations of all types, including fraternities and sororities, athletic teams, and student clubs. 

Lehigh makes every effort to investigate and address reported allegations of hazing.  In the interest of greater public awareness, an important provision of the Piazza Law is the requirement that all colleges and universities in our state will now post hazing incidents on a publicly accessible website.  Various offices are currently at work on creating our website, which will be operational by the required deadline of January 15, 2019.  Additional requirements and provisions include new or more clearly defined policies and provisions.  An overview of the law (introduced as Senate Bill 1090) can be found here.

As a timely reminder that Lehigh is not immune from such potentially dangerous activities, we have recently been made aware of alleged hazing by an on-campus fraternity.  The allegations will be thoroughly investigated by our Office of Student Conduct & Community Expectations and if a specific chapter or group of individuals is/are identified, the investigation will be followed by an on-campus hearing as outlined in the Code of Conduct.  It is important to note that athletic teams, clubs, and other organizations would be subject to similar investigation, adjudication, and if found responsible, university sanctions.  

As this particular case alleges hazing of prospective members of an Interfraternity Council (IFC) member organization, IFC leadership has been informed of the coming investigation.  Additionally, because a specific chapter was not named in the report, all IFC organizations have been informed that spring 2019 IFC recruitment activities will be suspended until this matter is fully investigated and/or adjudicated.  Consistent with our previous practice, the outcome of the case will be posted via the Lehigh Greek Community Blog.

Often lost in the national and even local dialogue on hazing are the overall positive accomplishments and contributions of fraternities and sororities.  Greek life has a strong history at Lehigh and remains an important part of our future.  We are confident that our students – including fraternity brothers/sorority sisters, club members, teammates, and friends - are concerned for the well-being of others within our community and will remain vigilant as we work together to end hazing.    

In the meantime, we will continue to take seriously, and appropriately address, any activity that subjects members of our campus groups, organizations, or athletic teams to harmful, degrading, and dangerous activities as a condition of membership or inclusion.  Hazing is not at all in line with Lehigh University’s values or ideals, and has no place in our community as we work together towards an even brighter future. 

Sincerely,

John D. Simon
President

Patrick V. Farrell
Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

Ricardo Hall
Vice Provost of Student Affairs

Feature Friday: Maggie Bristol

Check out Alpha Gamma Delta's Maggie Bristol discuss her involvement in the CSO, OFYE and AGD!

I have had such amazing experiences on this campus in the past three years and they are mostly thanks to three things: the Community Service Office, the Office of First Year Experience, and Alpha Gamma Delta. I have learned so much in my time as an Orientation Leader this past year as well as a student coordinator at the CSO for three years. The skills that I have learned can directly translate to contributing to a Greek chapter here at Lehigh.

Before classes even started my freshman year, I was involved in the CSO programming through PreLUsion. It then led to me getting my job as a student coordinator. I have learned so much about leadership and communication through this role, as my job is to recruit volunteers and run my own programs. Through the CSO I was also given the opportunity to welcome new students to campus as a PreLUsion leader my sophomore year. My passion for community, service, and philanthropy led me to become my chapter’s philanthropy chair my sophomore year. The skills I learned and the passion I had gained from my time at the CSO drove me to bring that same passion to the new programs that I created for my chapter’s new philanthropic goals.

Being an Orientation Leader was something I always wanted to do with my time here at Lehigh, and it did not disappoint! I met so many incredible people during Orientation, and the community that is created by the OFYE is without a doubt one of the most amazing parts of this campus. We all learned to welcome the first year students to campus with open arms, and absurd amounts of knowledge about resources at Lehigh. I learned to really lead through the OFYE. The best thing that I brought back to my chapter after being an Orientation leader was probably the new found friendships and all of the different activities that I discovered on campus because of them. There are Orientation Leaders all over our campus, and in many greek chapters, that are willing to kindly welcome new members to any club, organization, or activity! Out of everything I have done here at Lehigh, applying to be on the OFYE Staff was one of the best decisions I ever made!

The different activities that you are involved in on campus can have huge influences on how you contribute to your Greek chapter. I would definitely recommend getting involved in activities through the CSO or the OFYE because they can develop valuable skills that you can bring back to your chapter to make it a better place!

Feature Friday: Gordon Gorab, Chi Phi

This week, Gryphon Gordon Gorab of Chi Phi gives us insight into his Lehigh experience...


For me, Lehigh has always been about the people. Each person I meet, from professors to friendly passersby, has contributed something to my experience. I have had the fortune to grow and develop my connections at Lehigh through many avenues. Two avenues that have been particularly impactful are my involvement in Chi Phi as well as The Gryphon Society.

Gryphons are everywhere. They are club presidents, TRAC fellows, athletes, and more than you may imagine, members of Greek organizations! Gryphons mentor and lead students while advocating for their best interests and helping facilitate community building.

Being both a member of a Greek organization and a gryphon has opened me up to people and perspectives on campus to which I may have otherwise never been exposed. The Office of Residence Life staff is incredibly diverse in terms of backgrounds, interests, and outlooks on our campus community. Nearly two weeks of training on everything from crisis response to bLUeprint foundations, with much time for small group discussion, has allowed me to connect with individuals whose slants on student life varied from my own. They’re great friends, co-workers, and friendly faces.

The gryphon role has instilled in me both skills and viewpoints that are transferable to Chi Phi and the Greek community as a whole. Aspects of inclusive leadership and identity development, in particular, are embedded deep into a gryphon’s role. These values are pivotal to greek life as well as campus unity, to improve chapter function as well as the integration of fraternities and sororities into the broader Lehigh community.

Identity at Lehigh is too often defined by Greek affiliation or lack thereof. My transition from life in Greek housing to the CHOICE community may seem drastic, but it has shown me that the many pockets of our community are more similar than they are different. From what I have seen, Lehigh students want nothing more than to make the most of their time here and see personal and communal success. It is my hope that as Greek-affiliated students, we can leverage our diverse “Lehigh experience” around campus to improve campus climate, the wellbeing of our chapters, and expand our definition of “communal success” to include the entire Lehigh community.

I would strongly recommend anyone interested in the gryphon position consider applying. The application is live on LINC through 11/18/18!

Staffing Announcement: Ashley Baudouin

I’m writing to share bittersweet news. I am stepping away from my role as the Assistant Dean and Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs to pursue new adventures in Greenville, South Carolina, and my last day at Lehigh will be Thursday, November 15, 2018.

I’ve been asked several times over by others to share my proudest moments and greatest achievements, and I’ve balked at the questions. Nothing we accomplish is singular, and no one ever got anything extraordinary done alone. My greatest achievements are the triumphs of those I have had the opportunity to serve (read: you) across my 6.5 year tenure at Lehigh. I am overcome with gratitude to have had worked with you all.

I’ll leave you with one final message, one I have shared many, many times over. Now more than ever, fraternal organizations need radical vision, leadership, and courage to further realign the experience we all value so deeply. There exists boundless potential for fraternal organizations, yours included, to promote a culture of excellence, advocate for social change, champion inclusion and equity, engage in controversy with civility, and develop globally-minded and conscientious leaders. Continue to challenge the process, think critically and limitlessly, idea and innovate, and employ sound judgement so that you might bring to fruition new ideas and opportunities to revolutionize the fraternity and sorority experience at Lehigh and beyond.

I believe (as I always have) that this community is up for the challenge. This community has a long-standing and proud history at Lehigh, and I look to you all to continue to lead the way forward and carry out your legacy in doing so.

Know that there are others at Lehigh who are as equally invested in supporting the fraternity and sorority community as I have been, and they’ll continue to support you in cultivating a meaningful fraternity and sorority experience. The OFSA staff, among many others, are strong advocates for you. Utilize them as a resource, and be open to their ideas.

-Ash
_______________________

Ashley came to Lehigh in July of 2012 as an Assistant Director in OFSA and was subsequently promoted to the role of Director in July 2015. During her time here she built very strong rapport with chapter members, alumni, parents, key campus partners and national offices in the furtherance of Lehigh’s goal to have a strong, values focused fraternity and sorority experience for our students. She has also been instrumental in maintaining a positive community after difficult chapter closures, and always putting students first in the goals of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. During her tenure as the director, the cutting edge accreditation program for chapters has been re-envisioned and improved and Lehigh University has been at the forefront of transparent communication concerning our Greek Community.

Under Ashley’s leadership the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has developed and executed the Advisor Academy where people involved in the Fraternity and Sorority Community come together to strengthen relationships, exchange ideas, and create synergy with alumni partners. She was also instrumental in re-visioning Base Camp to incorporate design thinking concepts and challenge students to think more innovatively and creatively about their fraternity and sorority experiences. Overall her tenure in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs has been marked with an increase in engagement, educational programming, and individual touch points with students. This has paid off in a more values focused Fraternity and Sorority System that has more trust in the people charged with overseeing that area of campus life.

As an Assistant Director of OFSA, Baudouin was the first AD to have a dotted line to the CSO. She led the charge to develop intentional partnership between OFSA and the CSO, which led to the transformation of how service and philanthropy is embedded within our Greek community. Baudouin has advised several environmental SERVE trips, from the resort like locale of the Maine trip to some of the roughest and most rustic of all sites in the history of serve. Ashley is also an Ibis of Service Award winner, one of the most prestigious awards within the Community Service Office which honors a dedication to a lifestyle of servant leadership.

Stay tuned for additional details regarding staffing support as well as details regarding a search process to fill the Director role.

Feature Friday: Nadia Michalewski, Kappa Delta

Applying to be an Orientation Leader is easily the best decision I have made at Lehigh so far. Becoming a part of the Office of First Year Experience staff is an experience unlike any other, and I believe my previous experience in Greek Life really helped me begin to develop skills that I was able to hone by being an OL.

When I first joined Kappa Delta, I was looking to step out of my comfort zone to make new relationships with the people around me. What I did not expect was to feel welcomed from the first second I walked into the house. This amazing group of girls I call my sisters helped my quiet self to slowly open up. I had new friends to study with in the library, to make delicious nachos with, and to create new memories. I had no idea the positive impact my chapter would begin to have on my communication skills and academic ability. Through the love and support of my sisters, I knew I had what it took to be an OL.

When I finally did become an OL and started training, I had no idea how impactful it would be. I first learned how to facilitate to a large group, which meant further developing my communication skills when working with others. This then helped me improve my leadership skills as I guided first-years through a smooth transition into the Lehigh community.

It was such a rewarding experience that really meant a lot to me. I became a part of something bigger than myself while making 80 new amazing friends in the process. Each person had a great personality along with a different aspect of the Lehigh community to showcase. The energy everyone brought to each and every meeting always left me with a smile on my face and so many memories that I will always cherish. Not only that, but being able to mentor a group of first-years and help them become more comfortable and familiar with the campus, made me feel like I had really accomplished something great.

Now, I take what I have learned back not only to the Greek community, but the Lehigh community as a whole. I gained so much more confidence not only in my ability to lead and mentor, but in myself as a person. I have a whole new group of friends I call my family and know that they will always be there for me as I am always there for them. From having deep and real conversations, to breaking out into random dance parties in the middle of the day, I would never change a thing about my experience as an Orientation Leader. My experiences as a member of the OFYE staff and our Greek community shaped who I am and help define my Lehigh experience.

Keep an eye out for Orientation Leader applications and be sure to apply!!

Feature Friday: Elizabeth Tully, Alpha Phi

Another UIFI experience shared by Elizabeth Tully, Alpha Phi...

The Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI) is a five-day fully immersive experience that welcomes hundreds of collegiate fraternity and sorority members from throughout the United States. Held at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN, participants identified practical leadership skills by exploring critical issues in thought-provoking activities. By defining the challenges that our diverse communities face today, personal leadership potential was advanced. Collaboration with peers provided a platform that inspired confidence and success. UIFI fostered a spirit of passion and commitment amongst leaders who pledged to ensure and promote a positive fraternity and sorority relationship. UIFI commenced with initial dynamic teambuilding activities that resulted in lasting trust and friendship. By examining revolutionary leadership and individual identity, values, ethics, and conduct were integrated into everyday decision-making processes and conflict management. The harsh realities of the current state of fraternity and sorority life were held up against the ideal visions that founded our chapters. Through the creation of a UIFI “Blueprint”, participants were able to detail their plans of action that will combat resistance and ignite change. We were instructed by our dedicated and enthusiastic mentors to consider the “why” and root causes of the surrounding issues that plague our entire Greek community. These deep moments of reflection inspired my love for Alpha Phi and the continued prosperity of Lehigh University’s Greek affiliates. My UIFI journey was, at times, truly overwhelming and emotional. I was forced to look in the mirror and hold myself, my chapter and the Lehigh community accountable for its triumphs and failures. UIFI was truly an eye opening and inspiring experience that has motivated me to enact authentic change in my chapter and greater Greek community. I have transformed into a confident and genuine leader that is prepared to challenge the process, lead the way and live out my and Alpha Phi's values each and every day. I am eternally grateful that the Alpha Phi Foundation sponsored my attendance and is committed to enhancing the Greek experience for all of its sisters. Every member of the Greek community should participate in this life-changing institute. It’s not just for four years. It’s for life.

Feature Friday: Sarah Cohen, Kappa Alpha Theta

This summer I had the opportunity to represent the Epsilon Rho chapter at Kappa Alpha Theta’s Grand Convention in Orlando, Florida. Grand Convention occurs every other year as a chance for the fraternity to conduct business and celebrate all that we have accomplished. I was able to experience being a Theta on a much larger scale by attending leadership workshops and collaborating with women from across the US and Canada.

My weekend in Orlando was filled with learning and powerful connections. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn about the experiences women have in their own chapters and make new friendships. I left Orlando inspired by the leading women in my organization. We discussed how joining a sorority is about belonging, not fitting in. Belonging is being accepted for you, while fitting in is being accepted for being like everyone else. At Grand Convention they encouraged us to focus on having members feel like they belong and are accepted despite their differences.

I am now ready to tackle my role in the Greek community with a new perspective. Grand Convention reminded me that being in Greek Life is not always about the events or meetings but the community. As a Panhellenic community, we support women to become their best selves and encourage them to make an impact on campus. Serving on Panhellenic Exec this year as the VP Greek Relations, I hope to bring what I learned at Grand Convention back to the chapters on campus. It is important to remember and embody our chapter values to create a space where members can laugh and cry together. Grand Convention inspired me to cultivate a positive community and remind others why sororities are an important space for women today.

Feature Friday: Base Camp!

Base Camp is a three-day overnight retreat with Greek leaders fostering authentic dialogue and placing emphasis on Collaborative Connections and Inclusive Leadership. Participants develop meaningful relationships and support networks to aid them in creating positive change to move the fraternity and sorority community forward.

At Base Camp, participants with different experiences and backgrounds engage in a variety of exercises and activities, called to play the role of both the teacher and the learner at different times throughout the weekend. Authentic conversation about the reality for our students and our fraternity and sorority community is necessary for creating positive change, and requires participants to move from their comfort zone to their learning edge throughout the experience. Base Camp is a setting which fosters such conversations, while allowing participants to develop relationships and meaningful support networks to aid them through their present and future challenges.

Some thoughts from Aisha Abdulkarimu, sister of Mu Sigma Upsilon...

My biggest takeaway from Base Camp is that although Greek life is separated into three councils and we feel as if we are going to different experiences and challenges we are actually going through similar challenges as Lehigh students and Greek life.

One highlight or an unexpected experience from Base Camp was realizing how big and deep a lot of the issues surrounding Greek Life is. They cannot be solved with the snap of a finger or simply one event but requires a deep analysis of social norm or even culture.

I hope after Base Camp to collaborate more with organizations within IFC and Panhel for any events, see members of IFC and Panhel more where they know my chapter sisters and me more, and as the Cultural Greek Council find a way to connect more.

Jacob Dooley, Phi Sigma Kappa and IFC Exec member shares his experience...

Going into base camp I was honestly a little skeptical at what the participation from the greek leaders and execs would look like. For many of us this was the first time interacting with each other for more than an hour a week, so to expect us to act cohesively and engage in challenging conversations I believed was a stretch. But I was wrong to think that.

The weekend was scheduled from sunrise to sunset with discussion, problem solving, and team building. All of it productive and by the end of base camp I felt energized to tackle the rest of the semester. Everyone was so supportive of each other, felt comfortable enough in the space to speak honestly, and overall it was a surprisingly enjoyable albeit chilly experience.

Moving forward I believe that we have the opportunity to enact sustainable proactive change within the greek community. I personally have an ambition to make greek life at Lehigh more inclusive which everyone in greek leadership can agree with, but beyond that I think that the councils are going to more actively look into what being a part of the Lehigh and Bethlehem community means to them and how they can give back. I am looking forward to meaningful collaboration not only within and between the councils, but also outside of greek life incorporating organizations that exist throughout the entire student body.

Farewell Brigette Gardner

I’m writing to share bittersweet news. As many of you know, Brigette Gardner will be leaving us next week for an incredible opportunity as the Assistant Director of Alumni Relations at York College of Pennsylvania. In this new position, Brigette will be responsible for planning and implementing alumni events; working with undergraduate students and young alumni through the Student Alumni Association, Senior Class Officers, and Young Alumni Council; and managing marketing and communication efforts.

During Brigette’s tenure at Lehigh, she has served as the advisor to the Panhellenic Council alongside a dozen fraternities and sororities. Under her guidance, the Panhellenic Council worked to foster a more inclusive community; strengthened partnerships with the Center for Gender Equity to explore women’s leadership and empowerment; and made a conscious effort to dig into difficult conversations and make unpopular decisions that strengthened the sorority experience. She has been incredibly instrumental in supporting a student-driven Trans-inclusion Task Force that’s committed to creating an environment where transwomen feel welcomed and supported in pursing membership in our Panhellenic chapters. Brigette is also the leading expert behind OFSA’s social host training and risk reduction efforts, and she’s redeveloped curriculum for social host training alongside prevention messaging to students during high risk times across the year (e.g. Lehigh Lafayette Rivalry, Halloween Spring Break, etc.)

Brigette involvement also extends far beyond the fraternity and sorority community, as she’s worked closely with others across campus. Most notably, she’s participated in a collateral assignment with the Center for Gender Equity to gain a better understand feminist theories and engage in dialogue about gender equity. Through this work she has facilitated conversations regarding feminism, sexism, and gender equity as well as questioned policies, systems, and structures that perpetuate gender inequity. Her increased knowledge, awareness, and understanding in this area has greatly informed her work and several of our office’s signature programs.

We don’t know what we’ll miss most about Brigette. Perhaps watching her growth as she transitioned from an unpaid summer intern to professional staff member. Perhaps her #bosslady skills in event planning that grew the Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Awards program to a scale which rivals the Oscars. Perhaps her love of assessment and willingness to nerd out with others on measuring learning outcomes and capturing students’ insights to better inform our work. In short, we’re incredibly grateful to have called Brigette a colleague and friend.

Please join us in congratulating Brigette on this well-deserved opportunity. Her last day will be Friday, September 21, 2018.

We'll be in touch with details shortly regarding transition plans to cover Brigette's responsibilities following her departure.

Best,

Team OFSA

Feature Friday: Meet Erin Andersen!

Meet Erin, the newest addition to our team!  She'll be advising IFC so stop by and say hi!

Name: Erin Andersen
Position: Assistant Director
Hometown: Savannah, Georgia
Educational Background: B.A in English and a M.Ed. in English Education from the University of North Georgia
Affiliation: Delta Zeta

Professional Highlights: For the past four years, I served as the Director of Member Education for Chi Phi Fraternity’s National Office in which I designed curriculum for national programs, worked with Chapters in regards to risk management, and helped to create a standardized new member education program. Previous to that I taught Freshman Composition courses at the University of North Georgia.

Why did you decide to pursue a career in fraternity and sorority affairs? While I was teaching on campus, I began serving as an advisor to a couple of different organizations. I found very quickly that this was my passion: working with students outside of a classroom setting where I could truly mentor them personally, professionally, and academically. And, given that my undergraduate Greek experience was a positive one, I knew I wanted to give back and help others see all the positives that Greek life had to offer (especially in regards to alumni support and networking).

What do you hope to do during your time at Lehigh University? I hope to build strong partnerships with students, faculty, and fellow staff as well as work with as many people as possible to help achieve the goals identified by OFSA, the Greek Councils and individual Chapters. My hope is that I can play a small roll in growing Greek life on campus along with showing the community the benefits that Greek Life has to offer.

What has been your impression of the Lehigh Greek Community so far? I have been incredibly impressed by everyone’s passion and energy! The one-on-one conversations I’ve had have shown that students are aware of their challenges, proud of their successes, and looking forward to this year being one of positive change. I am really looking forward to diving in and working with everyone, sharing ideas, and making this year a great one!

Feature Friday: Meet Phoebe Galbraith!

Meet Phoebe!  She started as an Assistant Director in July and is advising CGC.  Read on to learn more!

Name: Phoebe Galbraith
Position: Assistant Director
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Educational Background: B.S. in Psychology & Child and Family Studies - Boise State University
M.S. in College Student Personnel - University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Affiliation: Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity 

Professional Highlights: During graduate school I held an assistantship in New Student and Family Programs, where I had the opportunity to work with the Parent's Council, a leadership group comprised of parents and alumni of the university

• I also had the opportunity to facilitate the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment to students and staff across campus through my work with the Center for Leadership and Service
• For my graduate capstone, I created a Diversity and Inclusion based recruitment program for NPC Chapters

Why did you decide to pursue a career in fraternity and sorority affairs? Being a sister of Alpha Xi Delta led me to many amazing opportunities during my undergraduate career and shaped me into the person I am today. The more involved I became, the more I realized the power of the fraternity and sorority experience and the positive impact our organizations can have on a college campus and beyond. When I started graduate school, I made it a point to get involved with other areas of Student Affairs, but always found myself drawn to fraternity and sorority life. After completing two internships with the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life at UTK, I knew this was the only career for me!

What do you hope to do during your time at Lehigh University? I hope to create positive, supportive relationships with as many students and staff as possible! I want the students I work with to grow from their experiences here at Lehigh so I will strive to support that growth however I can. I'm also looking forward to truly becoming a member of this community and embracing all that Lehigh and South Bethlehem have to offer!

What has been your impression of the Lehigh Greek Community so far? So far, it seems that everyone I've met has been passionate about their organizations and the work you all are doing, which is exciting! I can tell that you all are incredibly driven and intelligent and are capable of taking our community to the next level.

Message Regarding Unrecognized Groups

The following message was shared with first-year male students as well as their families

The fraternity and sorority community is an important part of the campus experience for many students, and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA) strives to create a distinctive learning-centered experience.  We feel strongly that you should be informed about options across the fraternity and sorority community so that you have the opportunity to make educated decisions should you choose to affiliate with a Greek-letter organization.  To that end, we provide many information sessions for students to learn about the fraternity and sorority experience, and this letter is another initiative to provide you with important information.

Lehigh University currently has 14 officially recognized international fraternities.  We also want to make you aware that some groups may exist off campus that are not recognized by the University.   It is important that you are aware of some potential issues if you choose to affiliate with one of the unrecognized off campus groups rather than one of Lehigh’s 14 recognized fraternities.

Several fraternities have lost recognition in recent years from the University and their international headquarters because they failed to comply with policies or guidelines.  The 2017-2018 academic year was particularly difficult and unprecedented as three fraternities—Sigma Chi, Pi Kappa Alpha, and Kappa Alpha—lost recognition and no longer exist at Lehigh University.  Some of these formerly recognized groups may continue to operate without University recognition, oversight, or approval and are considered unrecognized groups.  Unrecognized groups are not permitted to use Lehigh University's name or image, secure University group housing, or represent themselves as an official part of the University community.  We do not have confidence that unrecognized groups operate with diligence to promote student growth and development; provide proactive and preventative measures to foster wellness and safety; nor abide by University guidelines with regard to recruitment, new member education, academic support, and other areas vital to the successful management of an organization.  Additionally, unrecognized groups operate in the absence of reasonable and prudent oversight as well as lack resources and support provided to other student organizations. 

While we cannot predict the outcome of membership in an unrecognized group, it is important to alert you to the possible concerns and consequences regarding the well-being of students that choose to affiliate with or join an unrecognized group.  There exists no meaningful partnership between the University and students, alumni volunteers, and international headquarters staff associated with unrecognized groups.  These unrecognized groups will not receive an invitation to regain University recognition in the near future or in subsequent academic years while they continue to exist in direct violation of University policy.  

We also invite you to review our website to learn more about Lehigh’s recognized chapters. These chapters have rich and lengthy histories at Lehigh and many have been recognized for excellence by the University and their respective international headquarters in the areas of membership development, academic excellence, leadership, and service efforts.   The content of the OFSA website is robust and you will find a number of resources, including Accreditation reports, grade reports, membership statistics, and conduct history for our fraternities.  All of these resources are valuable tools should you consider membership in a fraternity and choose to participate in recruitment in January 2019.  The current recognized Lehigh University fraternities include the following:

Alpha Epsilon Pi

Alpha Tau Omega

Chi Phi

Chi Psi

Delta Chi

Delta Upsilon

Kappa Alpha Psi

Phi Delta Theta

Phi Kappa Theta

Phi Sigma Kappa

Psi Upsilon

Sigma Phi Epsilon

Theta Chi

Theta Xi

If you have questions regarding any this information please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at (610) 758-4157 or by e-mailing Infrasor@lehigh.edu.   

Thank you,

Ashley M. Baudouin

Assistant Dean of Students/Director

Christopher J. Mulvihill

Associate Dean of Students

Katherine W. Lavinder

Dean of Students

Mark your calendars!

Using powerful stories grounded in personal experiences, Tim Mousseau uses his passion and vulnerability to guide conversations that will leave students inspired to combat sexual violence, redefine masculinity, and provoke change.

Tim received a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga in 2013, but is a Lobo at heart, having graduated from University of New Mexico in 2011. For the past few years, he has spent some time researching how innovation relates to leadership and the need for service in creativity.

In the past he has worked for his fraternity, Sigma Chi, as well as spending time working with close to 175 campuses through the NIC. Having grown up an Air Force kid, he has never lived anywhere longer than four years. Throughout his travels, Tim began to study the arts and in his spare time is a painter, having designed his 20+ tattoos.

Please join us for Tim's programs on Wednesday September 26th.  The following small group breakouts will take place in UC 303. 

4-5pm: Hacking Your Organization: Tools for Meaningful Growth (Closed Session)

5:30-6:30pm Conversations on Meaningful Change (Dinner provided, RSVP required here)

Greeks like to MOOV it, MOOV it!

Over 500 Greek students volunteered for MOOV on Thursday August 23rd assisting first year students get settled into their new homes at Lehigh.  President Simon thanked the "Brown & White army" for providing a warm welcome to new students and their families.  Housing services said it was "the smoothest, most successful MOOV in years!"

Congratulations to Alpha Epsilon Pi for winning the First Annual Greek MOOV Volunteer Challenge!  

For more information, see the video and article from Lehigh news here: https://www1.lehigh.edu/news/a-perfect-move-in-day-for-the-class-of-2022

A MILLION THANKS TO THE FOLKS IN TANK TOPS! 

2017-2018 Accreditation Results

The Accreditation results for the 2017-2018 academic year have been finalized and the ratings breakdown for the 25 fraternities and sororities reviewed this academic year included 7 Accredited with Excellence chapters, 15 Accredited chapters and 3 Unaccredited chapters.

The Accreditation results provide feedback intended to support efforts to enhance the success of Greek chapters. We encourage chapters to accept the feedback in the constructive spirit in which it is offered, and urge undergraduate and alumni members to discuss this feedback and develop an action plan for continued success. The results are published on the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs website at https://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/node/5698

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the members of the Accreditation Committee who worked tirelessly through hours of presentations and discussions.

Please share this information with your respective undergraduate members, alumni volunteers, and others as you see appropriate.

For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs by phone at 610-758-4157 or by email at infrasor@lehigh.edu.

Farewell Corey Gant

 

We're writing to share bittersweet news.  Corey Gant, Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, will be leaving us this month for an incredible opportunity as the Director of Greek Life with Washington and Lee.  In this new position, Corey will provide guidance and support to Washington and Lee’s 20-chapter fraternity and sorority community alongside its three governing councils.  He will also serve as the primary catalyst in facilitating officer transitions, developmental programming, and hazing prevention and risk management initiatives for members of the fraternity and sorority community.   

During Corey’s tenure at Lehigh, he has served as the advisor to the Interfraternity Council alongside 10 fraternities and sororities.  Under his guidance, the Interfraternity Council worked to reconsider its role within the greater Lehigh community; explored opportunities to enhance transparency, responsibility, and accountability; and made a conscious effort to dig into difficult conversations and make unpopular, yet groundbreaking, decisions.  Corey is also the brainchild behind OFSA’s hazing prevention and new member education efforts, and he developed the curriculum for new member orientation sessions targeting 400+ students each spring semester.  Corey’s also challenged himself to better understand hazing behavior and its connection to masculinity, vulnerability, alcohol misuse, and other concepts, and this has greatly informed his work and our office’s signature programs in these areas. Corey’s involvement also extends far beyond the fraternity and sorority community, as he’s worked closely with others across campus via the Pride Center (co-advising Greek Allies), the Spirit Committee, and the Student Affairs Professional Development Committee among others.     

We’re incredibly grateful to have called Corey a colleague, advisor and friend. Please join us in congratulating Corey on this well-deserved opportunity.  His last day will be Friday, June 22, 2018.     ​

Our team will be in touch across the summer as we shift Corey's responsibilities to other staff members.  In the meantime, please feel free to contact Ash Baudouin via email at amb512@lehigh.edu should you require assistance. 

Best,

Team OFSA