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College
of Chapters Trains Undergraduates
to Live as Men of Honor
The College of Chapters is Sigma
Nu Fraternity's biennial leadership
development conference. It is an intense,
interactive program for our undergraduate
members that focuses on leadership,
teambuilding, and the core principles
of Sigma Nu. At College of Chapters,
students learn more about themselves,
connect with brothers from across the
country, find solutions to their challenges,
discover ideas that can help take their
chapter to the next level, and learn
skills that can help them succeed both
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Teambuilding
at College of Chapters |
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now
and after graduation.
Held on the campus of Washington & Lee University,
nearly 300 undergraduates and more than 50 alumni
and friends of Sigma Nu (serving as guest facilitators)
gathered for this year's College of Chapters
from June 15-19, 2005. Students were divided
into 30 small "chapter groups" of
8-10 men. They participated in both large and
small-group sessions, returning to their "chapter
groups" in the evenings to process the
events of the day and determine ways to take
what they've learned home with them.
The conference opened with a keynote address
by Dr. John A White (University of Missouri-Rolla
& University of Arkansas), Chancellor of
the University of Arkansas. In his address entitled
"Are Greeks An Endangered Species"
he expressed to participants that the future
of the Greek System depends upon them and those
who follow. He encouraged them in the importance
of living by the tenets of our order and the
values of our creed, and he shared that those
who "excel with honor" demonstrate
the true value of the Greek System. . . both
today and in the future.
Dr.
Michael Dunphy presented a program called "Living
as Men of Honor." This energizing and interactive
session focused on ideas, principles and tactics
critical to helping young leaders embrace honor
as a way of life. Rooted in classical martial
arts strategies and tempered with his experience
in business and academic leadership, Dr. Dunphy
challenged participants to look at their choices
and behaviors from a larger perspective and
to examine the assumptions at the root of their
thinking.
Habitat
Landscaping Project |
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The
College of Chapters curriculum was based
on the 7 C's of Leadership from the
Social Change Model of Leadership developed
by the Higher Education Research Institute
at UCLA. The 7 C's are: Consciousness
of Self, Congruence, Collaboration,
Commitment, Controversy with Civility,
Citizenship, and Common Purpose. Based
on this model, learning in each of these
seven areas can produce individual and
organizational change. Additional small
group sessions focused on accountability,
the Six Thinking Hats (about group decision-making,
problem solving, and creative brainstorming),
The Leadership |
Challenge, and situational leadership. A mock
initiation ceremony was conducted to teach our
members how to properly implement our Ritual
back in their own chapters. In addition, brothers
who arrived at the conference a day early gave
a total of 50 man hours to assist with the landscaping
of a recently completed Habitat for Humanity
house in Buena Vista, Virginia.
According to many of the attendees, one of the
conference highlights was a simulation exercise
called "Riley University" in which
participants engaged in a true-to-life simulation
designed to help them utilize what they've learned
at College of Chapters and through the LEAD
program. Chapter groups played the role of fraternity
chapters on the fictional Riley University campus
and they were given a number of tasks with specific
deadlines (e.g. developing a recruitment or
scholarship plan) to work on during the simulation.
Additional situations were introduced to the
chapters periodically throughout the exercise
in order to to engage participants in critical
thinking, problem solving and communication
skills to determine a solution. In addition
certain chapters were faced with a crisis situation
to address.
At
the conclusion of the Riley University
simulation, participants had the opportunity
to debrief and process the experience
in their small group and then with the
larger group to share their learning
and offer solutions to the challenges
they faced. In addition, recognition
was given to chapters who developed
outstanding programs in Scholarship,
LEAD, Social, Recruitment and Alumni
Relations.
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In addition to each day's educational activities,
participants engaged in the Sigma Nu Triathlon
which allowed for some friendly competition
between chapter groups in each of three events:
an academic bowl (trivia), a dodge ball tournament,
and an ethical leadership case study competition.
In the months to come The Rock will profile
specific undergraduate members who attended
this year's College of Chapters. Highlighting
their "before and after" perspectives
of the conference, you'll learn about how they
have been influenced to effectively lead their
chapters in the future. Stay tuned for real
stories about how your Foundation dollars are
being put to use to make Sigma Nu the premier
organization on college campuses today.
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