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April 7, 2020
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The Update | April 7, 2020
Industry Update Provided by NPC
The New York Times reports at least 44 University of Texas-Austin students have tested positive for COVID-19. A group of around 70 students, all in their 20s, flew on a chartered plane to Cabo San Lucas, and some returned on separate commercial flights to Texas. The Daily Dot reports the spring-breakers, many of whom are members of sororities and fraternities, were dubbed the “Cabo 44” and faced immediate backlash from their peers. Tension intensified on social media between students involved in fraternity/sorority life and students who are not and call themselves “UT Twitter.” A comment from a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority has been made into a GIF and tweeted dozens of times. The screenshot shows the sorority member accusing a student of “cyberbullying” for criticizing the decision to attend the spring break trip.
Reuters has published a story reporting how elite U.S. college students may have brought COVID-19 from domestic and international travel to their campuses, using a "case study" from Vanderbilt University.
Inside Higher Ed has compiled a list of different means universities are using to continue to recruit and enroll students in the midst of the pandemic. Some institutions have decided to become test-optional for the next three years, while others are moving to online content in place of typical campus tours.
The Chronicle of Higher Education noted in a March 30 story the increased number of student surveys related to COVID-19 and the potential confusion caused by the results of these surveys.
Grand Convention 2020
The mayor of Indianapolis has announced that the shelter-in-place order for the city has been extended through May 1. Because Grand Convention is taking place in Indianapolis and because of the current world coronavirus situation, registration for Grand Convention has been suspended and will remain so while Indianapolis’s shelter-in-place order remains in effect.
Specifically, this means that the registration system will be turned off and an announcement will be posted on the home page of the Convention website, where registration access is housed.
District representatives to the nominating committee were to be elected between April 6 and 26. Just as Convention registration is suspended, district representative elections have been postponed until at least May 1.
Grand Council is currently considering options for Grand Convention 2020 during this strange and unprecedented time. Rest assured that all decisions will be made with love and careful thought; there are many factors to consider, and the landscape is ever-changing. We will let you know when more is known.
Theta Foundation Chapter & Individual Grants
Theta Foundation’s Quarter 4 Chapter & Individual Grant Application (for programs beginning on or after June 1) is due by 3:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, April 15. This includes applications from current sophomores and juniors to attend the 2020 National CASA/GAL Conference. Find application links and resources on the Apply for Scholarships & Grants page. Please contact Theta Foundation Programs Manager Mary Kate Smith with questions.
Educational Resources
As we continue to work through our new normal, including stay-at-home orders, we’ve pulled together some additional resources for your use at home, at work, or as a volunteer. We’ve also linked to more resources on our blog, and most resources listed here are provided in the Emotional Wellness section of the Coronavirus Update page. If you find any helpful resources that would benefit others, please share with Melissa Shaub, director of education & leadership, for posting.
- This article in the Chronicle of Higher Education discusses productivity pressure and why you should ignore it. While the intended audience is faculty members, we found lots of good tips and applicable advice.
- The JED Foundation provided this advice for recognizing stress in yourself or others and tips on how to manage that stress in a healthy way.
- Here are some resources from Calm, an app for sleep and meditation. Their blog has several free resources on helping to manage the anxiousness that many of us may be feeling.
Holiday Closing
The Fraternity, Theta Foundation, and Fraternity Housing Corporation (FHC) offices will be closed Friday, April 10, in observance of Good Friday.
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