Industry Update Provided by NPC

Mid-December 2021 through Jan. 4, 2022

Inside Higher Ed, The Daily Beast and other local outlets reported that the Alpha Phi chapter at the University of Alabama expelled a member and stripped the president of her title after racist text messages circulated on social media. The University of Alabama Panhellenic Association posted a statement on Instagram condemning the behavior. The university also released a statement, calling the text exchange, “offensive, disappointing, and contrary to the University’s core values emphasizing collegiality, respect and inclusivity.”

Amid rising COVID-19 cases, particularly due to the Omicron variant, student media on multiple campuses are reporting that all or portions of sorority recruitment activities have been moved to a virtual or hybrid format. Additionally, Inside Higher Ed continues to publish COVID-19 news stories related to higher education as they happen.

Workforce Updates

Join the risk prevention team in welcoming two team members.

• Sam Lyn-Metz, Beta Epsilon/Oregon State, is serving as risk prevention specialist in College District XIV.
• Elyse Toplin, Alpha Phi/Tulane, is serving as risk prevention specialist in College District XI.

2022 Theta Foundation Scholarship Application Now Available

Theta Foundation is excited to announce that the 2022 Scholarship Application is now available! The application and recommendation forms are due by Wednesday, March 2. More information can be found on Theta’s Apply for Scholarships & Grants page. Thank you for spreading the word about this opportunity! Please direct any questions to Foundation Programs Director Mary Kate Smith.

Government Relations Opportunity for Collegians – Capitol Hill Visit

Theta is looking for outstanding campus and chapter leaders to serve as advocates for the fraternity and sorority community in Washington, D.C. The in-person Capitol Hill visit is currently scheduled from April 25-27. Preference will be given to student body presidents, student government leaders, Panhellenic association or IFC presidents, chapter presidents, other chapter leaders, and students who have interned on Capitol Hill. Help identify members who should apply by sharing the application link. Act fast! The deadline for college members to apply is Friday, Jan. 29 at midnight EST. Contact Director of Government Relations Alicia Lee with any questions.

Educational Leadership Consultant (ELC) Program Update

This past fall, the ELC program visited 43 chapters and facilitated 168 workshops for 3,672 participants. The chart below shows the names of each program, the number of chapters at which that program was facilitated, and the number of students in attendance. ELCs are back visiting chapters this semester and facilitating workshops. Chapter visits are a mix of virtual, hybrid, and in-person. If you have any questions, please contact elcprogram@kappaalphatheta.org. The ELC program is made possible by a grant from Theta Foundation.

Theta Blogs

• National Mentoring Month: The Importance of Mentoring
• Announcing the 2022 Theta Foundation Scholarship Application Help Sessions 
• Theta Foundation Grant Supports Alumnae Chapter Service Project 
• Thoughts for the New Year: A Better You for 2022 

Helpful Links

• ThetaConnect
• Workforce Contact Information
• Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion 
• New Volunteers
• Previous Updates