Industry Update Provided by NPC

In recent weeks, COVID-19 cases have exploded among people in their 20s and 30s. Public health officials say that’s partly because of so-called ‘superspreader’ events, including gatherings of college students in off-campus houses, fraternity facilities, and bars. Confronted with social media posts showing crowds of students dancing and drinking together in defiance of local orders, colleges and universities have been forced to zero in on what’s happening just off campus. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports there are limits to what institutions can do. Administrators can, in theory, punish students for hosting large gatherings if such events cross their radar. They can’t, however, show up at private fraternity houses and enforce mask wearing and physical distancing in common areas.

USA Today reports that summer coronavirus outbreaks at fraternal organizations have led to social media posts calling for bans on fraternities and sororities. Chapters that provide only a social experience without meaningful connections are likely to struggle in the coronavirus era, said Gentry McCreary, a consultant to universities on fraternity and sorority life. Some have adopted digital recruiting for the first wave of applicants while saving in-person activities for a smaller pool of people. Students are most likely to follow campus guidelines at residences on campus, McCreary said. The challenge will be at informal events off campus, as some chapters maintain off-campus houses for social gatherings under less oversight from the host institution.

NPR reports that as the start of classes inches closer, more and more colleges and universities are rolling back their earlier, more optimistic proclamations of an in-person or hybrid fall. Those initial plans are now more likely to include hefty virtual options. Some call for classes that would be mostly remote, while others are calling for the semester to be entirely online. The University of California, Berkeley announced that it will begin the year remotely, according to comments from the chancellor, Carol Christ. "After weeks of developing a very elaborate plan for a hybrid model in the fall, we decided, after we had a serious fraternity outbreak, that it was just too risky to teach face-to-face," Christ said.

Grand Council Action

At its meeting Friday, July 24, in light of the financial disaster caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Grand Council temporarily reduced the initiation fee and the per capita fee by 25 percent for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, with a return to current rates on July 1, 2021. The fees will be $135 instead of $180 for this fiscal year.

Grand Council also amended Grand Council Bylaws to add a new special officer and a new standing committee.

• The director of diversity, equity, & inclusion will advise the Fraternity president and Grand Council on diversity, equity, & inclusion strategy for the Fraternity. The director will be appointed by Grand Council, will not serve as a Grand Convention delegate, and will not be limited in terms of office served.
• The diversity, equity, & inclusion committee will implement strategy endorsed by Grand Council. The committee chairman will be appointed by Grand Council, will serve as a Grand Convention delegate, and will be limited to serving two three-year terms.

Both positions will be announced publicly on the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion web page with a link for members to indicate interest in these positions.

Introducing ThetaConnect

This Wednesday, Theta is officially announcing ThetaConnect to all members. Powered by Graduway, ThetaConnect (http://thetaconnect.org) is a Thetas-only mobile and desktop app that enables collegians and alumnae to establish mentor-mentee relationships, create and join interest groups, search for sisters using a member directory, and more. 

With many Thetas in quarantine during the pandemic, ThetaConnect will help create and maintain sisterhood bonds, as well as offer help with careers, personal growth, and more. In support of the new Plan of Aspirations (Aspiration 1: “Optimize the Kappa Alpha Theta experience at all life stages”), ThetaConnect will be a critical tool in achieving this goal.

Here's how you can help with ThetaConnect.

• Log in and create a profile, either by using your email or syncing with your existing Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google account. (If you’re one of the 600 who signed up during our July soft launch, we thank you!).
• Interact with other Thetas through offers to help (including mentoring), adding content to the home page newsfeed, creating and/or contributing to groups, and more.
• Spread the word! Ask other Thetas you know if they’ve signed up for ThetaConnect. If not, encourage them to do so!

Have questions or need assistance? Contact info@kappaalphatheta.org.

Theta Foundation Pansy Patch 2020

There is still room in the patch for pansies to bloom! As the excitement and joy of Pansy Patch continues, we are extending purchases through this final week. Pansy Patch will officially close at midnight (EDT) on Monday, August 3. Thank you to those who have already purchased a pansy and happy planting! You can purchase your pansy at pansypatch.org. 

College Chapter Officer Training

We will be hosting several training sessions for college chapter officers in the coming weeks to review COVID-19 contingency plans; discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; and in general share ideas with one another to engage members and help them have the best semester they can … despite a pandemic. The schedule is below for reference. We will run two sessions per week. More training, learning, and leadership opportunities will be offered throughout the year, and we will provide updates here when those are scheduled. Contact Melissa Shaub, director of education and leadership, with questions.

July 28-30: CEOs & recruitment officers

August 4-6: Marketing/social media & member orientation/ritual

August 11-13: DEI committee chairmen & events (social, sisterhood, & fundraising)

August 18-20: Accountability/MDC & scholarship

August 25-27: Bylaws/elections & facility management

September 1-3: Finance & member engagement/sisterhood

Recent Theta Blog

Kappa Alpha Theta Legacy Policy Update

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