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Welcome to NASPA's

Fraternity Sorority Knowledge Community (FSKC)

Our Knowledge Community is comprised of those interested in advancing fraternities and sororities, whether working on a college campus, fraternity or sorority headquarters or related organization.  We cover the spectrum of experience and positions but all are committed to furthering the fraternity and sorority experience.

F&S KC MISSION

We provide a forum for discussion of issues, knowledge dissemination and fostering collaboration between institutions of higher learning, inter/national fraternities and sororities, and related national organizations that have a shared interest in advancing fraternities and sororities

F&S KC VISION

We advance campus-based ethical and values-based fraternity & sorority communities that further the educational mission of their host institutions.

Message from the Chairs:

 Greetings, Colleagues!

We welcome you to the NASPA Fraternity & Sorority Knowledge Community, with nearly 2,000 members, it is one of the largest KC’s in NASPA.  Our membership ranges from Senior Student Affairs officers, to graduate students, to Fraternity and Sorority National Officers.  Regardless of our positions or experience we all are committed to seeing fraternities and sororities provide a “value-added” experience to our students at our host institutions.  The KC is quite active throughout the year as we provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, knowledge dissemination and collaboration among the fraternal movement.  If you’re interested in getting involved drop us a line below.  We welcome your input.

Todd                                                Ron

Dr. Todd Adams                              Dr. Ron Binder

Senior Associate Dean of Students      Associate Dean of Students

Duke University                                           University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

Todd.adams@duke.edu                           Binder@pitt.edu

Click here for article on: State of Campus Advising by Dr. Scott Reikofski

Strategic Plan:

F&S KC Membership Survey

In order to better meet the needs of F&S Knowledge Community members, the KC leadership team has established a three-year strategic plan to guide its work, uphold its mission, and realize its vision. However, before establishing and advancing a collective agenda, the KC surveyed its members (approximately 1,700) via email in Fall 2011 to obtain feedback on three questions that would inform its plan:

• What are the three most significant issues facing your institution/organizations in the next five years?
• What are the three most significant issues facing the fraternal movement in the next five years?
• Of the significant issues you identified, what is the NASPA F&S Knowledge Community most uniquely positioned to address?

In total, 172 respondents completed the survey. Respondents were asked to identify all of the institutions/organizations they represented.  The vast majority – 92.4% – identified as college/university professionals. In addition, nearly 10% represented a national council (NALFO, NIC, NPHC, NPC), 7.6% represented a higher education association (AFA, ASHE, NACA, etc.), and 6.4% represented a fraternity/sorority headquarters. Fewer than a dozen respondents identified as representatives of a fraternity/sorority foundation, college academic department (faculty), and/or honor society. In addition, respondents were geographically diverse, with the largest number – nearly 30% – found in NASPA Region III, although all Regions were represented.

Beyond responses to demographic questions, survey feedback was open-ended and provided the leadership team with members’ opinions surrounding their  institutions/organizations, their views of fraternity and sorority life, and the distinct role that the KC should play in addressing the most pressing and significant issues they identified. After coding the data and categorizing responses, key themes emerged to each question:

• Significant issues facing organization/institution

1. Budget/finances (fiscal & human resources)
2. Retention, membership/enrollment
3. Safety and risk management
4. Diversity and inclusion

• Significant issues facing the fraternal movement

1. Risk management
2. Values congruence, social justice, equity and inclusion
3. Relevance (reputation)
4. Student engagement (apathy)

• Significant issues the KC is uniquely positioned to address

1. Relevance to institutions
2. Bringing together senior student affairs officers (SSAOs) – educate them about the fraternal movement
3. Equity and inclusion
4. Research (or lack thereof) on fraternities and sororities

F&S KC Strategic Plan – 2012 to 2015

Armed with this information, the F&S KC has established a strategic plan to leverage its unique position in higher education that brings together stakeholders, supports partnerships and collaborations, and generates knowledge in service of KC members and NASPA while advancing understanding of the fraternal movement. Beginning in Summer 2012, the F&S Knowledge Community commits to:

1. Engage constituencies and educate KC members
   1. Reinforce commitment to the biannual Scott Academy that brings together SSAOs, headquarters staff and association leaders in discussion and partnership on relevant issues affecting the fraternal movement (next Scott Academy in 2013)
   2. Sponsor biannual pre-conference program at the NASPA meeting (even numbered years) that encourages participation by a wide audience of NASPA members, particularly SSAOs (first KC pre-conference in 2014)
   3. Educate members on current approaches to assessment in the fraternal movement (beginning 2013)
2. Enhance KC communication
   1. Employ social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and the KC website to quickly and efficiently disseminate information (beginning Summer 2012)
   2. Establish consistent distribution of email newsletter to members regarding KC activities (beginning Fall 2012)
   3. Encourage publication in the NASPA Journal, AFA’s Perspectives, and other national periodicals (ongoing)
3. Promote research and assessment initiatives and support existing research on fraternities and sororities
4. Establish more formal connections with the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity (CSCF) and the Association of Fraternity & Sorority Advisors (AFA) to promote funding opportunities for fraternity and sorority life research (beginning Summer 2012)
5. Serve as a catalyst for institutions/organizations to conduct academic research and assessment initiatives in the fraternal movement; support and emphasize research that examines issues of values congruence and diversity/inclusion (Spring 2013 and ongoing)
6. Centralize existing fraternity/sorority research – with the CSCF’s assistance –in a repository with easy access for NASPA members (Spring 2013 and ongoing)
7. Promote assessment in the fraternal movement (ongoing)
8. Seek and develop co-sponsorship opportunities with other NASPA Knowledge Communities.
   1. Leverage leadership team membership on other KCs to identify collaborative opportunities (beginning Summer 2012)
   2. Encourage research about the fraternal movement that informs multiple perspectives and seek partnerships in supporting research initiatives that align with the KC’s agenda