Unique for the 2020-2021 academic year, there are two versions of the Pursuit of Excellence Program (PEP) – one for chapters operating mostly in-person and one for chapters operating mostly virtually. The criteria for Acceptable through Excellence have been adjusted to reflect the limitations of either operating in-person with social distancing restrictions or operating mostly virtually.
In-Person – the host institution is conducting most, if not all, classes in-person and chapter operations are at, or near, 100% in-person based.
Virtual – the host institution is conducting most, if not all, classes entirely online and chapter operations are at, or near, 100% virtual based.
- Criteria were removed when they were no longer relevant to a specific mode of operations (e.g. organizing a campus-wide event is not advisable in a social distancing situation and nearly impossible in a virtual format).
- In some cases, new criteria were added to ensure chapters are addressing new needs of their membership created by the pandemic (e.g. academic support for all members, virtual study groups).
- Finally, some criteria were adjusted in their scale by either lowering to ensure they could be reasonably met in the given situation or offering an alternative to fit a chapter’s situation (e.g. having candidates complete a service project OR two hours of individual in-person service or virtual volunteerism).
Evaluation Guidelines Changes for Virtual Operations
The adjustments for virtual operations are detailed below. These modifications were made only for the 2020-2021 year. Click here for more information on how the guidelines and review process was modified to accommodate the sudden shift to virtual operations for all chapters in March 2020.
Service and Philanthropy
- Modified Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter performs # or more virtual volunteerism or philanthropic activities with participation from most members each academic term.
- Criteria modified to focus on virtual participation and lowering the number of required events from three (3) to two (2) annual events at the Acceptable level.
Campus Leadership
- Eliminated the Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter participates in campus-sponsored activities and leadership development programs at least once a semester.
- Concern about whether campuses will be able to consistently provide these programs for all chapters and members operating virtually.
- Eliminated the Excellence criterion: Chapter hosts at least one campus-wide event or program.
- Removed due to concerns over the feasibility of doing so virtually.
Values Congruent Environments
Intellectual Development
- The modified criterion for Acceptable to Excellence: Scholarship Committee and/or advisor provide individual support for all members (e.g. regular check-ins, self-reporting by members).
- This criterion was modified from a focus on members struggling academically, as evidenced by a below chapter standards GPA, to all members. With all members taking classes online it is even more important for the chapter to have a robust support program to assist all members.
- New Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter promotes the use of virtual study groups (not necessarily limited to their own chapter/campus).
- Like the above change to support for all members, chapter promotion or organization of virtual study groups should be standard practice for all chapters with most/all members taking classes virtually.
Candidate Development
- Modified Acceptable criterion on a candidate service project: Candidates complete a service project OR individually complete two (2) or more hours of service (in-person or virtual volunteerism)
- Creates the option to count individual candidate service (in-person or virtual) in place of a joint service project.
- New Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter encourages candidates to participate in virtual chapter operations (e.g. chapter meetings, virtual brotherhood events).
- Creates an expectation for involving candidates in chapter operations.
- New Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter hosts a virtual meeting with candidates once per month with at least 65% of chapter members (candidates and initiates) in attendance.
- Creates an expectation for involving candidates in regular chapter-wide meetings.
Brother Development
- Modified Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter members attend campus or interfraternal leadership development programs (i.e. UIFI, IMPACT, LeaderShape, and officer training programs), if virtual programs are available.
- Added caveat on the availability of virtual programs. Chapters will not be expected to attend any in-person programs and participation in virtual programs will be measured based on availability, opportunity, and prudence of chapter attendance.
- New Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter holds a virtual brotherhood event at least once per month.
- Chapters are expected to offer opportunities for all members – in small groups or as a collective – to gather virtually on a regular basis to promote brotherhood and connection.
- Modified Very Good to Excellence criterion: Chapter conducts an annual virtual brotherhood retreat.
- Rather than in-person, this expectation is now for a virtual retreat.
Alumni Development
- Modified Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter offers an opportunity for alumni to connect with one another and the collegiate chapter.
- Replaces the criterion on sponsoring an alumni event each year.
- Modified Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter uses virtual platforms (e.g. social media, online newsletter, email, website) to communicate with general alumni on the activities of the chapter.
- Replaces Good to Excellence criterion on keeping alumni updated through a chapter website.
- Communicating updates with the general alumni on the activities of the chapter, through one or more virtual platforms, is as important as ever and should be standard practice.
Recruitment and Manpower
- Eliminated the Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter has exhibited healthy growth in the previous year OR chapter maintains healthy manpower for its campus environment.
- The expectation that chapters keep pace with their IFC counterparts in recruitment and chapter size (i.e. meeting or exceeding average campus manpower) allows for chapter size fluctuations in a virtual recruitment and operations environment, including a comparable decrease in manpower.
Chapter Operations
- Modified Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter uses a digital format for most financial transactions with appropriate control and oversight protocol.
- Combines the expectation of keeping digital financial records and eliminates the expectation that all transactions be done through two signature checks. The practicality of check-based transactions in virtual operations creates an unnecessary hurdle for chapters operating with members in diverse geographic locations. Chapters are still expected to have oversight and controls over digital transactions (e.g. pre-approval, limits on transaction size, review of all transactions by a finance committee).
- Eliminated the Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter utilizes Ritual for each chapter meeting as well as proper induction and initiation ceremonies.
- Online/virtual performance or viewing of The Ritual is not an approved option.
- New Acceptable criterion: Chapter operates on the committee system and the committees meet on a schedule determined by the chapter.
- Meeting at least monthly remains a Good to Excellence criterion.
- The use of the committee system will be critical for virtual chapter operations. At the Acceptable level, chapters may determine the schedule that best fits their needs, including all committees meet less than monthly.
- Eliminated the Excellence criterion: Chapter has Ritual discussions after induction and initiation.
- Online/virtual performance or viewing of The Ritual is not an approved option; thus, the follow-up discussions Excellence criterion is not relevant for chapters operating entirely virtually.
Governance & Accountability
- New Acceptable to Excellence criterion: Chapter establishes virtual operations plan at the beginning of each academic term.
- It will be critical for chapters operating virtually to lay out a plan at the outset of the academic term for how they will operate that term (e.g. calendar of events, officer/committee expectations, and plans, chapter goals).
Questions about the rationale or application of the above changes should be directed to Scott Smith, Director of Leadership Development.