UMD Fraternity and Sorority Transformation Initiative

The Fraternity and Sorority Transformation Working Group is charged with recommending what actions should be taken to strengthen staffing, resources, educational programs, policies, and partnerships necessary to promote a greater sense of belonging, thriving, success, and support for students who are members of fraternities and sororities at the University of Maryland. The work is to ultimately help to co-create the premiere fraternity and sorority life experience at the University of Maryland by creating the new blueprint for how we will move Forward Together in 2024 and beyond, similar to what the UMD committee did in 1995 when they wrote “Greek Life: A Foundation for the Future.” In order to fulfill this charge, we are convening three different Working Groups; 1) Interfraternity Council (IFC) & Panhellenic Association (PHA); 2) National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC); and, 3) Multicultural Greek Council (MGC). The chairs of these working groups will convene regularly to share resources and recommendations, as a way to work across the entirety of fraternity and sorority life at UMD. This is an important step in the transformation process as it is necessary to understand the unique experiences of each community, as they have their own lived experiences, cultures, traditions, and rituals. We also need to work together as one fraternity and sorority community. We recognize that IFC & PHA are different organizations; however, the close relationship between the culture and practices of these chapters and organizations encourages us to convene one working group.

Charge

The UMD NPHC Task Force is charged with recommending what actions should be taken to strengthen programs, resources, and partnerships necessary to promote a greater sense of belonging, thriving,  success and support for students who are members of fraternities and sororities affiliated with the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) at the University of Maryland. This charge comes from the recognition that the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life (DFSL) does not presently have a formal set of coordinated initiatives and strategies designed to leverage academic, co-curricular, or community-based resources to meet the holistic needs of NPHC students as well as to help advance the mission of their organizations.  Ultimately, the aim is to build a forward-thinking institutional agenda that acknowledges the racial history of exclusion that led to the establishment of NPHC. And, furthermore to ensure that UMD students who belong to its affiliated chapters feel empowered, uplifted, invested in, and part of the fabric of the University. 

To fulfill this charge, the Task Force should:

1. Consider other fraternity and sorority life departments that offer high-impact culturally relevant programs and services for Black students at peer HWIs and at institutions that are known for “best practices” in this area. 
2. Consult with NPHC-affiliated UMD campus partners, local/regional community partners, alumni, campus advisors, faculty and staff, NPHC headquarters, as well as campus-based student services units and other organizations including but not limited to the Department of African American Studies, Nyumburu Cultural Center, and the UMD Black Alumni Association. Consult about their current outreach efforts, programs, and initiatives available to Black students and how they could be leveraged to advance the goals of Black fraternities and sororities.  
3. Provide recommendations for actions that will develop a more robust infrastructure for student and staff driven programs and resources managed by DFSL at the University of Maryland that are designed to offer ongoing support and advocacy for Black fraternities and sororities. The recommendations should be organized around the following overlapping priority areas: Student Engagement and Advising Support; Honoring NPHC History & Legacy at UMD; Financial/Administrative Support & Physical Space Needs; and Academic, Co-curricular and Community-based Partnerships.  
4. Consider conducting focus groups with African American students on campus regarding their perception of NPHC and inquiring why they are or not interested in becoming part of this community.
5. Consider conducting focus groups with current NPHC students to learn more about their experiences. 

The NPHC Task Force is asked to provide recommendations by December 20, 2024 to Dr. James McShay. The recommendations developed by this group will be shared with the campus community during the beginning of the 2025 spring semester.

Membership

Chair:
Traci Dula, Associate Director, Honors College

Members: 
Laura Anderson Wright, Senior Associate General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel
Brandon Dula, Assistant Director, Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy, The Stamp
Cassie Duah, President, Black Alumni Association
April Hamilton, Chapter Advisor
Amina Lampkin, Communications Coordinator, Undergraduate Studies, Chapter Advisor
Andre Nottingham, Assistant Director, Nyumburu Cultural Center

Updates

The VPSA convened a group of staff, alumni, and advisors to review, research and provide recommendations that might strengthen DFSL’s ability to provide culturally relevant and sustaining support to current students, graduate chapter advisors, and alumni. The UMD NPHC Task Force was charged in April of 2024 to offer recommendations that will assist the university in building a forward-thinking agenda that supports current NPHC students and the success of these organizations.

We collected data in the format of semi-structured focus groups of students, alumni, staff (DFSL and campus partners), and NPHC sponsoring graduate chapter advisors. We also culled through prior DFSL reports and reviews, Greek Life websites of similar institutions, and surveyed Greek Life practitioners for—if not best—at least different practices.

We are now in the stage of reviewing our data and have begun drafting our recommendations and the report.

Charge

The IFC & PHA Working Group will commence in early summer 2024 and make initial recommendations by August 19, 2024, in order for implementation consideration for the fall 2024 semester. The Working Group will submit its final report of recommendations to Dr. Patty Perillo, Vice President for Student Affairs, and Dr. James McShay, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, no later than January 10, 2025. The final report from this specific Working Group will be incorporated into one final report of all recommendations from each of the three Working Groups whose chairs will meet monthly to coordinate efforts, share ideas and make recommendations. This charge comes from the recognition that fraternity and sorority life has enormous potential to create the conditions for students to thrive. Given significant staffing changes over the past five years, including the transition of a director who served for 15 years, a post-pandemic reality, and current social conditions for contemporary students such as a loneliness pandemic, it is time for us to reimagine fraternity and sorority life at the University of Maryland. This reimagination will serve the new director of the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life (DFSL), who will begin in the fall 2024 semester, in important, invaluable, and necessary ways. Creating a new blueprint for success for fraternity and sorority life will set the new director, the DFSL staff, advisors, House Corp leaders, and national organization leaders up for greater success, all in the service of students. Additionally, during the spring 2024 semester, we learned a lot about the culture of IFC and PHA chapters after an intensive interview process with representation from each chapter. As such, recommendations are also needed to assess ways to improve safety and well-being and foster a culture of integrity and accountability. The Working Group needs to make recommendations about the roles of advisors, Housing Corporation leaders, national organizations, staff in the DFSL, and students. It will be imperative to address student leadership, training, and education needs for chapters. Recognizing that there have been complicated and fractured experiences this past spring semester, it will be necessary for the Working Group to address the need for healing, reconciliation, and repair. Identifying coordinated initiatives and strategies designed to leverage academic, co-curricular, and/or community-based resources to meet the holistic needs of IFC and PHA students, as well as to help advance the mission of their organizations will be important. Ultimately, the goal of this Working Group is to establish a proactive institutional agenda that highlights the importance and contributions of IFC and PHA organizations, while also ensuring that UMD students in these affiliated chapters experience a supportive, inclusive, and safe community that fosters their sense of belonging and empowerment within the University. 

To fulfill this charge, the Working Group should: 

1. Strengthen relationships for all of fraternity and sorority life: a. Identify ways to work and facilitate communication with chapter advisors and national organization leadership on matters related to our fraternity and sorority community. b. Create new expectations and rules of engagement for national organizations, advisors, House Corporation leaders, DFSL staff and students. 
2. Focus on the work and role of the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life (DFSL): a. Reimagine DFSL staffing models and roles. b. Consider the role of live-in staff employed by DFSL and their relationship with the Department of Resident Life. c. Address needs and concerns of satellite houses and address zoning and landlord issues, concerns, and needs. d. Consider transitioning housing from DFSL responsibility to the Department of Resident Life and/or Residential Facilities. 
3. Identify and create new transformational practices for IFC and PHA fraternity and sorority life: a. Identify the co-curricular experiences that will uplift fraternity and sorority membership.
4. Identify what has been working well as practices to continue, advance, and build into the fabric of organizational life. a. Review academic success programs b. Identify good philanthropic practices c. Focus on new member education and expectations d. Address social connection programs 
5. Consider the role of other partners to include: 
   1. Alumni
      1. How do we engage them best to support our students? 
   2. Faculty and Staff Alumni
      1. How do we harness their unique position as a way to have them contribute to organizational vitality? 
   3. Parents and families of chapter members and leaders
      1. i. Identify potential powerful partnership practices with parents and families 
   4. City of College Park leadership
      1. i. How can the city partner to reinforce positive behaviors and cease unacceptable behaviors? 
6. Assess ways to improve safety and well-being to include: 
   1. Make recommendations about additional and or different alcohol and other drug education as a way to develop more comprehensive and evidence-based educational opportunities. 
   2. Review the Code of Student Conduct and DFSL Recognition Policy as they relate to hazing and alcohol-related incidents to align with best practices. 
   3. Establish expanded reporting mechanisms for students, faculty, staff, families, and alumni to share possible instances of hazing or other concerns in real time; consider ways to add to those added in May 2024. 
   4. Conduct a comprehensive review of all existing IFC and PHA training programs on recruitment and alcohol-related activities to address gaps and reinforce healthy behaviors. 
   5. Review the new member education process, specifically. 
7. Foster a culture of integrity and accountability: 
   1. Review membership data (demographic, majors, etc.), conduct histories, contributions to the community, and other data points as context for current challenges. 
   2. Consider some of the following recommendations: 
      1. Monitor alcohol transports every semester. 
      2. Randomly interview new members during the initiation process.
      3. Require Hazing Education for all new members from DFSL and chapters. 
      4. Reduce new member intake from 6-8 weeks, or less, to something more manageable and to reduce intensity and/or consider other options. 
      5. Only allow for new member initiation in spring. 
      6. Require documented plans, from each chapter, for initiation activities, dates, and timelines. 
      7. Require Advisory councils for all. 
8. Identify partnership practices for national organizations in IFC and PHA: 
   1. Consider ways to redefine the relationship between the university and fraternities and sororities, i.e. relationship agreements. 
   2. Address concern about underground organizations supported by national organizations. 
   3. Work to develop expectations for national organizations, identifying expectations and agreements when they do not cooperate with university rules or conduct decisions. 
9. UMD is committed to enhancing the safety and well-being of our fraternity and sorority community, an ongoing effort that has not been fully conveyed in recent narratives. We are dedicated to improving how these positive steps are shared both within and outside our university community 
   1. a. Make recommendations about what UMD should do to rectify the recent narratives. 
   2. Identify communications strategies and implementation plans that speak to the full and deep commitment of the University of Maryland for fraternity and sorority life. 
10. Address the differing and shared needs for IFC and PHA chapters.

Membership

Co-Chairs:
Ramsey Jabaji, Director, Office of Global Engineering Leadership
Denise Rosen, Alumni and House Corporation/PHA Community leader
David Stollman, Alumni & Chapter Advisor
Vanessa Taft, Associate Director, Office of Student Conduct

Members: 
Elizabeth Ashforth, UMD Terp Parent
Joey Barke, Undergraduate Student
Joseph Criscuoli, Marketing, Sales, Publications & Outreach Coordinator, Conferences & Visitor Services
Tracey Doebling Williams, Alumni
Jonah Goldfarb, Undergraduate Student
Wendy Gordon, Chapter Advisor
Caitlin Harless, Chapter Advisor
Parker Homann, Undergraduate Student
Tyler Huddleston, Assistant Director, Department of Fraternity & Sorority Life
James Karanikas, Chapter Advisor
Kathryn Lawless, Undergraduate Student
Rocky Lopes, Alumni
Ray Nardella, Assistant Director, Department of Resident Life
Dennis O'Connell, Chapter Advisor
Alyssa Orlando, Undergraduate Student
Nicole Pollard, Alumni
Kelly Ridings, Assistant Director, Department of Residential Facilities
Robin Schlesinger, Undergraduate Student
Sofia Sirianni, Undergraduate Student
Jeannette Snider, Assistant Research Professor, BSOS
David Yonenson, Alumni

Updates

November 1, 2024

The co-chairs are finalizing early action recommendations that will be shared with leadership in advance of the final report this spring. The four sub-committees continue to engage in benchmarking and data collection to enhance their work. 

August 12, 2024

The working group met on August 7, 2024.  Members shared updates from the four sub-committees.  They continue to work on identifying gaps in information, benchmarking peer institutions, and developing initial recommendations to share with campus leadership.

July 18, 2024

The working group has created 4 Subcommittees focused on these areas:  Membership Experience; Stakeholder Relationships; Operations & Housing; and  Accountability, Conduct & Risk Reduction. Subcommittees are meeting this month to identify their priorities and map out their work plans.

Charge

The UMD Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) Task Force is entrusted with the responsibility of proposing impactful measures to enhance the programs, resources, and collaborations essential for a thriving MGC.  The intention is to work towards cultivating a profound sense of belonging within a flourishing community, which supports students who are members of fraternities and sororities affiliated with the Multicultural Greek Council at the University of Maryland. This directive stems from the recognition that the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life (DFSL) currently lacks a cohesive and well-coordinated set of initiatives and strategies specifically crafted to harness academic, co-curricular, and community-based resources, with the intent of addressing the comprehensive needs of MGC students while also advancing the mission and values of their organizations.

The goal is to build a forward-thinking institutional agenda that not only supports the diverse cultural backgrounds and identities of MGC students but also ensures that these students feel empowered, uplifted, invested in, and fully integrated into the fabric of the University. This effort also acknowledges the unique challenges and experiences that led to the formation of MGC and strives to create an environment where MGC organizations and their members can thrive both academically and socially at UMD.

To fulfill this charge, the Task Force should:

1. Evaluate Peer Institutions: Research and assess other fraternity and sorority life departments at other Big Ten schools, and institutions recognized for exemplary practices in supporting culturally diverse student populations. Focus on identifying high-impact, culturally relevant programs and services that could serve as models for enhancing support for multicultural fraternities and sororities at UMD.
2. Engage Key Stakeholders: Collaborate with MGC-affiliated UMD campus partners, local and regional community organizations, alumni, campus advisors, faculty, staff, organization headquarters, and various campus-based student services units. Engage with organizations such as the Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy (MICA), Nyumburu Cultural Center, and the APAAN and LAN to discuss their current outreach efforts, programs, and initiatives available to multicultural students. Explore how these resources can be leveraged to advance the goals and strengthen the presence of multicultural fraternities and sororities on campus.
3. Conduct Focus Groups: Consider organizing focus groups with students from centering various identities on campus to gather insights into their perceptions of the MGC community. Explore their reasons for either engaging with or choosing not to participate in MGC-affiliated organizations.
4. Gather Insights from Current MGC Members: Consider conducting focus groups with current MGC students to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences within the MGC community at UMD. 
5. Develop Strategic Recommendations: Formulate actionable recommendations to build a more comprehensive infrastructure for student and staff-driven programs and resources within the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life (DFSL) at UMD. These recommendations should focus on offering continuous support and advocacy for multicultural fraternities and sororities and should be organized around key priority areas: Student Engagement and Advising Support; Honoring MGC History & Legacy at UMD; Financial/Administrative Support & Physical Space Needs; and Academic, Co-curricular, and Community-based Partnerships.  

The MGC Task Force plans to submit its recommendations by December 20, 2024, to Dr. James McShay. The recommendations developed by this task force will be shared with the campus community at the beginning of the 2025 spring semester.

Membership

Chair:
Bilal Badruddin, Director of Alumni Relations, Howard University; Chapter Advisor

Members: 
Dra. Michelle Espino, Associate Professor, College of Education
Maha Idsassi, Undergraduate Student
Briana Mercado, Alumna
Jazmin Pichardo, Assistant Director of Diversity, Training & Education
David Romero, Undergraduate Student
Huong Truong, Graduate Assistant
Manny Zapata, Graduate Assistant

Updates

November 1, 2024

The MGC Working Group held its charge meeting on October 11, 2024. They are engaged in benchmarking, data collection and ongoing conversations about the needs of the MGC community on campus. 

July 18, 2024

The working group is in its early stages of group formation.  The Chair was recently named and on-boarded. Bilal and James McShay are developing the Working Group’s charge and membership roster.

Student Working Group Engagement

In addition to the three primary working groups, we have formed an adjunct working group, led by VP Perillo and AVP McShay, which collaborates with student leaders from the PHA and IFC Councils. This group is dedicated to supporting the fraternity and sorority community and the broader goals of the transformation initiative.

VP Perillo and AVP McShay are meeting regularly with student leaders in the fraternity and sorority community to address issues of importance to them. These discussions focus on telling the story of life in FSL, facilitating leadership transitions, enhancing hazing education, and supporting critical programs such as homecoming and the fall tailgate program. Their ongoing dialogue ensures that student voices are heard and integrated into our transformation efforts, fostering a more inclusive and supportive fraternity and sorority experience at UMD.

Members

IFC:
Geoff Dochat, Undergraduate Student
Parker Homann, Undergraduate Student
Owen Recklaus, Undergraduate Student

PHA:
Robin Schlesinger, Undergraduate Student
Sofia Sirianni, Undergraduate Student
Alyssa Orlando, Undergraduate Student

Updates

The working group is engaged in constructive conversations with leadership to tell their story. They have worked together to create a PHA & IFC Student Leaders Plan of Action and a Leadership Transition Manual. They are also exploring an Early Lease Ordinance and improvements to hazing education.

The entire committee met on July 8, July 29, and August 19. Working groups have met between each committee meeting. In addition to a PHA & IFC Student Leaders Plan of Action and Leadership Transition Manual, an Early Lease Ordinance proposal, and increased and improved Hazing education, the group has also explored the following: a UMD social marketing campaign regarding the benefits of fraternity and sorority life; deferred recruitment conversations; Homecoming and increased social programming; and, tailgating. Additionally, student leaders were very engaged in the selection of the new director of DFSL.

Given the activities pause in the spring and all that we have learned, we have created an Advisory Board comprising students, advisors, alumni, House Corporation leaders, and others committed to transforming fraternity and sorority life at UMD. This board will assist the working groups and the UMD administration by providing recommendations, feedback, solutions, and by sharing best practices. The Advisory Board will meet regularly beginning in July throughout this calendar year.

Membership

Convened By:
Patty Perillo, Vice President for Student Affairs
James McShay, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs

Members: 
Elaine Bodendorfer, Undergraduate Student
James Bond, Director, Office of Student Conduct
Mary Bramley, Chapter Advisor
Nate Burke, Assistant Director, University Health Center
Craig Clinkscale, Alumni
Amy Costanzo, Alumni
Zachary Doser, Undergraduate Student
Megan Dugan Gilbert, Alumni
Shelton Eley, Jr., Alumni
Mike Freiman, Alumni
Tom Gardner, Alumni
Brian Gill, Alumni
Liza Hallsten, Chapter Advisor
Scott Horst, Alumni
Raymond Jenkins, Alumni
Cherie Letcher, Alumni
Christine Licata-Hoang, Chapter Advisor 
Susan Lynnette Gannaway, Alumni
Lynn Marano, Alumni
Melissa Murray, Alumni
Mina Nichols, Undergraduate Student
Daniel Ostick, Assistant Director, Department of Resident Life
Evette Pinder, Chapter Advisor
DJ Rosenthal, Alumni
Sharon Siebold, Chapter Advisor
Justin Sieffert, Alumni
Megan Staczek, Alumni
Joseph Trocino, Alumni
Eric Waskiewicz, Alumni
Gene Wasserman, Alumni
Andrae Wiggins, Alumni

Updates

November 1, 2024

The Advisory Board met on October 30.  Dr. McShay shared updates about the ongoing work of the three working groups.  The Advisory Board was asked to provide feedback about the current work, as well as to raise additional questions that could be shared back to the chairs and co-chairs of each group. 

September 4, 2024

The Advisory Board met on September 3.  VP Perillo shared details about the actions taken and outcomes of the past 6 months.  Members discussed how the community can move forward together, in order to begin the work of reimagining fraternity and sorority life at UMD.

July 24, 2024

The IFC / PHA Advisory Board met on July 23, 2024. They heard updates about each working group's efforts to date, and spent time in discussion developing themes to further examine in upcoming meetings. The next Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for September 3, 2024

In March of 2024, In response to numerous reports of incidents in IFC and PHA chapters that potentially posed a serious risk to the health and safety of members of the organizations, the University of Maryland decided to put a pause on new member activities and social events involving alcohol, in order to give the University an opportunity to investigate these reports.

With the assistance of InCompliance*, a consulting firm that specializes in these types of reviews, we moved quickly to collect and assess information about all allegations and reports. This included conducting over 175 interviews with leaders and members from our IFC and PHA communities. We also reviewed feedback submitted anonymously and accounts offered by concerned constituents, families and alumni.

On March 15, UMD lifted the temporary pause on new member and alcohol-related activities, and related no-contact orders which the university issued on March 1, 2024. Thirty-two of thirty-seven IFC and PHA chapters were cleared to return to normal activities.

As a result of evidence suggesting involvement in hazing or other incidents that threatened the health and safety of our campus community, the university continued its investigation of five chapters through the Office of Student Conduct. 

This assessment revealed areas of ongoing concern within IFC and PHA chapters that we believed necessitated a more comprehensive and deliberate review of fraternity and sorority life. We have assembled this working group of students, staff, faculty, and alumni to assess ways we can improve safety and well-being, and foster a culture of integrity and accountability.

*InCompliance is a consulting firm specializing in investigatory services and compliance solutions for educational institutions and organizations. With significant experience in addressing complex issues within community groups, InCompliance was an excellent partner for UMD, conducting thorough and unbiased interviews with our students and their advisors. They were brought in to complete these interviews to ensure maximum objectivity through an external lens. In addition to working with clients in higher education, InCompliance also serves clients in the K-12 Education, Health Care and Construction industries.

No organizations were suspended. Fraternity and sorority life was not shut down. IFC and PHA organizations were instructed to pause two types of activities: new member activities and social events involving alcohol. All other activities and events were permitted to occur as scheduled.

With the assistance of  InCompliance, a consulting firm that specializes in these types of reviews, we conducted over 175 interviews with leaders and members from our IFC and PHA Communities. The interviews were intended to gather information and insights about the experiences within the IFC and PHA organizations. They were not disciplinary hearings, and no specific charges against individuals or organizations were predetermined. These interviews allowed for a comprehensive understanding of potential risks within our campus community and informed our next steps.

InCompliance conducted approximately 175 interviews between Monday, March 11 and Friday, March 15, 2024. Five members from each chapter in IFC and PHA, along with a group of individuals who disaffiliated from a UMD fraternity or sorority, were invited to participate. 

Interviews were conducted both in-person and remotely. None of the interviews were recorded by INCompliance or the University. Moreover, throughout the entire interview process, students were permitted to have an advisor of their choosing, including legal counsel, join them. The majority of students chose to bring an advisor, and no advisors were turned away. Students were permitted to confer with their chosen advisors privately during the interviews. Students were not required to present or turn over evidence, including information that may have been housed on personal devices (i.e. phones).