Education & Leadership

Presidents Retreat

Hosted in January when most newly elected council and chapter leaders take office, the Presidents Retreat emphasizes problem solving, leadership development, values-based decision making, effective communication, and community development. Student participants will return to ASU with an action plan, as well as the skills, relationships, and courage to make positive change within the fraternity and sorority community.

New Member Orientation

Hosted every semester by the six governing councils and Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life, this educational session is required of all students who join a fraternity or sorority in a given semester. Students have an opportunity to meet fellow new members to fraternities and sororities, understand our shared values, know what to expect while a new member of a fraternity or sorority, review the university and governing councils’ expectations for proper behavior, learn about the basic governing structures and key events, and be connected with resources to make them successful while at ASU.

Risk Management & Safety Training

Hosted every semester by the five governing councils and Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life, this training is designed for chapter risk managers, social chairs, and presidents. The training includes university, governing council, and local policies involving alcohol, drugs, hazing, and sexual misconduct. The training helps student leaders understand the importance of values-based decision-making, doing the right thing, and hosting safe events.

National Speakers

Over the last few years, the fraternity and sorority community welcomed several nationally renowned speakers throughout the year to present on a variety of educational topics, including:

• Erin Fischer of the Leadership & Training Studio, presenting Confidence, an interactive presentation about self-empowerment and unleashing inner confidence.
• TJ Sullivan of CAMPUSPEAK, presenting Motivating the Middle: Fighting Apathy in College Student Organizations, a presentation about leadership and motivation.
• Dave Westol of Limberlost Consulting presenting on risk management and chapter culture change through values-based decision-making.
• Andrea Cooper presenting Kristin’s Story, a mother’s account of rape and depression, a presentation about sexual assault and suicide prevention.
• KJ McNamara of Phired Up Productions presenting on woman empowerment, a dynamic workshop about empowering sorority women on a variety of topics, such as body image, leadership, and personal well-being.
• Tracy Maxwell of CAMPUSPEAK, presenting on the impacts of hazing and hazing prevention.
• Erin Foley of CAMPUSPEAK, presenting Empowering Sisterhood, a presentation about women’s self-esteem and the importance of women building up each other’s confidence.
• Tim Mousseau of CAMPUSPEAK, presenting on Tattooing Your Leadership Legacy, a presentation on leadership and the impact it can have on the future of an organization.

Women's Empowerment

Members of the sorority community have identified women's empowerment as a specific focus area, participating in several events over the last few years on the topic, including:

• PowHER Women's Conference: presented by the Panhellenic Council, aims to empower women in areas that affect so many of us in today's society. From leadership development to networking and work/life balance, it is the conference’s goal to encompass a wide variety of topics that are influential in every college woman’s life both as a student at Arizona State University and beyond.
  • Recognized with a 2016 Pitchfork Award for "Best Educational Program"
• Take the Lead: more than 600 sorority women attended the Take the Lead event in Gammage Auditorium showcasing Sheryl Sandberg of Facebook. Following the presentation, the Panhellenic sorority community initiated a multi-week book club, reading Sandberg’s Lean In to further discuss empowering women to take the lead.
• The Body Project: sorority women collaborated with The Body Project, a cognitive-dissonance based body acceptance program designed to help adolescent girls and college women resist societal pressures to be unrealistically thin and reduce their pursuit of thinness, to educate women on this important topic.

Sexual Violence Prevention

The six governing councils partner with the Tempe and ASU Police Departments to table on the MU North Plaza during the month of April about Sexual Violence Prevention, handing out stickers, free t-shirts, and information about the topic to the campus community.

In addition, governing councils co-host presentations with I Always Get Consent; offer sexual violence prevention panels with representatives from ASU Counseling Services, ASU Police, Tempe Police, ASU Wellness, and Care 7; and provide workshops and dialogues on consent, campus and community resources, and the processes for reporting sexual violence.