BROTHER education
BROTHER EDUCATION WELCOME Welcome to the Better Man Program Brother Education! As the Brotherhood Retention Director, it is your responsibility to lead the initiated members of your chapter/provisional chapter through this program. The information provided in this manual will aid you in creating a memorable experience for your brothers. FRAMEWORK The Brother Education Program is designed to be flexible. Chapters/provisional chapters have the ability to set their calendars to include eight brother education opportunities annually. Suggested themes for the events are listed below. It is recommended that chapter/provisional chapters host four events each semester (approximately one per month). This allows the chapter/provisional chapter to personalize the continued brother education experience. Event Themes Campus Involvement Career Preparation Diversity & Inclusion Etiquette Financial Literacy Health & Wellness Leadership Lifetime Membership Scholarship Service & Philanthropy Social Excellence EVENT OUTCOMES As a result of attending and participating in events with the following themes, brothers should be exposed to new ideas and opportunities that help better them as men. Listed below are the ideal outcomes for each theme. Campus Involvement Brothers will be able to identify prestigious leadership opportunities on campus. Brothers will be able to describe how to serve as a successful student leader on campus. Career Preparation Brothers will be able to develop a resume. Brothers will be able to discuss their accomplishments in an interview. Brothers will be able to demonstrate appropriate behavior when networking. Diversity & Inclusion 1 Brothers will be able to interact with individuals from different backgrounds. Brothers will be able to demonstrate methods for creating an inclusive environment. Brothers will be able to identify and define privilege.
Etiquette Brothers will be able to identify the appropriate attire for various types of events (casual, business casual, formal). Brothers will be able to demonstrate polite table manners. Brothers will be able to define chivalry. Financial Literacy Brothers will be able to create a personal budget. Brothers will be able to establish a personal savings account. Health & Wellness Brothers will be able to discuss methods for leading a healthy lifestyle. Brothers will be able to define the Fraternity s value of purity. Leadership Brothers will be able to identify opportunities for improving their leadership skills. Brothers will be able to discuss their personal definitions of leadership. Brothers will be able to define servant leadership. Lifetime Membership Brothers will be able to identify methods of maintaining involvement with Alpha Sigma Phi after graduation. Brothers will be able to identify methods of contributing to the Fraternity after graduation. Scholarship Brothers will be able to maintain a GPA above the campus s all men s average. Brothers will be able to identify campus-based resources that support academic success. Brothers will be able to describe how to create an environment supportive of academic success. Brothers will be able to list available campus scholarships. Service & Philanthropy Brothers will be able to list the five philanthropic beneficiaries of the Fraternity. Brothers will be able to compare and contrast the terms service and philanthropy. Brothers will be able to participate in local service and philanthropy projects with their brothers. Social Excellence Brothers will be able to define social excellence. Brothers will be able to execute a handshake correctly. Brothers will be able to recruit a high quantity of high quality members to join the Fraternity. 2
PLANNING CHECKLIST Semester in Advance Work with the members of the Prudential Board to select themes. Research campus and community events to attend as a chapter/provisional chapter that match the selected themes and fit within the chapter/provisional chapter s calendar. Select dates for events you will plan for the chapter/provisional chapter. Reach out to possible guest speakers. Schedule a venue. Select a time that is agreeable for the chapter/provisional chapter, the guest speaker, and the venue. Develop the calendar of events to share with the chapter/provisional chapter. It should include the event name, date, time, and location for each event. First Chapter/Provisional Chapter Meeting Explain the Brother Education Program to members during your officer report. Distribute the calendar of events. Two Weeks Prior to an Event If it is a chapter/provisional chapter-planned event, contact the guest speaker to confirm their attendance. Remind them of the purpose, date, time, location, and appropriate dress of the event. If it is a campus/community-event, notify the appropriate event planner of your expected attendance. Provide them with a sign-in sheet for members to utilize if it is a come and go event. Week of Event Write a thank you card to provide to the speaker or event planner. Remind the chapter/provisional chapter members about the date, time, location, and expected dress for the event. During the Event Take a photo to share on social media. Following the Event Thank the guest speaker or event planner by delivering the thank you note. Collect the sign-in sheet from the event planner (if applicable). Recognize chapter/provisional chapter members who attended and participated during your next officer report at chapter/provisional chapter meeting. 3
SAMPLE CALENDAR January February March April August September October November 17th Community Service Fair, Campus Quad, Noon to 3 p.m. 9th Black History Month Panel Discussion, Student Union Ballroom, 7 p.m. 5th Getting Fit (Work-out Demonstration), Campus Recreation Room 100, 6 p.m. 2nd Etiquette Dinner with Sorority Chapter, Sorority Chapter House, 6 p.m. 23rd Senior Service Ceremony, Campus Chapel, 6 p.m. 16th Campus Involvement Fair, Campus Quad, Noon to 3 p.m. 24th Personal Budgeting 101, Chapter House, 6 p.m. 8th Career Networking Presentation, Chapter House, 6 p.m. 14th Homecoming Reception with Alumni, Chapter House, 8 p.m. 14th Hunger and Food Insecurity Presentation, Student Union Ballroom, 7 p.m. 26th Senior Service Ceremony, Campus Chapel, 6 p.m. The Brother Education Program concludes for initiated brothers with the Senior Service Ceremony. Work with your chapter/provisional chapter s Marshal to schedule the ceremony at the end of each semester when brothers will be graduating. 4
TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM EXECUTION It is not necessary for the chapter/provisional chapter to plan their own events to fit each theme. It is recommended that chapters/provisional chapters attend on-campus or community events that are already scheduled. If your chapter/provisional chapter does plan its own events, consider hosting them in place of or immediately following a formal chapter/provisional chapter meeting. Schedule a meeting with your Campus Fraternity/Sorority Advisor. Share the purpose of the Better Man Program. Ask for recommendations of events to attend. Discuss your plan with your Grand Chapter Advisor. Solicit feedback and ideas. Select events that are active and engaging. Members would rather participate in a cooking class than listen to a lecture on healthy living, for example. Collaborate with another officer within the chapter/provisional chapter. For example, the Scholarship Director is asked to host one scholarship workshop per semester as part of their position description. Plan the event together! Pair with another organization and host an event. For example, sorority chapters often are required to plan similar events by their inter/national organization. You can increase attendance at your event by pairing with a well-known sorority. Provide incentives for attendance (as your budget allows). This could include a freebie such as offering a free ticket to your chapter/provisional chapter s Black & White Formal or simply providing food at the Brother Education Program event. Plan events that will provide the maximum benefit to your chapter/provisional chapter and your brothers: Can one of the events you host double as a recruitment event? Is there an event you could host that will count for the Brother Education Program and earn your chapter/provisional chapter additional points on the Annual Report? If your campus or IFC has an accreditation or awards program, is there an event you could host that will earn you points for that and meet a Brother Education Program requirement? 5