Current Members

About FEI

• Expectations

  There are some basic expectations in FEI that all fraternities and sororities must follow and that are required for an organization to remain in good standing. These are: 

  • Follow deadlines.
    • FEI report forms are due by the 1st of each month.
    • Semester recognition packets are due the 2nd Friday of each semester.
    • Philanthropy report forms are due 72 hours after the event.
    • Recruitment eligibility forms and first semester/transfer applications to join are due at least one week before invitations to membership may be extended.
    • Membership acceptance forms are due 72 hours after invitation to join.
    • Record of new initiates form is due 72 hours prior to initiation.
    • Pay Interfraternity Council or Inter-Sorority Association dues on time
  • Set and submit values-driven goals each year.

  • Participate in the following:
    • Fraternal Summit on Harm Reduction & Risk Management
    • Fraternal Summit on Social Justice
    • President’s Council 
    • Interfraternity Council or Inter-Sorority Association meetings and events.
  • Host or participate in educational programs annually on the following topics: risk management and harm reduction; sexual assault prevention; and diversity, equity and inclusion. Eighty percent of the organization must attend. 
• How does the Fraternal Excellence Initiative work?

  Set Goals

  Each fraternity and sorority sets goals for the academic year that should be based on the organization’s purpose and submits them to [email protected] by May 1 of each year (unless otherwise instructed). Groups may revise their goals in the fall and resubmit them by the fourth Friday of the semester. Mid-year updates of goals are due by February 15 of each year.

  Report Activity Monthly

  Members report their own activity through monthly FEI reports submitted electronically via Google Form and through the CampusGroups system. The data is compiled each month and sent back to the organizations for review.

  Compete in Annual Showcases

  Four of nine showcases are held annually: New member education/intake, scholarship, diversity, recruitment, standards, risk management, social development, brotherhood/sisterhood and service/philanthropy. Four groups are selected to compete in each. 

  Chapter of Excellence Showcase

  On April 1, groups submit an annual report. Organizations are selected for the Chapter of Excellence Showcase using this report and additional data collected over the course of the year. Selected groups are given the opportunity to present to a panel of professional reviewers about how they have fulfilled their mission, purpose and values using the FEI Model as a guide. Chapters of Excellence will be announced at the annual awards ceremony in April. In addition, individuals and groups will be recognized in the areas of friendship, scholarship, leadership and service.

  Monitoring of Basic Expectations

  Information on compliance with basic expectations and progress with the Fraternal Excellence Model is monitored by the FEI Coordinators and shared with the showcase judges.

• How does my organization become a Chapter of Excellence?

  Chapters of Excellence are chosen by a panel of external higher education reviewers who 1) look at the goals and data collected about each organization; 2) review the Annual Report and supporting documents submitted by each organization; and 3) listen to members of the organization give a 10-minute live presentation about how they exemplify their mission, purpose and values and then ask questions about what they have heard. The reviewers are not looking for perfection and understand that mistakes and missteps are often part of a group’s growth and development. They are looking for an honest assessment of the organization’s progress in relation to the previous year that includes quantitative and qualitative examples.

  Reviewers are also wanting to know how the organization fulfilled each area of the Fraternal Excellence Initiative including:

  Values-Driven Goals

  • Goals are set by all members, not just officers.
  • Goals reflect the purpose and vision of the organization.
  • Goals are lofty, yet realistic.
  • Significant progress is made toward completion of goals.

  Performance

  • Members exemplify the four core pillars: Friendship, Scholarship, Leadership and Service.

  Standards

  • Members act in congruence with the organization’s values.
  • Organization responds appropriately to those who violate group or community standards or the law.

  Development

  • Organization applies to participate in FEI Showcases.
  • Organization participates in fraternity/sorority community leadership and training.
  • Organization participates in inter/national leadership programs.
  • Organization takes advantages of campus events and resources to develop their members and the organization.

  Engagement

  • Organization utilizes their advisors, inter/national, and fraternity and sorority life as a resource.
  • Organization engages stakeholders including alumni, families, community members and non-members.
• Why was our organization not named a Chapter of Excellence? 

  Common mistakes that organizations make that lead them to not being named a Chapter of Excellence:

  • Goals are set by chapter officers and did not include the input and contribution of all chapter members.
  • The Annual Report does not contain rich, qualitative or quantitative data and was obviously submitted by one or two members without input from the entire organization.
  • Organization waits until the spring semester to begin thinking about what they need to do to become a Chapter of Excellence.
  • Organization is stagnant; doesn’t make improvements over the previous year or fails to articulate their excellence.
  • Organization uses too many vague generalities (e.g., we have a strong brotherhood, we are diverse, we have strong interfraternal relationships, etc.) without giving quantitative or qualitative information to prove their point.
  • Organization did not take advantage of growth opportunities (e.g., national/regional conferences, FEI Showcases, Fraternity/Sorority Leadership Development Series workshops, etc.).
  • What the organization claims does not match up with the data that was collected on the organization.
  • Organization does not address challenges they faced.
• Learn More About the Fraternal Excellence Initiative

  Two student FEI coordinators are employed by Fraternity and Sorority Life to help organizations navigate the Fraternal Excellence Initiative. Either of them are available to speak at chapter or new member meetings or have one-on-one consultations with chapter officers.

  In addition, you may contact them if you have questions about specific items that fall under their job descriptions.

  Kaitlyn Burns
  Email:[email protected]

  Kaitlyn is responsible for overseeing the showcases and the Chapters of Excellence and Show Cause processes. Contact her if you would like a presentation on FEI.

  Robert Henn
  Email:[email protected]

  Rob is responsible for collecting the data submitted through the monthly FEI reports and Helper Helper, in addition to collecting information on meeting attendance and submission of paperwork. Contact Rob if you have questions about the monthly feedback you receive, if you have questions about how has submitted FEI reports and volunteer hours, and if you have questions about your mid-year report.