2020 Action Plan

This past summer served as a strong catalyst for change for the Greek Life community, Greek Life Staff, alumni, and even on a national Greek life landscape. The Greek community acknowledges that our efforts were not sufficient in facilitating active bystanders, addressing sexual misconduct, building inclusive organizations, and ensuring the safety and wellness of, not only members in our community, but the larger CWRU community. We spent this summer bringing together CWRU community members (faculty, staff, students), national representatives, and other partners to better understand what needed to be done to ensure our community is a safe, inclusive, supportive, values-driven community.

As a result of these conversations, we identified four key behavior changes that needed to be addressed immediately. For true culture change to occur, it requires a multi-level approach (community level education, policy change, accountability, chapter-level education, policy change, accountability, and individual education, accountability, and ownership in these changes). For our community to ensure sustainability in changing these behaviors, we rooted our efforts in the important skills that needed to be built within the individual members within our community. These skills are connected to our Culture of Care efforts within the community and connected to our community assessment efforts. By formalizing this connection between our goals and assessment, we will be able to more clearly understand and articulate the impact we are having on the individual members within our community.

This action plan is a collaborative effort between the Office of Greek Life and the Greek Life community leadership. Within each strategy we have identified the important action steps for this year to help us move closer to ensuring our community is safe, inclusive, supportive, and values-driven. This plan is continuously evolving and we welcome any feedback or points of collaboration.

  • PRIORITY: BYSTANDER INTERVENTION (UPSTANDER)

    Greek students are active bystanders in situations that could lead to physical and/or emotional harm.

    1. New Member Education Proposed Changes:

    A. Refresh Bystander 101 content (Sex/Self/Substance/Social Justice)
            i. Create training and curriculum for new member educators/risk managers to follow-up with new members
            ii. Create a "Train the Trainer" program
            iii. Develop the new member empowerment program
            iv. Updates
                    1. Addition of Social Justice to Bystander 101

    2. Continuous Member Education Proposed Changes:

    A. Revise Bystander 201:
            i. Emotional Skills and story sharing curriculum for individual chapter use
            ii. Videos of Bystander Scenario
                    1. Develop an older member/new member story share curriculum about being an active bystander to discuss failures/successes
                    2. Develop and tape intervention vignettes (Sex/Self/Substance/Social Justice)
                    3. Develop follow up questions for chapters to engage in dialogue
            iii. Updates:
                    1. Project Connection (formerly Bystander 201) will be a series of dialogues led by different faculty members on a variety of topics that help to strengthen one's ability to be an effective                                active bystander

    3. Assessment Proposed Changes:

    A. Reviewing our current Bystander data to identify key factors that increase the likelihood of an individual actively intervening.

    B. Collecting active bystander stories to measure the impact of interventions and education

    C. Improve systems that provide current data to community/chapter for transparency and decision-making
            i. Updates:
                    1. Completion of Mitchell's Community and Chapter Environment and Experience Survey

    3. Marketing/Social Norming Proposed Changes:

    A. Utilizing assessment data to develop a sense of community identity around a shared definition and expectations for active bystanders

    B. Develop an Active Bystander campaign
            i. Marketing campaign utilizing stories, data, and community expectations
                    1. Create a welcome to Greek Life video normalizing and setting the expectations of being an active bystander
                    2. Poster campaign

    C. Help increase awareness of bystander programming

    D. Use assessment data to generate a social norming campaign

    We will be partnering with the following organizations: Athletics, Orientation, Women's Center, UHCS, OMA, SSI, ISS, Equity, Greek Alumni

  • PRIORITY: CONSENT

    Greek Students can define and obtain consent for sexual activity.

    1. Proposed Changes for Education:

    Build a curriculum for community/chapter education/dialogues
            1. Facilitating monthly discussions and training that discuss and educate on these topics (can partner with other individuals and entities on campus and off-campus resources)
                       Updates: Potential Discussions: Healthy relationships, How substance use affects decision making, how cultures influence the view of sex, identifying your boundaries, being conscious of                       your future-self and how current decision making affects the future, and masculinity.

    2. Develop and facilitate events that utilize role-playing and example scenarios with students to initiate discussions at least once a semester
                    i. Program with Office of Equity to walk through the logistics of the Title IX process
                    ii. "Behind Closed Doors"-type programming
                    iii. Discussion to help normalize sex positivity

    2. Establish the Greek Life Sexual Misconduct Prevention Task Force:

    Updates: Established Committee Chairs, Goals and Outcomes

    Proposed Goals and Outcomes:
            1. Policy Development
                    i. Provide additional internal support for individual chapters to uphold an environment of accountability for members

    2. Discussion/Education within chapters and the community
                    i. Encourage individuals to reach out to stakeholders in the community that help
                    ii. Work on a sustainable plan for the future- what measures are we putting in place after the task force is dissolved to continue these conversations in chapters?

    3. Data analysis
                    i. Map and collect data on where assault occurs on campus to see if there are any further safety measures we can put into place

    Next Steps:
            1. Establish Core Committee Members
            2. Work parallel to DOSA task force to execute complementary action

    3. Revamp SMARRT Program and Purpose (Peer Education Program)

    Revamp content to address needs and gaps in the Greek community
            1. Develop signature programming based on community needs identified in Mitchell's survey and other data sets
                    i.  Updates:
                            a. SMARRT worked with an outside consultant to develop a 3-tiered approach to community programming based on subject matter, presenter expertise level, audience, and                                                    learning objectives.
                                         1. Tier 1--SMARRT leader led
                                         2. Tier 2--SMARRT leader co-facilitated with a campus/community partner
                                         3. Tier 3--SMARRT assists in referring to appropriate expert on topic
                            b. Based on current trends within the community, SMARRT worked with an outside consultant to develop the following programs
                                         1. Going Out Without Blacking Out (safe alcohol practices), Consent is Sexy!, Understanding and Setting Boundaries in Relationships (conflict management & boundary setting),                                                Taking Care of Yourself While Taking Care of Others (mental health & boundary setting), Bridge Builder Training; Connecting People to Mental Health Resources
                             c. All SMARRT leaders will be cross-trained on these programs to ensure proper training and intersectionality for the facilitators
                             d. Assessment Tools to measure programming were created
                   ii. Next Steps:
                             a. Establish key relationships with campus/community partners to assist in program development and delivery
                             b. Continue to develop the training program. Increase the connection of SMARRT topics to identity.
                             c .Increase engagement through social media platforms
                             d. Connecting assessment to Culture of Care assets to better understand if specific skills are being built as a result of SMARRT's outreach

    Add to this the thoughtfully presented documentation, featuring code highlighting, snippets, class customizer explanation and youve got yourself one powerful value package.

  • PRIORITY: ANTI-RACISM

    Greek students are actively engaged in creating anti-racist organizations

    1. Proposed Changes for Education:

    1. Build a curriculum for community/chapter education/dialogues
            i. Collaborate with outside Consultant and OMA
            iii. Example topics: Bystander Intervention, Increasing Cultural Competency, Implicit Bias Training, Inclusive Leadership, White Privilege, etc.
           iii. Updates: The Greek community has partnered with Joey Oteng, a Social Justice educator to host a four-part series in Spring 2021. Community members can choose to merely attend the                          workshops or be trained to facilitate the workshops within their organizations. The individuals who choose to go through the train-the-trainer series will attend additional skills training.
                      a. Workshop topics include: Me vs. Other Me: Embracing Discomfort & Vulnerability; Welcome to the Neighborhood: Social Justice 101; Breaking the Fourth Wall: Anti-Racist History + Race                          & Greeks; Into the Multiverse: Breaking Down Racial Barriers
             iv. Next Steps: Recruiting participants for the program. We are aiming to have at least one participant per chapter.

    2. Partner with new Bystander 201 model, Project Connection

    2. Encourage Attendance at Sustained Dialogue training:

    Updates: Intentional target marketing to Greek members led to significant increase in participation.

    Next Steps:
            1. Work with chapter leadership to incorporate sustained dialogue groups wihtin their organizations
            2. Incorporate Sustained Dialogue Training into IFC & PHC Executive Board training

    3. Investment in CWRU community

    Train members to facilitate Diversity 360
             1. Connect with Office of Multicultural Affairs about this partnership

    4. Inclusion Committee Initiatives

    A. Establish Affinity spaces for individuals of marginalized identities to discuss shared experiences and their experiences in Greek Life
            i. Updates: Continued support for the Latina Sorority Expansion Committee, Theta Pi Sigma, and creation of additional affinity-based spaces

    B. PHC DE&I Conversation in Recruitment
            i. Updates:
                    1. Two training sessions were held for Chapter recruitment officers with the intent to further educate members on inclusive recruiting;
                    2. Diversity and Inclusion information session and roundtable discussion for potential new members prior to recruitment
                    3. Removal of PNM registration fee
                    4. Removal of the legacy status question when registering
            ii. Next Steps:
                    1. Virtual recruitment policies: virtual backgrounds provided, camera off option, alternative forms of self-expression to replace video for Round 1 of recruitment, closed captioning
                    2. Learn how to host an identity celebration during the recruitment

    C. IFC Recruitment Restructuring:
            i. Proposed Changes:
                    1. IFC PNM Orientation- Host before recruitment starts in spring 2021 where PNMs are educated on expectations for behavior and membership (2/6/2021)
                    2. Establish IFC Recruitment Council to create a cohort of leaders to lead the community to greater inclusion together
            ii. Updates/Next Steps:
                    1. IFC Recruitment Appreciative Inquiry Summit- August 2021

    D. Form an Inclusion Round Table
            i. similar to Student Presidents Round table but for university student-led organization, inclusion leaders to come together and discuss areas for collaboration

    E. Foster stronger peer relationships and improve ability to gain perspective (learn and unlearn)
           i. Encourage students attendance, learning and reflection at culturally-based programs, reading books and having conversations
            ii. Updates: 
                    1. Utilized the Wellness Wednesday newsletter to communicate program and training opportunities related to intersectional identity
            iii. Next Steps:
                    1. Improve formality of newsletter
                    2. Expand opportunities for self- initiated learning
                    3. Expand opportunities for dialogue and learning
                    4. Expand breadth and depth of the definition of a 'cultural event' for organizations

    F. ACES Summer 2020 Task Force
    ACES developed 4 main goals, Amplify, Connect, Educate, and Support, to help create direction and action that we can partake in as organizations and individuals.

    Summaries from the Summer/Fall:

    1. Amplify: The goal was to prepare CWRU students to be more civically engaged in the future through calls to action on social media and encouragement for voter registration.
            i. ACES organized a campaign to contact political leaders about a bill related to police weaponry
            ii. They organized a political day of action, which included resources for writing or calling local representatives.

    2. Educate:
            i. ACES brought in speaker Lawrence Ross, best selling author of The Divine Nine and leading experiment on sororities and fraternities, to discuss racism within Greek Life.
                    ii. Over 150 students, faculty, and staff attended the lecture and participated in a lively Q&A session.
                    iii. The lecture was recorded and can be used in future events or as a resource for chapters.

    3. Support: Organized a Greek Wide Fundraiser which split the donated amount amongst 23 different organizations that promoted racial justice and/or equal opportunities
            i. Organizations included the Ohio ACLU, the Tamir Rice Foundation, and the Equal Justice Initiative. The fundraiser raised over $700.

    4. Connect:
            i. ACES reached out to the Black Student Union and historically black fraternities and sororities to help support their efforts. The IFC/PHC Board's hope is to work with UDC and USG to ensure                   proper funding and logistical support for multicultural greek organizations on our campus.

  • PRIORITY: WELLBEING

    Greek Students are able to be advocates for their physical and emotional wellness.

    1. Build a curriculum for community/ chapter education/dialogues

    A. Implement existing programs from campus and community partners and develop follow-up guides
            i. QPR Training, Mental Health First Aid Training, Safe Zone Training, and Fresh Check Day
            ii. Updates:
                     1. Hosted a QPR and Mental Health First Aid training for the entire CWRU community
                     2. Developed and promoted curriculum for students to engage with during the Presidential Elections
            iii. Next Steps:
                     1. Collaborate with UHCS more intentionally regarding their support groups and general wellness initiatives
                     2. Citizenship Council will re-evaluate the programs/services they offer to better meet the needs of the students

    2. Connect the Greek community to existing programs hosted by UHCS

    Updates: Created a Wellness Wednesday newsletter to promote many of the programs offered by UHCS

    Next Steps:
            1. Better establish the Wellness Wednesday newsletter
            2. Identify key initiatives from UHCS, USG, UDC that Greek Life can co-sponsor and market to the student body

    3. Provide resources to facilitate self-care, healthy lifestyle choices, seeking help, and crisis management

    Updates:
            1. A community GB meeting focused on self-care was hosted on November 30th.
      Next Steps:
             1. Bolster current resources, programming, and partnerships

    4. IFC/PHC Board Restructuring: Vice President of Citizenship Position

    The Vice President of Citizenship role (VPC) will be split into narrow subsections of Citizenship- Social Justice and Wellness

    Their team will be composed of current Citizenship Council Members (AVPC of Social Justice, LHM, and Inclusion; AVPC of Wellness, and SMARRT, respectively).

    This change will be carried out on a trial run basis before we update the bylaws