Miami University honored by the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors for innovative educational programming

Miami University recently received the Excellence in Educational Programming Award from the Association of Fraternity and Sorority Advisors (AFA).

The award recognizes new and innovative programs for fraternities and sororities that result in learning or education. Miami was recognized in the category Most Innovative Educational Effort for a Campus-based Program for its Introduction to Fraternity and Sorority Life and New Member Education online course.

The course is an educational experience focused on educating potential members of fraternities and sororities about the organizations on campus and sets expectations for those who join regarding behavior, membership and hazing.

In addition to providing valuable information about the fraternity and sorority community, the orientation addresses two influences on behavior: what people find acceptable (true norm) and what people believe their peers find acceptable (perceived norm). Through the identification of social norms within the fraternity/sorority community, participants gained a better understanding of acceptable and unacceptable behavior.

In its first year of implementation, more than 2,160 people accessed at least one module of the course, and 1,958 students and staff completed both modules.

The Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life partnered with RISE Partnerships, a company in the fraternal industry that provides training and consulting to fraternity/sorority communities, to create the online curriculum.

AFA strives for its members to foster impactful fraternity and sorority experiences. Each year, it honors educational efforts from members and campuses nationwide through three different awards: one to a fraternal organization for efforts directed to undergraduate or alumni members, one to an affiliate or vendor member organization for educational efforts and one for a campus-based program for new and innovative educational efforts.