The Interfraternity Council is an inclusive body that works hard to promote collaboration between the 5 Interfraternity Council fraternities that call our campus home. The Interfraternity Council is made up of five executive officers and one delegate from each member organization.
Our Interfraternity Council is dedicated to providing programming, services, and support to our member chapters to allow them continued growth, service, and leadership.
The Interfraternity Council community at NKU consists of 6 chapters,
and Theta Chi
For more information, please come to the Center for Student Engagement in the Student Union Suite 316.
Interfraternity (Fraternity) Formal Recruitment for the Fall Semester will take place August 25th through the September 1. Individual chapters, will be tabling at the freshman orientations days this summer, so feel free to connect with them!
Important Dates:
The duties and responsibilities of all IFC Delegate as an IFC Representatives are as follows:
A. Serve as a representative and voice for his Member Fraternity’s concerns regarding the fraternity community.
B. Represent the larger fraternity community’s interests.
C. Inform his Member Fraternity of the actions, discussions, and workings of the IFC General Body.
D. Serve as a liaison between the IFC General Body and his respective Member Fraternity.
E. Serve as an active member of IFC Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees, as necessary.
F. Represent the highest ideals of fraternity life to the greater campus community.
Duties and responsibilities of the IFC President are as follows:
A. Provide guidance and focus to the efforts of the General Body and Executive Committee.
B. Preside over all meetings of the General Body and Executive Committee.
C. Cast the final vote in the event of a tie.
D. Build rapport and establish positive working relationships between IFC and Member Fraternity leaders.
E. Serve as the official spokesperson for the fraternity community
F. Establish positive working relationships with campus and local law enforcement agencies.
G. Regularly interact with the leaders of other governing councils and campus organizations.
H. Establish a working relationship with key college administrators.
I. Establish a working relationship with and communicate campus data, issues, and trends in a timely manner to the NIC.
J. Maintain current information for accurate Member Fraternity rosters.
K. Supervise and act as the main point of contact for the IFC Delegates
Duties and responsibilities of the IFC Vice President of Standards & Risk Management are as follows:
A. Serve as chair of the IFC Judicial Committee and serve as the Chief Justice of all IFC JudicialBoard hearings.
B. Investigate and refer to the IFC Judicial Board alleged violations of IFC policy, including but not limited to:
C. the IFC Constitution, Bylaws, and policies;
D. Federal, state, and local laws;
E. the rules and regulations of Northern Kentucky University; and
F. The general values-based conduct of fraternity men.
G. Cast the final vote in the event of a tie during judicial proceedings.
H. Ensure proper filing and preparation for all judicial actions.
I. Ensure compliance with all IFC judicial action imposed upon a Member Fraternity.
J. Educate Member Fraternities on the IFC Constitution and Bylaws, judicial processes, and risk management policies.
K. Conduct judicial policy and procedures training for new IFC Judicial Committee justices.
L. Conduct risk management and/or mitigation education, and develop community-wide best practices.
M. Assist in conflict mediation between Member Fraternities.
N. Review all IFC governance documents, at least annually.
O. Upkeep records of all Judicial affairs.
Duties and responsibilities of the IFC Vice President of Recruitment, Retention, and Inclusivity are as follows:
A. Serve as chair of the IFC Recruitment Committee.
B. Utilize technology (social media, fraternityinfo.com, etc.) in recruitment and marketing efforts.
C. Produce and distribute promotional materials to all incoming students and unaffiliated students.
D. Develop recruitment workshops and programs for Member Fraternities.
E. Uphold the IFC Recruitment Policy and ensure no restrictive policies are placed on new member recruitment.
F. Maintain an interest list of Potential New Members.
G. Collect and maintain accurate New Member Rosters for each Member Fraternity.
H. Provide advice and support to Member Fraternity recruitment officers.
I. Provide guidance in retention efforts, including but not limited to working with the Vice President of Member Development.
The duties and responsibilities of the IFC Vice President of Member and Community Development are as follows:
A. Serve as chair for the Programming committee.
B. Co-chair the Greek Month Planning Committee and execute Greek Month with the VP of Programming on the Panhellenic Council as well as corresponding officers in the National Pan-Hellenic Council.
C. Develop and maintain the Greek Calendar on myEngagement.
D. Plan and implement programs with the purpose of developing and enhancing the general member experience in the fraternity community with programming including but not limited to mental health and resilience, physical health, professional development, social awareness and other areas of growth.
E. Collect and distribute information about campus academic services, such as tutors, the writing lab, math lab, learning assistance programs, interest tests, career counseling, placement workshops, and library resources.
F. Provide advice and support to Member Fraternity scholarship officers.
G. Build and maintain relationships with faculty, academic offices, and academic honorary societies.
H. Coordinate and facilitate a semesterly philanthropy and/or service project(s) for the entire IFC Community at NKU. This project shall support the core value of the university, to promote public engagement on campus in support of the surrounding community. Events may include but are not limited to “Wing Man” and the “Movember Campaign”.
I. Coordinate events with University AthleticsWork with the Office of Student Engagement to help drive involvement with service events including but not limited to Service on Saturdays, MLK Day of Service, and other service events and opportunities for the FSL community.
The duties and responsibilities of the IFC Vice President of Communications and Outreach are as follows:
A. Develop and execute a public relations and social media strategy.
B. Collect and disseminate information on the fraternity community to all campus and community media sources.
C. Keep the media informed on upcoming events or potential news.
D. Establish a positive working relationship with external constituents including but not limited to Student Engagement, Norse Leadership Society, Student Government Association, etc.
E. Assist in the development of various IFC publications and outreach programs.
F. Work with the VP of Communication for the Panhellenic Council as well as corresponding officers in the National Pan-Hellenic Council in collaboration for marketing and promotion for joint events.
G. Provide education and guidance in the areas of inclusivity and diversity, including but not limited to ally training, and other programs with the LGBTQ Programs and Services, African American Programs and Services, Latino Programs and Services, and other areas of Student Involvement and/or Student Affairs.
H. Serve as a communications liaison between both the Panhellenic Council as well as the National Pan-Hellenic Council for all events, programs, and efforts they put forth for the community.
Duties and responsibilities of the IFC Vice President of Finance are as follows:
A. Manage internal operations and functions of the Interfraternity Council Executive Board.
B. Serve as secretary of the IFC General Body.
C. Supervise the annual budget process.
D. Collect IFC Member Fraternity dues or other assessments as needed.
E. Maintain accurate records throughout the year through invoicing and receipts.
F. Review and approve all IFC Expenditure Request Forms and IFC Reimbursement Request Forms.
G. Make all disbursements with a cosigner.
H. Prepare final financial statement at the end of each term for distribution.
I. Make bank deposits when necessary and in a timely manner.
J. Provide advice and support to Member Fraternity scholarship officers. Gather and assess goals for the council and council officers.
The duties and responsibilities of an IFC Justice are as follows:
A. Serve as an impartial justice, as called, on IFC Judicial Board hearings.
B. Uphold:
1. the IFC Constitution, Bylaws, Code of Conduct, and policies;
2. the rules and regulations of Northern Kentucky University; and
3. The general values-based conduct of fraternity men.
C. Maintain confidentiality in all judicial hearings, matters, and deliberations.
The duties and responsibilities of an IFC Delegate are as follow:
A. Delegates are expected to attend every IFC general body meeting
B. Notify the IFC President or IFC VP of Communications if they cannot attend a general body meeting and that the alternate delegate is taking their position for that meeting
C. Delegates are expected to vote in the IFC executive board elections
D. Delegates are expected to promote interfraternalism at Northern Kentucky University
E. Delegates may be asked to assist in IFC programming and/or recruitment efforts. If delegates are able to assist the IFC, it is expected that they do so.
A. The fraternity member is not initiated in their fraternity. Meaning, the individual is still in their new member/pledging process.
B. The fraternity member is not in good standing with their fraternity. This includes, but is not limited to, academic probation, social probation, and suspension from their fraternity.
C. The fraternity member currently serves on the executive board for their fraternity beyond their delegate capacity.
D. The fraternity member currently serves on the IFC Judicial Council.
E. Failure to meet the duties and responsibilities outlined in Article III Section II of the IFC bylaws may result in the removal of the fraternity member from the IFC delegate position.
F. Failure to regularly attend IFC general body meetings will result in the removal of the fraternity member from the IFC delegate position.
A. The delegates meet the requirements and responsibilities listed above in Article III section II
B. The delegate for each fraternity will be selected before the first IFC general body meeting each semester
C. The fraternity president must notify the IFC president before the first IFC general body meeting each semester of the member that will serve.
D. Failure to elect or notify the IFC Executive Vice President of a fraternity’s delegate prior to the first IFC general body meeting will result in a recommendation to the IFC VP of Judicial affairs and fraternities may face sanctions that will be determined by the IFC VP of Judicial Affairs, and ratified by a majority vote of the IFC Executive Board.
The expectations from the IFC for the member fraternities in regards to selection of IFC Delegates will be the same for an IFC Alternate Delegate
Failure to notify the IFC President of an IFC Alternate Delegate before the first IFC general body meeting each semester will result in the same consequences and potential sanctions outlined in Article III Section II of the IFC Bylaws.
In accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Fraternity and Sorority Advising Programs of the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), the duties and responsibilities of the IFC Advisor are as follows:
A. Advise the IFC and its Member Fraternities.
B. Advise financial processes.
C. Coordinate life safety, facility management, and risk management programs in conjunction with local agencies.
D. Facilitate or provide resources, including potential presenters of campus or national renown to conduct workshops, programs, retreats, and seminars on relevant topics, including the following:
1. Multicultural Competence
2. Leadership Development
3. Recruitment and Intake
4. Risk Management
E. Monitor membership and academic retention by Member Fraternity and the entire community for purposes of improving academic support and recommending intervention strategies.
F. Gather and disseminate information via meetings, websites, newsletters, social media venues, and/or information bulletins to the various entities in fraternity life.
G. Provide assistance and advice in planning and assessing IFC and Member Fraternity programs.
H. Organize and facilitate leadership programs, retreats, and workshops.
I. Connect the Members and New Members of Member Fraternities to leadership opportunities across campus, in the local community, and within their (inter)national organizations.
J. Publish or share documents that focus on current events, leadership opportunities, trends, and other information regarding fraternity life.
K. Provide for the recording and archiving of information about the fraternal community and encourage Member Fraternity leaders to do the same within their organizations.
In accordance with the NIC Standards, IFC Advisors shall assist the IFC in providing the following data to the NIC annually:
A. The all-university, all-men’s, all-fraternity, and individual Member Fraternity grade point averages, reported each semester.
B. The total number of men who pledged all Member Fraternities during each academic year.
C. The total number of men who were initiated in all Member Fraternities during each academic year.
D. The percentage of fraternity men compared to the total number of all men enrolled at Northern Kentucky University during each academic year.
E. The total number of chapters and colonies opened and closed during each academic year.
F. The total number of full-time professionals employed by Northern Kentucky University who work directly within fraternity and sorority life, during each academic year.
G. The five-year graduation rate of fraternity men compared to the five-year graduation rate of all men enrolled at Northern Kentucky University during each academic year.
Any proposed amendment to the established per active member dues in Section I of this Article shall be initiated utilizing the following protocol:
A. If the IFC Executive Board determines a need to amend the established per active member dues amount, it shall charge the IFC Finance Committee with assessing the current dues amount and providing a recommendation for possible amendments.
B. The IFC Executive Board shall consider any recommendations made by the IFC Finance Committee and propose an amendment to the dues amount to the IFC General Body.
C. A 2/3 vote of the IFC General Body is required to amend the IFC Member Fraternity dues amount.
Each chapter shall pay $15 for every Invitation to Membership (bid) extended to a new member. This shall be reflected in the statement provided by the IFC Vice President of Finance when assessing Member Fraternity Dues as outlined in Article VII Section III.
a) Funds collected from such a fee will help to fund the Potential New Member Orientation online module for PNMs, while maintaining equity to allow PNMs to participate in fraternity recruitment free of charge.
b) As incentive, for every five members retained throughout the new member process to initiation throughout one Calendar Year, the chapter will receive one bid without needing to pay the new member fee.
c) Any excess funds not allocated towards PNMO but accrued through Membership Fees shall be designated with the intent and purpose for an established IFC Education and Leadership Development fund, to supplement and/or pay for the education of community members and/or leaders on topics pertinent to the community and fraternal movement.
As members of the IFC, we, the Member Fraternities, hereby agree to and adopt the following code of conduct:
A. We will know and understand the ideals expressed in our fraternity Rituals and willstrive to incorporate them in our daily lives.
B. We will strive for academic achievement and practice academic integrity.
C. We will respect the dignity of all persons; therefore, we will not physically, mentally, psychologically or sexually abuse or harm any human being.
D. We will protect the health and safety of all human beings.
E. We will meet our financial obligations in a timely manner.
F. We will neither use nor support the use of illegal drugs; we will neither misuse nor support the misuse of alcohol.
G. We will commit ourselves to creating a culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to allow all members in the community to feel welcome and supported.
H. We will challenge all fraternity members to abide by these fraternal expectations and will confront those who violate them.
In appearing before the Judicial Board, each Member Fraternity shall be granted certain rights termed “due process.” Those rights are:
A. Right to be notified, in writing, of all charges, as outlined in the Bylaws;
B. Right to present a defense, including the calling of witnesses;
C. Right to question witnesses;
D. Right to be accompanied by an advisor for advisory purposes only, but not for representation;
E. Right to be notified, in writing, of all findings and sanctions imposed, as outlined in the Bylaws;
F. Right to appeal the decision, as outlined in the Bylaws.
G. Right against double jeopardy.
Any IFC Judicial Board hearing or alleged violation must follow these processes.
A. An individual wishing to report an alleged violation should fill out the IFC Judicial Board Incident Report Form and turn it into the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
B. Reports must be filed within 14 days of the incident.
C. Any NKU student, staff, or faculty member may file a report against a fraternity or fraternity member(s).
D. Upon receiving an Incident Report Form, the Chief Justice will meet with the IFC Advisor to discuss the case and it is at the discretion of the Chief Justice and the IFC Advisor(s) whether a hearing will be conducted by the Judicial Board.
1. If the case is not deemed worthy of a hearing, other disciplinary or conflict resolution avenues will be explored to resolve the matter.
2. Additionally, if the case is determined to be a chapter matter, it will be sentto chapter standards with a follow up meeting planned with the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs.
E. The Chief Justice and the IFC Advisor(s) have the right to conduct pre-hearing investigations at their discretion.
A. If a case is deemed appropriate, the Chief Justice shall, by way of letter, notify the chapter(s) and/or member(s) of the charges no more than 72 hours after receiving the alleged incident report form.
A. The written notification shall specify the following:
1. Date, time, and location of the hearing. The date shall be no sooner than four school days after the date the letter is issued.
2. Describe the alleged violation.
3. Specify what rule was broken.
4. Due Process Rights
5. Advise the organization of its rights to:
i. Private hearing
ii. Appear at the hearing with an advisor
iii. Present testimony of witnesses
iv. Present documentary and other evidencev. Argue on its own behalf
vi. Appeal.
Upon a finding of the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs that a filed complaint has merit, he shall offer the charged Member Fraternity the opportunity to participate in an Informal Judicial Hearing.
In cases in which the charged Member Fraternity accepts an Informal Judicial Hearing, the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs and IFC Advisor(s) shall meet with a representative of the charged Member Fraternity to discuss the allegations of the complaint. Within three(3) business days of the Informal Judicial Hearing, the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs may dismiss the complaint with a finding of no violations or provide the charged Member Fraternity with his finding of violations and recommendation for a resolution through disciplinary sanctions. The charged Member Fraternity has three (3) business days to accept or reject the terms of resolution. If the charged Member Fraternity accepts the resolution, the charged Member Fraternity waives all rights of appeal and the outcome is final.
If the charged Member Fraternity rejects the resolution, a Formal IFC Judicial Board Hearing will be convened to hear the case.
If:
A. the charged Member Fraternity rejects having an Informal Judicial Hearing;
B. the charged Member Fraternity rejects the Informal Judicial Hearing recommendation for resolution; or
C. the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs determines the allegation is egregious enough to warrant potential suspension or loss of IFC recognition;
The IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs shall convene a Formal IFC Judicial Board Hearing.
In accordance with Article VI, Section VI, of the IFC Constitution, the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs will select five (5) Judicial Committee justices, as predetermined by an alphabetical rotation of the Member Fraternities, to hear the case. In the event the IFC Judicial Committee rotation for service on a Judicial Board hearing falls upon an IFC Justice whose Member Fraternity is involved in the alleged violation, the rotation will skip to the next Member Fraternity in the alphabetical rotation.
The IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs shall serve as Chief Justice and the procedural officer for all Judicial Board hearings.
The Chief Justice shall also be responsible, when requested, for informing any member of the Judicial Board or the organization(s) involved in the case about the judicial process.
A. The president of the charged fraternity, or another member designated as spokesman for the chapter, has the right to be present to hear and question all witnesses and to examine all evidence. Only the spokesperson can question witnesses and/or examine evidence.
B. The fraternity/individual charged with misconduct has the right to have an advisor, who is not an undergraduate student affiliated with the chapter, present during the hearings. An advisor, even if he/she is an attorney, may not present evidence, question witness(es), or address the Judicial Board; his/her role is to simply advise the fraternity/individual.
C. The aggrieved party shall have the same rights as the fraternity/individual charged with misconduct (the right to have the fraternity/sorority president present during the hearings, the right to call witness(es), and the right to have an advisor present.
D. Witnesses are permitted to be present during the hearing only while presenting evidence.
E. The Judicial Board has the right to call before it all witness(es) and/or documentary evidence it considers to be essential to rendering a decision. Penalties may be assigned to chapters and/or individuals which fail to appear or provide evidence before the Judicial Board. In the event an individual fails to appear before the Judicial Board at their request, the Board reserves the right to handle these situations on a case by case basis.
F. Witnesses will be asked to repeat the following oath: “Under penalty of perjury, I declare the following statements to be true to the best of my knowledge?” If it can be proved that a member of a fraternity deliberately and knowingly falsified testimony before the Judicial Board, the Judicial Board may take disciplinary action against the individual or his fraternity.
G. If a chapter’s or an individual’s representative fails to appear at the hearing, the Judicial Board, by way of a majority vote, will select one of the following courses of action:
1. Reschedule the hearing
2. Render a decision based on the available information.
H. The agenda for a typical hearing includes the following:
1. Pre-hearing discussion in an executive session by the Judicial Board.
2. Introductions.
3. Clarification of the judicial process.
4. Explanation of the charges.
5. Presentation of all evidence and testimony of all witness(es)
i. Judicial Board Justices may ask questions
ii. Charged member Fraternity/individuals may ask questions
6. Concluding statements by the spokespersons for the parties involved, defendants speaking last.
7. Deliberations by the Judicial Board in an executive session.
8. A decision of “in violation” or “not in violation” will be rendered.
I. The Pre-hearing discussion and post-hearing deliberation are private, and only the IFC Advisor and the Justices may be present
J. The agenda may be modified at the Chief Justice’s discretion.
K. The chapter/individual(s) shall be sent written notification of the results of the Judicial Board hearings within four (4) school days of the hearing by the Judicial Board. The decision letter shall also contain information about sanctions and the process of appealing.
L. If a chapter/individual is found in violation of a university policy, a notice of the decision and a recommended sanction will be sent to the IFC Advisor(s) and the Dean of Students.
The Judicial Board shall have the authority to issue one or any combination of the following sanctions (including but not limited to):
A. Non-Status Sanctions
1. Letter of apology
2. Fines (not to exceed $750.00 per chapter per semester. Fines may be paid to either IFC or a non-profit organization, at the discretion of the Judicial Board).
3. Restitution
4. Educational programming
5. Service, with the Judicial Board determining the total man-hour requirement, the compliance period, and designation where service is to be completed.
6. Loss of social/campus event privileges
7. Loss of eligibility for any Fraternity and Sorority Life awards.
B. Status Sanctions
1. Probation
i.A period of time not to exceed one year
ii. Chapter or individual will be required to conform to established policies and regulations and/or adhere to certain conditions.
2. Suspension
iii. A period of time not to exceed one year
iv. Loss of all IFC voting rights and recognition privileges.
3. Chapters or individuals will be required to conform to established policies, regulations and complete all requirements detailed in the sanction in order to return to “good standing.” The fulfillment of these requirements will be reviewed by the Judicial Board and IFC Advisor(s). Failure to comply with suspension requirements specified will result in further consequence and/or extension of suspension period.
C. Letter to National Fraternity headquarters stating the crime and the punishment for it shall always be sent in conjunction with any university letter.
The IFC Judicial Board has a list of guided sanction recommendations based on certain code of conduct violations. This is not an exhaustive list, and the IFC Vice President of Judicial affairs and the IFC advisor have the ability to recommend sanctions on a case by case basis. This list is to streamline the judicial process and to ensure member fraternities are aware of potential sanctions for certain actions.
A. Failure to have a delegate or representative at IFC General body meetings
i. If a member fraternity does not have representation at an IFC meeting for three consecutive meetings, they will be placed on social suspension until chapter in violation attends a general body meeting. Additionally, the chapter will be unable to participate in FSL events until returned to good standing.
B. Recruitment Violations
i. Violations of recruitment guidelines can range based on the severity of the violations. Guidelines can be found in Article XI, Section V.
1. Fraternities that extend a bid to a member who is unable to accept based on grades or conduct without first consulting the IFC advisor will be subjected to a fine.
2. Chapters that participate in "dirty rushing" will be subjected to a fine not exceeding $500 and could potentially face up to a semester of social probation based on the severity of the violation.
a. Official chapter and recruitment events must be drug and alcohol free. Violation of this policy to create an unfair advantage over other chapters will result in harsher sanctions.
3. Chapters that include Panhellenic Women in Fraternity recruitment events will be subjected to a fine.
C. Hazing
i. If a member fraternity is sent to IFC standards over hazing, sanctions will range from letters of apology to members, fines to anti-hazing nonprofits, multiple educational sessions, and potential suspension for up to one year.
D. DEI Violations
i. Chapters or their members who are submitted to IFC Standards for not upholding the principles of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion will be given sanctions under the discretion of the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs, the IFC Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, as well as the IFC Advisor. Sanctions will range from chapter wide educational sessions, fines, and potential probation based on the magnitude of the violation.
E. Other Violationsi. Other violations will be held on a case by case basis, per the discretion of the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs and the IFC Advisor.
The IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs is responsible for creating a comprehensive archive of all Judicial processes. This includes the original standards submission form or complaint, the letters of notice to chapters or members, details regarding informal hearings and sanctions, notification of formal hearing, full documentation on all evidence and witnesses, verdicts from the Judicial Board, and notification of sanctions to chapter headquarters. Appeals processes will be recorded if necessary.
The purpose of this is to create and maintain a precedent to ensure that chapters are treated fairly among sanctions that are imposed.
Within three (3) business days of any Informal or Formal Judicial Hearing, the IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs shall communicate in writing to the charged Member Fraternity, its (inter)national headquarters, and its chapter advisor, as well as any relevant University administrators, the alleged violation, the findings of the hearing, and any sanction(s) imposed.
The IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs shall notify the IFC General Body of any sanctions imposed upon a Member Fraternity through any Informal or Formal Judicial Hearing.
The IFC Judicial Board’s decision is subject to appeal by a Member Fraternity within 10 school days of receiving written notification of the decision. Appeals shall be made in writing to the IFC President and shall be made solely on the following grounds:
A. A chapter or individual found guilty by the Judicial Board may appeal the decision to the IFC Executive Board (minus officers affiliated with the offending chapter).
B. A chapter or individual desiring to appeal must submit a properly completed “Notice of Appeal” form to the IFC President within (10) school days after receiving the written decision.
C. The IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs shall first present the IFC Judicial Board’s decision and rationale for its actions.
D. The appealing Member Fraternity shall then be afforded the opportunity to present its reasoning for seeking a reconsideration of the IFC Judicial Board’s actions.
E. The IFC Executive Board shall first vote on whether to uphold the status sanction, which shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote. In the event the IFC Executive Board fails to uphold the decision, the IFC Executive Board shall determine by a two-thirds (2/3) vote to either dismiss the charge(s) with no sanctions or to alter the sanctions imposed.
F. Sanctions imposed through the Judicial Process shall stand until an appeal is heard.
G. Error in the charge and/or Judicial Board Hearing process that materially affected the outcome.
H. The severity of the sanction did not match the severity of the violation.
I. New information that could not have been discovered prior to the IFC Judicial Board Hearing through the exercise of reasonable diligence.
J. Sanctions imposed through the Judicial Process shall stand until an appeal is heard.
In accordance with the North-American Interfraternity Conference’s Position on Open Expansion, the IFC at Northern Kentucky University believes the best interests of higher education and of the fraternity movement are served through the establishment of new chapters that provide a fraternal experience for an increasing number of college men. Expansion gives men more choices; it brings new influence and direction to a campus fraternal community; it provides new leadership and renewed motivation. To that end, the Member Fraternities of the IFC:
L. Will not prohibit an (inter)national organization from selecting undergraduates for the purpose of establishing a chapter on the campus; and
M. Will not deter expansion by withholding membership in the IFC for any (inter)national member organization.
There are several routes for an expansion to occur, including:
O. Open Invitation to Colonize: In the event the IFC wishes to seek expansion opportunities, a formal invitation shall be sent to (inter)national organizations requesting Letters of Intent. The IFC President shall contact the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) for assistance with communicating with (inter)national organizations. If multiple (inter)national organizations submit Letters of Intent, the IFC President will coordinate with the (inter)national organizations and the NIC to establish an agreeable timeline for expansion.i. An open invitation may be issued following a (2/3) vote of the IFC General Body.
P. (Inter)national Fraternity Colonization: If an (inter)national fraternity petitions to join the IFC, a Letter of Intent shall be sent to the IFC President.
Q. Student Interest Group Colonization: A group of enrolled students at Northern Kentucky University may choose to form a chapter that is affiliated with an (inter)national organization and may seek membership in the IFC as a result of that affiliation. The group of interested students shall submit a Letter of Intent that includes a Letter of Endorsement from the (inter)national organization.
A Letter of Intent shall consist of information pertinent to educating the fraternity community on the (inter)national organization, including:
A. Overview of the Fraternity’s History, Mission, and Values;
B. Summary of the Colonization Plan, including: outline of the colonization timeline, (inter)national and/or local support, and contact information; and
C. Statement of agreement with the Minimum Expectations as stated in Article III, Section III and the NIC Standards as stated in Article III, Section VI of the IFC Constitution.
Upon receipt of the Letter of Intent, the IFC President shall notify the IFC General Body of the (inter)national fraternity’s intent and the process by which the (inter)national organization intends to colonize. Following NIC Standards, the IFC General Body shall grant the organization New Membership.
A. Any first-semester freshman and/or transfer student, whose first semester takes place in the fall semester, shall participate in the sponsored IFC Recruitment Process, and adhere to any rules and regulations proposed by the IFC Vice President of Membership and approved by the majority of IFC delegates.
B. Any student a chapter wishes to extend an invitation to membership towards, at any time, must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours at the University, and be considered a full-time, degree-seeking student.
C. A potential New Member, or “PNM” is defined as any male identifying student that is not affiliated with any Greek Organization.
D. Any Potential New Member shall meet the following GPA requirement in order to be accepted as a New Member by any Member Fraternity:
a. a minimum high school GPA of 2.5 for first semester freshmen; or
b. a minimum college GPA:
1. of 2.5; or
2. At or above the institution’s all-men’s average.
A. Under the guidance of the IFC Vice President of Membership, the IFC shall designate periods of time during each semester when the IFC will assist Member Fraternities by advertising their recruitment events, hosting campus-wide recruitment events, and educating Potential New Members on the fraternity community.
B. The IFC Vice President of Membership shall solicit and maintain a Potential New Member Roster, which shall be a roster of men interested in fraternity recruitment, and shall make that list available to each Member Fraternity.
C. The sponsored fall IFC Recruitment events in the Fall Semester shall take place at a time proposed by the Vice President of Membership prior to the conclusion of the Spring Semester, and approved by a majority vote of the IFC delegation.
a. The fall recruitment period will begin one week prior to the beginning of classes, and will end forty-eight hours after the FSL sponsored run out activity.
Each Member Fraternity shall develop recruitment events, materials, and activities that are:
A. Values-based;
B. Alcohol-free and illegal substance-free;
C. Generally in good taste;
D. Not derogatory, degrading, or slanderous; and
E. In support of the National Panhellenic Conference’s Unanimous Agreement X that supports each College Panhellenic denouncing the participation of undergraduate Panhellenic women in men’s recruitment.
Each Member Fraternity shall reserve the right to extend or retract a bid utilizing a process and timeline as determined by that Member Fraternity.
Each Potential New Member shall reserve the right to accept or decline any bid at any time without any penalty or pressure placed upon the Potential New Member.
A New Member shall reserve the right to disassociate / de-pledge from the new member process of any Member Fraternity at any time. He may then accept a bid from another Member Fraternity the semester following that disassociation / de-pledging.
Each Member Fraternity shall submit an updated New Member Roster to the IFC Vice President of Membership within one week of any New Member disassociating / de- pledging.
The IFC’s current Constitution and Bylaws shall be published on the IFC website.
An updated copy of the IFC Constitution and Bylaws will be electronically distributed to each Member Fraternity and the NIC after any amendment is adopted.
1. The Inter-Fraternity Council, beginning in the Fall of 2021, will have a Vice-President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a member of the IFC Executive Board
i. This officer will be tasked with overseeing DEI efforts for the IFC as a whole – as well as be tasked with the formation of DEI officers for each of the chapters represented in the IFC.
ii. The IFC VP DEI will ensure that each chapter has put in place a DEI officer by the end of the Fall 2021 semester.
iii. The IFC VP DEI will serve as the chair of an IFC DEI Committee that is composed of all seven DEI officers. The usage and formation of this committee for any given term is at the discretion of the IFC VP DEI.
iv. The IFC VP DEI will serve as a beacon of safety for all members of the IFC community no matter the race, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or ableness of any of its members. The IFC VP DEI will work to ensure that the IFC community continues to become more inclusive.
2. Each chapter that is represented by Northern Kentucky’s Inter-Fraternity Council shall have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer as a member of the Executive Board – or as a minor office that is elected by each chapter’s general body.
a. The DEI officer is defined by this council as an elected or appointed officer within a fraternity whose main objective is to further the equitable and inclusive goals and objectives set forth by the officer’s respective chapter and the Inter-Fraternity Council at Northern Kentucky University.
b. The DEI officer is responsible for the following:
i. The coordination of events that promote collaboration with the other Greek councils and Greek organizations that are not represented by any council at Northern Kentucky University. This includes but is not limited to the Panhellenic Council, individual NPHC chapters, the NPHC council, NOVA, and Alpha Psi Lambda.
ii. Be subject to act as a representative to a prospective IFC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. The existence and usage thereof to be determined by the IFC VP DEI.
iii. Shall work with the President of their respective fraternity to update and publish their chapter’s DEI plan on a yearly basis. DEI plans shall be uploaded to Presence.
iv. Shall identify opportunities for collaboration with university offices including but not limited to: the Center for Student Inclusiveness (CSI) and the Office of International Students and Scholars.
v. Shall provide any accommodations necessary to those that may be differently abled or neuro-divergent with the intent of making the fraternal experience of these groups as rewarding as possible.
vi. Shall acknowledge that members of Northern Kentucky University’s fraternal organizations can identify using pronouns and identities that may not conform with traditional cisgender, heterosexual views of sexual orientation and identity.
vii. Shall work in conjunction with their respective chapter’s standards or ethics board to hold a chapter and their members accountable on ensuring that chapter operational and recreational functions are done in an all-inclusive manner. The DEI officer should review vital chapter functions such as recruitment, finances, bylaws, etc. to ensure that these functions are open and welcoming to all.
viii. Shall hold internal programming within their respective chapter to ensure that members are educated and informed on topics that may impact their equity and inclusivity. The VP DEI is encouraged to do so in conjunction with other organizations like GUIDE and SEDI. Such topics may include but are not limited to race, religion, sexual identity, neurodiversity, etc.
ix. In addendum to all of the above, the VP DEI will serve as a confidant of safety for all members. The VP DEI will be someone that is easily accessible and can be dependable – especially when any member of their respective chapter believes their inclusion or safety in the chapter is at risk.
1. All new members must attend an Allied Zone training workshop hosted by the Center of Student Inclusiveness. All new members must complete this either before initiating or shortly after initiating.
a. If there are issues with such attendance or programming, the Vice President of Diversity Equity and Inclusion will hear such issues and make proper guidance.
A. In order to be eligible for The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards, EVERY chapter must complete bystander intervention and consent training at least once a year. The preferred delivery of this training will be through the Norse Violence Prevention Center, though other arrangements may be made. No less than 80% of your full status (excluding study abroad, senior status, or special status) active membership is to complete this training in order to retain eligibility. If your chapter achieves 90% or greater of full status active membership, you will be recognized at the Award Ceremony. Furthermore, this is the MINIMUM requirement for such training as it relates to health and safety. For consideration of the “Excellence” rating within the category of “Integrity”, more efforts than the aforementioned will be required on the chapter’s part, especially in regard to accountability and health and safety.
1. If your program and/or training is provided by the Norse Violence Prevention Center, an attendance list is provided, and NVP provides a letter of support post-training, you will be in compliance. To best facilitate external trainings and to ensure your chapter is within compliance, the curriculum and outcomes for such training (not provided by NVP) should be submitted to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to be reviewed by the office as well as the Norse Violence Prevention center prior to the execution of such training.
B. In order to receive a recommendation from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life for consideration for your national/international/headquarters awards, your chapter must complete a minimum of 45 minute’s worth of training in the area of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will NOT provide a letter of recommendation or verbal recommendation if this requirement is not met within a calendar year of your application for such awards/considerations.
1. Councils are actively working to build a requirement for such training into your council bylaws, as well as additional efforts such as ally training for both new members and new member educators, and other efforts to increase cultural competency.
C. Additional training is HIGHLY recommended for chapter advisors in the areas of bystander intervention and trauma-informed care, as well as mental health and wellness training, and other educational areas. While not required, these efforts will be established and developed to enable and empower advisors to best serve within their roles while guiding chapters and the fraternity and sorority students within them to be the best they can be.
D. It is highly recommended that your chapters begin active discussions on what each and every one of you will do to create a safer and more equitable fraternity and sorority community, if these discussions have not begun in earnest already. These discussions will be had at all levels, including in councils/council meetings, All Greek Meetings, and many other places, to advance what is arguably the most important work we could and should be doing at this time. It is recommended that your chapter establish a DEI committee if it has not done so already, while also evaluating chapter bylaws as they relate to DEI and individual accountability.
Northern Kentucky University
Student Union 316
20 Kenton Drive
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Local: +1 (859) 572-6514
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