Vision and Mission
The Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life is committed to developing and supporting a preeminent Fraternity and Sorority community. Every fraternity and sorority at the University of Maryland, while social in nature, was established by their founders based on a commitment to certain values: brotherhood and sisterhood, service, scholarship, philanthropy and more. They believed that united rather than apart, they could make people better people. We believe that fraternities and sororities have the potential to be the most transformative part of the college experience. Our mission is to do everything we can to make this happen.
Vision
Our vision is of a community that uses its values to guide choices and decisions.
Mission
We believe that fraternities and sororities have the potential to be the most transformative part of the college experience. Our mission is to do everything we can to make this happen.
Our Guiding Philosophy
- Values Congruence
- Individual Responsibility
- Peer Accountability
- Interconnectedness
- You have a choice/decision
- Have fun doing it
Theories That Guide Our Work
1 - Sinek’s Golden Circle:
- Why – How – What
- Must know why we exist; our purpose, our cause, and what we believe
- Must base how we do our work in Student Development and Learning Theories
2 - Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (also referred to as Scaffolding):
The distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined by through problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers.
3 - Higher Education Research Institute’s Social Change Model based on Perspectives and corresponding seven Cs:
- Individual: what personal qualities are we attempting to develop? Consciousness of Self; Congruence; Commitment
- Group: what do students need to learn to work effectively in groups? Collaboration; Common Purpose; Controversy with Civility
- Community/Society: toward what social ends is the activity directed? Citizenship
4 - Jones & McEwen’s Multiple Dimensions of Identity:
Each person has multiple identities that make up their core. No one dimension may be understood singularly; each dimension impacts the others. These different identities may have different levels of saliency, depending on the situation.
Goals
Milestone #1: Each chapter has access to a facility/space they can use to build community.
- GOAL #1: Understand and document the places, purposes and opportunities for F/S usable space and facilities in the short- and long-term.
- GOAL #2: Create welcoming spaces and places on campus for all chapters.
- GOAL #3: Finalize the creation of a Cultural Interest Fraternity/Sorority Center.
Milestone #2: The Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life will prioritize equitable practices and equitable responses among all chapters/councils.
- GOAL #4: Create appropriate policy/protocol to navigate our responses.
- GOAL #5: Partner with campus depts. to hold organizations accountable (OSC, OCRSM, ODI).
Milestone #3: The department provides an environment and culture that are positively transformative and developmental for all staff (FT, grads, student workers, interns).
- GOAL #6: Use the Thriving Workplace initiative to inform this goal.
Milestone #4: Each chapter has a support system broader than just one or two people.
- GOAL #7: Develop core competencies for advisory boards/housing corp boards.
- GOAL #8: Develop an alumni survey to identify potential volunteers and connect them to a staff member.