sign in sign up
<<
Home , Alpha Delta Gamma, Delta Xi Nu, Delta Xi Phi, Iota Nu Delta, Kappa Alpha Society, Lambda Sigma Gamma

PERC RESEARCH BRIEF

Fraternity and Sorority Life Engagement Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Brief 2 of the Student Engagement Practice and Planning in the COVID-19 Environment Research Series

August 2020

Based in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the mission of the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC) is to identify, conduct, and coordinate research on initiatives and ideas designed to enhance higher education at the institution, state, and national levels to enhance policy and practice.

Published by: The University of Tennessee, Postsecondary Education Research Center 305 Bailey Education Complex 1126 Volunteer Blvd Knoxville, TN 37996 T +01 1 865.974.3972 [email protected] perc.utk.edu

Author(s): Megan Fox William A. Martinez Dr. Meghan Grace Dr. J. Patrick Biddix

External links: This publication may contain links to external websites. Responsibility for the content of the listed external sites always lies with their respective publishers. When the links to these sites were first posted, the third-party content was checked to establish whether it could give rise to civil or criminal liability. However, constant review of links to external sites cannot reasonably be expected without concrete indication of a violation of rights. If PERC itself becomes aware or is notified by a third party that an external site it has provided a link to gives rise to civil or criminal liability, it will remove the link to this site immediately. PERC expressly dissociates itself from such content.

1 | BALANCING ACCESS AND SUCCESS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The COVID-19 pandemic has had monumental impacts on higher education institutions and the ways in which colleges and universities operate. Notably, there have been major shifts in how student affairs professionals facilitate meaningful student engagement in a time when in-person experiences are not possible. To date, the primary focus of most institutions has been on shifting instruction. Yet, researchers consistently have demonstrated that instructional practices alone are not sufficient to engage and ultimately retain students. The study aims to address the following question: How is student engagement practiced in the age of a global crisis?

How student engagement is practiced varies when examining the many functional areas that work to promote student engagement on a campus. One such area is and sorority life, which engages students with the common goals of providing opportunities to build meaningful interpersonal connections with others, develop important academic and leadership skills, and give back to the local community through service and philanthropy.

This brief will provide research insights for fraternity and sorority life engagement plans and practices for summer and fall 2020:

Four key themes emerged from the data:

1. A large proportion of institutions have not announced operating plans for fraternity and sorority life. Of those who have announced plans, hybrid models are most common so far. 2. There are stark differences between public and private institutions with private institutions having a greater likelihood of not having operating plans announced. Public institutions are predominantly planning for hybrid models. 3. Inter/national governing councils are providing additional guidance and support for assisting chapters and campuses in planning for operations in the fall through providing online resources and guidelines. 4. Social connection and relationship building remain a priority even through digital and hybrid means.

The brief concludes with a “Promising Practices” section that focuses on programming philosophies, strategies, and initiatives that present potential for creating innovative and engaging fraternity and sorority life experiences.

For more details, read the full report available at perc.utk.edu/covid-19.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Megan Fox is a College Student Personnel MS Candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

William A. Martinez is a College Student Personnel MS Candidate at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Dr. Meghan Grace is a consultant with Plaid, LLC. and an affiliate with PERC at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Dr. J. Patrick Biddix is Associate Director for PERC, Program Coordinator for Higher Education Administration, and Professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. CONTENTS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I. INTRODUCTION 3 Fraternity and Sorority Life Engagement 4

II. MODELS OF ENGAGEMENT 6

III. DIFFERENCES BY INSTITUTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS 7 Governance 8

Size 8

IV. GOVERNING COUNCIL GUIDANCE 9

National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) 9

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) 10

National Panhellenic Council (NPC) 10

North American Interfraternity Council (NIC) 10

V.PROMISING PRACTICES 11

REFERENCES 12

APPENDIX A 13

APPENDIX B 14

3 | PERC RESEARCH BRIEF

I. INTRODUCTION In early 2020, COVID-19 began to spread Figure 1. Institution-Wide Fall quickly through the . With Engagement Plans many dangerous side effects and threats to health and safety, the spread of COVID-19 necessitated pause and/or adaptation in strategies for postsecondary education. By late March 2020, most institutions had ceased in-person campus operations and transitioned classes to online settings for the remainder of the term. As faculty transitioned academic and support services online, student affairs practitioners worked to maintain core engagement functions supporting student extracurricular and co- curricular experiences.

In June 2020, the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, embarked on studying institutional responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially regarding plans for programming, services, and initiatives that occur beyond the classroom and aim to promote and facilitate student At the time of initial data collection, nearly engagement. half of colleges and universities in the sample (46%) planned to engage in hybrid The purpose of this project is to understand engagement models at the institution-wide and to inform student engagement planning level in the fall. Just over a third (35%) and practices in response to the COVID-19 reported plans to re-open in the fall with fully pandemic. The research team examined traditional engagement models. Few institutional plans and student engagement institutions had not announced their re- practices from a sample of 45 institutions opening plans yet (11%), but even fewer through three models of engagement announced plans for fully online (9%). (Appendix A): Institution-wide engagement plans will Traditional: Delivered on-campus, critically influence each functional area and typically through in-person or face- will serve as a foundational base to address to-face experiences the primary study question:

Online: Delivered through fully How is student online, virtual, or digital strategies engagement practiced in Hybrid: Delivered through a the midst of a global combination of traditional in-person crisis? or face-to-face experiences and online or digital experiences.

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC |

Leading student engagement scholar, Dr. particular. The pandemic will John Braxton weighs in on the importance likely result in some students not of student engagement: returning to their college for the fall 2020 semester. Put differently, “Student engagement constitutes institutional student persistence an important vehicle for college rates at some colleges and student success. Engagement universities will decrease. and involvement are Perhaps, some of the lessons interchangeable terms (Tinto, learned from extensive use of 2012) that both pertain to the remote teaching during the 2020 amount of physical and spring semester may suggest psychological energy students ways in which colleges and put into their college experience universities can offer alternative (Astin, 1984). Academic, approaches to student interpersonal, and extracurricular engagement during the fall 2020 stand as some of the forms of the semester and beyond as we college student experience in continue to cope with the which student involvement takes enormous challenges of the place (Mayhew, et al., 2016). pandemic. Interpersonal involvement includes faculty and student interactions and peer interactions Fraternity and Sorority (Mayhew, et al., 2016). Life Engagement and sororities have long existed Student involvement fosters such on college and university campuses as aspects of college student meaningful opportunities for student success as first year persistence engagement that provide environments for (Braxton, et al, 2014) and members to build interpersonal connections, graduation (Tinto, 2012). Without develop leadership skills, and participate in persistence and or graduation, community service initiatives. In the sample student attainment of other forms of 45 institutions included in this study, 32 of success unlikely occur. These institutions had fraternities and sororities on other forms of student success campus. include cognitive growth, career development and a wide array of Fraternity and sorority engagement involves types of personal development. a variety of activities and experiences For the types of student throughout the school year, but the development, readers should pandemic will require revisioning and consult How College Affects st restructuring how fraternity and sorority life Students: 21 Century Evidence engagement is practiced. Parice Bowser, that Higher Education Works, Director of the Greek Life Leadership Volume 3 by (Mayhew, et al., Center at the University of Arkansas shares 2016). the following:

The COVID-19 Pandemic places “On college campuses across the major constraints on the various country, fraternities and sororities forms of student involvement in play a vital role within their general and those in the form of respective communities and face-to-face interaction in beyond. These organizations

5 | PERC RESEARCH BRIEF

provide collegiate members experience. Health & safety will sisterhood/brotherhood continue to be a primary concern relationships through bonds of in these challenging days ahead. ritual which go well beyond the In addition to typical alcohol and undergraduate experience. hazing risk management efforts, Members are exposed to common FSL professionals are not only fraternal principles which include being challenged to create plans, values-based curriculum, as well as enforce guidelines leadership development, related to reducing large scholarship, service, and gatherings, but also how to philanthropic efforts. properly wear face coverings and to social distancing. Most Being part of a Greek organization fraternity and sorority life offices provides students with ample are creating hybrid models to opportunities to participate in create educational learning activities that will enhance their opportunities to promote personal development, promote membership engagement. FSL academics, and advance their professionals are working with leadership skills. This type of Greek governing councils and student engagement makes a chapters on how to effectively run tremendous impact on their virtual meetings and events. respective campuses, local Greeks giving back to their communities, nationally, and as communities through well as abroad. Members develop philanthropic and community a sense of belonging and a service efforts will also look greater connection which often drastically different. Greek lead to giving back to their housing plays a major role in institution after graduation. creating a sense of community for COVID-19 has caused campus- members. FSL professionals are based fraternity and sorority life also spending time working with professionals to think differently various stakeholders to cultivate in all aspects related to duties and a plan of action for the safety of responsibilities. FSL their Greek housing residents. In professionals along with the midst of the COVID-19 chapter/council leadership teams pandemic, FSL professionals have worked diligently to create must continue to create change in interactive video presentations to combating issues focusing on market and promote the Greek diversity, equity, and inclusion to student experience. Creativity and move their respective innovation have played a major communities forward. This factor in creating virtual models academic year will be one to for both recruitment and new remember with hope and membership intake. For determination for an expected end campuses that are still planning on how we survived.” in-person options, FSL professionals are having to This brief will provide high-level findings navigate within strict CDC regarding the planned practices for fraternity guidelines, and state and local and sorority life operations for summer and restrictions to create a meaningful fall 2020. The findings presented in this brief

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC |

are sourced from a sample of institutions methods utilized by fraternity and sorority that represent diverse governance organizations on campus would make it structures, size classifications, geographic difficult to create a uniform engagement regions, as well as minority-serving plan that would suit the needs and institutions. Benchmarking methods were operations of each chapter. Therefore, the conducted utilizing publicly available data variety of operations among different (i.e. institution websites, press releases, fraternity and sorority organizations may be online communications, etc.) to identify an indicator of why the majority of proposed engagement models for fraternity institutions in the study sample have not yet and sorority life at each institution. announced plans for the fall semester. Additionally, many campuses hold recruitment and intake processes during the Of the institutions that have announced fall semester to engage incoming new plans, 28% plan for hybrid engagement students. However, some opt to defer models (Figure 2). For recruitment, a recruitment and intake processes to the commonly reported hybrid practice for spring semester. As recruitment and in-take organizations is to hold the first two is often the first major engagement point for recruitment rounds virtually through video- fraternities and sororities in the fall based platforms, and the remaining rounds semester, it is a focal point of findings and in-person while adhering to social distance discussion in this brief. guidelines and CDC recommendations. Additionally, a few institutions have hosted virtual information sessions about II. MODELS OF recruitment throughout the summer to provide opportunities for engagement for ENGAGEMENT incoming and interested students.

At this time, most fraternity and sorority life At the time of collection, half of institutions (FSL) offices have focused on creating and in the study sample had not announced a communicating plans for recruitment and planned model of engagement for fall intake processes, while also maintaining recruitment or programming (Figure 2). advising and program planning. Despite Among the institutions that have not campus closures throughout the spring and announced plans, five institutions have summer, many FSL offices and recruitment regularly scheduled for the professionals continue to provide support spring semester. through online technology. Several offices

hold virtual office hours hosted by FSL staff Many institutions have delegated or campus governing council leadership to recruitment planning to campus-based ensure support and guidance is still councils and individual chapters, under the provided for chapter leaders and members guidance of national governing councils. throughout the pandemic and in preparation This is due to the differing methods and for the fall semester. With some institutions mechanisms of recruitment and intake having large fraternity and sorority utilized by various councils and communities, the chapters on campus can organizations. For example, some campus- have hundreds of members in each based councils, such as IFC, may typically organization, making living in-residence and operate an informal recruitment period holding chapter programming a challenge allowing each member organization of the while adhering to social distancing council to plan their recruitment processes guidelines. While FSL professionals prepare with little involvement by council leadership. for fall recruitment, they are also still The variety of recruitment and intake

7 | PERC RESEARCH BRIEF

providing guidance and working to compile Students office, Counseling Center, and resources from their respective universities Student Health. Best practices on social and national governing boards for online distancing when in-person and how to member engagement. In most compilations, engage students via an online platform are resources included links to care and support often included in resource guides. offices on campus such as the Dean of

Figure 2. Fraternity & Sorority Life Engagement Models 60%

50% 50%

40%

30% 28%

20% 13% 9% 10%

0%

Hybrid Online Plan Not Announced Traditional

Fraternity and sorority chapters are faced with balancing the guidance and policies of III. DIFFERENCES campuses, as well as those of their inter/national organizations and governing BY INSTITUTIONAL councils. Both governing entities have a vested interest in the welfare of fraternity CHARACTERISTICS and sorority chapters. Therefore, fraternity There seem to be notable differences in and sorority engagement practices will be fraternity and sorority engagement and influenced by the guidance of these recruitment planning based on governance entities. Crafting operational plans will and size. There are numerous factors at necessitate finding an intersection that play that may influence how fraternity and adheres to the policies of both campus and sorority organizations may operate and inter/national organization or council engage members in response to the governance. pandemic. While local chapters are governed by inter/national organizations, as well as inter/national governing councils, their home institution and its characteristics will also dictate planning and operations.

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC |

fraternity and sorority life engagement than those planning for traditional in-person Governance engagement, which is currently just one Among public institutions with fraternity and public institution in the sample. sorority communities in the study sample, nearly half (47%) plan to operate Notably among private institutions with fraternities and sororities using hybrid fraternity and sorority communities, 73% models in the fall, that would engage have not yet made announcements members and students interested in joining regarding fall operations (Figure 3). At the in both online and in-person experiences time of collection, a greater number of (Figure 3). However, nearly a third (29%) private institutions report plans to engage have not yet announced plans for fraternity and sorority life through traditional operations in the fall semester (Figure 3). engagement models (20%) than those who There is a greater number of public plan to operate with hybrid models (7%) institutions (18%) planning for online (Figure 3).

Figure 3. Fraternity & Sorority Life Engagement Models, by Governance Type

Size Among medium-sized institutions, the Among large institutions in the sample, majority (55%) have not yet announced a nearly half (46%) plan to operate with plan for engagement in the fall semester hybrid engagement models for fraternity (Figure 4). Further, less than a third (27%) and sorority life (Figure 4). After hybrid have announced plans for hybrid models, the next largest portion (23%) have operations (Figure 4). yet to announce plans with the few remaining large institutions evenly split to Finally, small institutions are the most likely operate in online capacities or in traditional to not have announced an engagement in-person settings (Figure 4). plan, with 88% having not reported a plan

9 | PERC RESEARCH BRIEF

for the fall semester (Figure 4). This may be time of collection, only one institution in the due to having a smaller incoming cohort of sample had announced planning for new students, which may grant these traditional in-person fraternity and sorority institutions greater flexibility in planning. life engagement. As summer progresses This may also allow them more time to towards the fall semester, more institutions identify strategies for engagement that are announcing engagement plans. adhere to social distancing protocols. At the

Figure 4. Fraternity & Sorority Life Engagement Models, by Size Classification 100% 9% 12% 90% 15% 80% 23% 70% 55% 60% 15% 50% 88% 40% 30% 9% 20% 10% 0% Large Medium Small

Hybrid Online Plan not announced Traditional

IV. GOVERNING COUNCIL GUIDANCE National Multicultural On many campuses, fraternity and sorority Greek Council (NMGC) chapters are affiliated with inter/national The National Multicultural Greek Council organizations, that are members of larger (NMGC) is the umbrella council for 11 inter/national governing councils. multicultural Greek-letter organizations Governing councils are responsible for (Appendix B). NMGC has not released creating guidelines and policies to assist specific guidelines for recruitment and member organizations and local chapters. intake processes and is directing member Governing councils recommend that organizations to utilize the CDC and local member organizations and chapters follow public health guidelines in planning. Many the institution models of engagement, but NMGC member organizations have still have an influence on fraternity and transitioned summer leadership training sorority organizations. events and conferences to virtual formats, in which guidance on recruitment, intake, and fall operations are likely to be addressed.

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC |

Community Building During COVID-19; How to communicate to members about National Pan-Hellenic recruitment/intake process changes; and a Council (NPHC) recruitment decision-making map. The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Additionally, NPC provided a Recruitment consists of nine historically Black Greek- Contingencies Task Force Report for letter organizations (Appendix B). In March, College Panhellenics that details how to NPHC released a statement from the grow and adapt to new circumstances and national president that deferred to and provide a meaningful sorority experience. promoted CDC guidelines and encouraged The NPC Recruitment Contingencies Task chapters to follow guidance from their Force Report provides guidance on national organizations regarding meetings, numerous scenarios in which recruitment convention, and intake. Many member can take place in the fall depending on organizations have responded and campus operating plans. These include: provided support for chapters and members. Sorority, • Fully-structured recruitment hosted Inc’s North Atlantic Region released a virtually COVID-19 toolkit to encourage virtual • Fully-structured recruitment with community and promote social distancing hybrid social distancing measures in guidelines and holistic wellness. Kappa place Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. has created a • Partially-structured recruitment COVID-19 Relief Fund for members to hosted virtually provide financial resources for • Partially-structured recruitment undergraduate members impacted by hosted with hybrid social distancing COVID-19. and Sigma measures in place Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. both released • Continuous recruitment hosted statements and guidance to advise against virtually or utilizing a hybrid mode in-person gatherings and to promote connecting via virtual means. Because North American intake processes and timelines differ for each NPHC member organization and their Interfraternity Council local chapters, COVID-19-specific (NIC) information was less publicly available The North American Interfraternity Council during collection and may be distributed (NIC), which represents over 60 men’s directly to local chapters from their national organizations, along with compiling organizations. resources has created a fraternal think tank to provide operational recommendations for member organizations. In particular, the National Panhellenic NIC think tank includes guidelines and Council (NPC) recommendations by key areas including The National Panhellenic Council (NPC), Housing, Facilities, and Meal Prep; consisting of 26 women’s organizations, Recruitment and Chapter operations; has announced guidelines for upcoming fall Student Life and Gatherings; and operations and recruitment processes. Communication. As facilities management Several resources have been created for is likely to be a challenge and concern, member organizations and local councils to suggestions and resources for cleaning, utilize to effectively plan their fall operations social distancing, and securing isolation and recruitment events, while ensuring rooms are also given in these guidelines. social distancing in accordance with CDC The think tank resources also present a and local government guidelines. “watch, review, discuss” model to prepare Resources include General Operations & undergraduate chapter leaders to have planning conversations and implement safe

11 | PERC RESEARCH BRIEF

protocols for fall operations. While many of organizations to establish regular the suggestions focus on in-person touchpoints with new members and those engagement for the fall semester, there are at new colony chapters and to be prepared also numerous resources provided to assist to maintain brotherhood in various councils and chapters to operate in hybrid operating scenarios. NPC provides or virtual environments, such as virtual suggestions such as hosting speaker meeting guides and how to stay connected series, holding virtual meetings, and while socially distant. providing other virtual programming that engages campus departments to assist in facilitating personal development. V. PROMISING PRACTICES Online Resources for Chapter Operations With the inability to meet with chapter Virtual Engagement & members and leaders in-person, Community Building inter/national governing councils and institutions are developing resources to One common theme present in the overall help chapters facilitate the fraternity and communication from inter/national sorority experience through online settings. governing councils and campus-based For example, the NPC and NIC released professionals is the importance of member resources such as how to continuing engagement practice and social communicate clearly and effectively during connection with potential and current the pandemic, suggestions on cleanliness members. Through virtual platforms ranging and hygiene, and guidance on maintaining from video conferencing to online gaming, social distance if in-person events resume. keeping connected and checking on one Institutions also have released specific another is considered paramount during the COVID-19 resources for students. The pandemic. As fraternity and sorority University of Tennessee, Knoxville, posted organizations aspire to build and foster a “Virtual Chapter Management Resources” relationships and social connections among page to give organizations tangible members, it is no surprise that governing techniques to engage with their chapters councils and campuses are focusing on and their new members. relationship building through digital means

when physical gathering is not feasible. For

example, Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

encourages brothers to adhere to state and local guidance by staying home, but to prioritize regular communication among members. Similarly, the NIC recommends

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC |

REFERENCES

Astin, A. W. (1984). Student involvement: A developmental theory for higher education. Journal of College Student Personnel, 25, 297-308.

Braxton, J. M., Doyle, W. R., Hartley, H. V., Hirschy, A. S., Jones, W. A., & McClendon, M. K. (2014). Rethinking college student retention. , CA: Jossey-Bass.

Mayhew, M.J., Rockenbach, A.N., Bowman, N.A., Seifert, T.A., and Wolniak, G.C. (2016). How College Affects Students: 21st Century Evidence that Higher Education Works, Volume 3. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Tinto, V. (2012). Completing college: Rethinking institutional action. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

SUGGESTED CITATION: Fox, M., Martinez, W. A., Grace, M. & Biddix, J. (2020). Fraternity & Sorority Life Engagement Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Student Engagement Practice and Planning in the COVID-19 Environment Series). The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Postsecondary Education Research Center. https://perc.utk.edu/covid -19/

13 | PERC RESEARCH BRIEF

APPENDIX A.

Forty-five (45) institutions of higher education were selected to be included in this sample. The following characteristics were considered in selecting institutions to be included in the sample:

• Governance: Determination between public or private governance structure • Degree Programs: Determination institutions granting two-year or four-year degrees. • Size: Classification based on total student population as determined and adapted by the Carnegie Classifications on size. o Small: Institutions serving less than 3,000 students o Medium: Institutions serving between 3,000 and 9,999 students o Large: Institutions serving 10,000 or more students • Geographic Region: Classification based on regions comprised of the following states: o Northeast: MA, MD, ME, NJ, NY, PA, VA, and Washington D.C. o Southeast: GA, FL, KY, LA, MS, NC, TN o Midwest: IA, IL, IN, MN, and OH o Southwest: AZ, TX o West: CA, CO, ID, OR, WA • Minority-Serving Institution Status: Whether institution has a minority-serving designation.

The following institutions were included in the study sample: • Adams State University • • Azusa Pacific University • Seton Hill University • Clarion University • Sewanee, the University of the • Colgate University South • College of William & Mary • • DePauw University • St. Mary’s College of Maryland • Dominican University • Tennessee State University • East College • Texas Tech University • • The • A&M University • The University of California, Los • Gonzaga University Angeles • • University of Central Florida • Ivy Tech Community College • University of Idaho • Lone State College • University of Maine • -Dade College • University of Minnesota, Morris • Mississippi University for Women • University of Northern Iowa • Institute of • University of Southern California Technology • University of Tennessee, Knoxville • • University of Texas, Austin • Northern Community • College • Vanderbilt University • Northwestern University • • The • Willamette University • The State University • Xavier University of •

FRATERNITY AND SORORITY LIFE ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC |

APPENDIX B. The following organizations are members of the national governing councils included in this brief.

National Multicultural Greek Council: • • Multicultural Sorority, • Inc. • • Multicultural Sorority, • Inc. • • Sorority, Inc. • • Sorority, Inc. • • Sorority, • Inc. • • Multicultural • Sorority, Inc. • • Psi Multicultural Fraternity Incorporated North American Interfraternity Conference • Phi Multicultural • Fraternity, Inc. • • Sorority, Inc. • Alpha • Sorority, Inc. • Alpha • National Pan-Hellenic Council • • Alpha Fraternity, Inc. • • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. • • Fraternity, Inc. • • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. • • Sorority, Inc. • • Fraternity, Inc. • Beta • Sorority, Inc. • • Sorority, Inc. • • Fraternity, Inc. •

• National Panhellenic Council • • Alpha • • • • • Delta Phi • • • • • Alpha Phi • • • FarmHouse • • • • Iota Phi Theta • Chi Omega • Kappa Alpha Psi • • • Delta Gamma • • Delta Phi Epsilon • • • • •

15 | PERC RESEARCH BRIEF

• • • • • • • • Sigma Chi • Phi • • • • • • Phi Lambda Chi • • • • • • • • • Triangle • • • •

perc.utk.edu The mission of the Postsecondary Education Research Center (PERC) is to identify, conduct, and coordinate research on initiatives and ideas designed to enhance higher education at the institution, state, and national levels to enhance policy and practice.

Fraternity & Sorority Life Engagement Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic Megan Fox William A. Martinez Dr. Meghan Grace Dr. J. Patrick Biddix

August 2020

Postsecondary Education Research Center 303 Bailey Education Complex 1126 Volunteer Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37996 865) 974-3972 [email protected]