Guest Blogger Carolee Followill – National Academics Chairman
I can’t believe summer is over and it’s time to hit the books again. It is time to hit the books again and it is exciting to be back with your sisters and renewing friendships, but it is also important to start off on the right foot academically and have a successful semester.
To get a good start, get all your books and supplies. Don’t forget about Delta Zeta’s partnership with TextbookPartners.com for buying and selling textbooks. Visit their site and select Delta Zeta on the drop down menu to have your purchases support the Sorority. And once you have your books, be sure to read them.
Have you set goals for the semester? Ideas range from a GPA goal, to class attendance, project completion, study groups and many others. Be sure your goals are measurable and attainable. Once your goals are set, write down action steps to help you reach them.
Your most important tool for success is a well-used, accurate planner or calendar. Once you get the syllabus from your each of your professors, enter everything in your planner. Note when projects need to be started as well as their due dates. Don’t forget to note drop dates. Look at your planner/calendar every day because it doesn’t help if it isn’t utilized.
Go to class and don’t get behind. Ask questions and participate in class discussions. When you have a serious question, visit your professor during office hours and be sure to introduce yourself. Don’t assume he or she knows who you are. Your professors want you to succeed.
Every campus has excellent resources in learning centers, tutors, career counseling, etc. The professional staff of these offices can give you invaluable guidance. Your chapter academic chairman should be able to connect you to these resources and is herself a support for your academic goals.
Finally, arrive 5-10 minutes early for class and you’ll have your pick of places to sit. Chances are this will be where you sit all year. If you show up with less than 5 minutes to spare the best seats are sure to be taken and you may find yourself sitting in the back. Research shows that top academic achievers sit in the rows closest to the front of the room. So you don’t want to find yourself in the back! And by sitting in the front you might even meet someone else you can ask to be a study buddy.
Have a great semester!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Talking about Hazing Prevention
Many victims and those affected by hazing never speak about it. And those who know about hazing instances may only speak in hushed tones or use language that is downplaying its severity. That is why National Hazing Prevention Week is so important. It gives all of us the opportunity to talk about hazing and hazing prevention.
National Hazing Prevention Week will be held September 24-28, 2012. Many campuses and fraternal organizations will be holding events throughout the week, all with the goal of ending hazing. If your chapter would like to plan an event during National Hazing Prevention Week, here are some great places to start:
For some, though, the issue of hazing is more personal than attending an event on campus or reading an article in the newspaper. It is something they have experienced, witnessed and tried to stop. It’s a topic that is brought up whenever we say we are a member of a sorority. Hazing and hazing prevention is something that we need to talk about – to our friends, family, people we meet on campus and most importantly, our sisters. Conversation is important. As the author Margaret Wheatley tells us, "One of the things we need to learn, is that very great change starts from very small conversations, held among people who care." Here are some resources to help you prepare to have those critical conversations about hazing prevention:
Be sure to follow Delta Zeta’s Facebook and Twitter as well as the National Hazing Prevention Week Twitter hashtag #NHPW12 for more information and discussion.
National Hazing Prevention Week will be held September 24-28, 2012. Many campuses and fraternal organizations will be holding events throughout the week, all with the goal of ending hazing. If your chapter would like to plan an event during National Hazing Prevention Week, here are some great places to start:
- http://www.hazingprevention.org/programs/national-hazing-prevention-week/planning-a-resources.html
- http://gordiescall.org/
For some, though, the issue of hazing is more personal than attending an event on campus or reading an article in the newspaper. It is something they have experienced, witnessed and tried to stop. It’s a topic that is brought up whenever we say we are a member of a sorority. Hazing and hazing prevention is something that we need to talk about – to our friends, family, people we meet on campus and most importantly, our sisters. Conversation is important. As the author Margaret Wheatley tells us, "One of the things we need to learn, is that very great change starts from very small conversations, held among people who care." Here are some resources to help you prepare to have those critical conversations about hazing prevention:
- https://twitter.com/#!/search?q=%2340Answers
- http://www.hazingprevention.org/images/stories/upload/40answers_compiledresponses_final.pdf
- http://tjsullivan.com/hazing-and-human-rights/
- http://www.deltazeta.org/blog/BlogEntry/115?link=http%3A%2F%2Fdeltazetablog.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F09%2Fwhy-language-is-important.html
- http://tjsullivan.com/hazing-is-morally-wrong-because-it-has-the-potential-to-hurt-its-just-that-simple/
- http://fraternalthoughts.blogspot.com/2011/09/is-it-hazing-just-ask.html
Be sure to follow Delta Zeta’s Facebook and Twitter as well as the National Hazing Prevention Week Twitter hashtag #NHPW12 for more information and discussion.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Enriching U Informational Webinars
It’s August – for many of us, a time of adjusting to new class schedules, buying new school supplies, reconnecting with friends after the summer apart and of course, sorority recruitment. Within Delta Zeta, we too have been getting ready for the school year and all the new members that we will welcome into our sisterhood. We have recently updated the admin side of Enriching U, our online educational tool, which hosts a portion of the New Member Education Program.
It is vital that Vice Presidents of New Member Education and College Chapter Directors understand the Enriching U format of the National New Member Education Program. This fall, several webinars have been scheduled to provide a review of the Enriching U format, including information on some updates that have been made to the admin side of the program. Dates and registration links are included below:
As always, questions on the Enriching U portion of the New Member Program may be sent to enrichingu@dzshq.com. We look forward to seeing you on a webinar!
It is vital that Vice Presidents of New Member Education and College Chapter Directors understand the Enriching U format of the National New Member Education Program. This fall, several webinars have been scheduled to provide a review of the Enriching U format, including information on some updates that have been made to the admin side of the program. Dates and registration links are included below:
- Tuesday, August 21, 2012 – 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time; https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/938449002
- Thursday, August 23, 2012 – 9:00 pm Eastern Time; https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/301066106
- Wednesday, August 29, 2012 – 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time; https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/506504746
- Tuesday, September 4, 2012 – 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time; https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/626123914
As always, questions on the Enriching U portion of the New Member Program may be sent to enrichingu@dzshq.com. We look forward to seeing you on a webinar!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Planning an Effective Chapter Retreat
As you look to plan your chapter retreat, keep these tips in mind:
- Be Present – The most effective retreats are those where all involved are focused on the business of the retreat. Consider hosting the retreat in a place that is free of distractions, both electronic (cell phones, TVs, computers, etc.) and personal (friends, significant others, family).
- Be Prepared – Make sure that you have the information and materials you may need ready. This will include both physical supplies (post-its, markers, notecards, etc.) and some non-tangible items (recruitment numbers, academic reports).
- Create an Open Environment – It will be crucial that throughout the retreat, those participating feel comfortable to share their honest opinions. To that end, an environment must be fostered that encourages dialogue. This can be done by getting to know each other (icebreakers!), expecting respect be shown at all times, and always keeping in mind your end goal, the ultimate success of the chapter.
- Follow-Up – The end of the retreat should not be the end of your chapter discussions. Check in on each other’s progress. Follow-up on the goals you set. If a topic comes up during the retreat that needs further discussion, make sure it happens.
Here are some example retreat outlines and ideas to review as you plan:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)