Holiday Greetings from National Fraternity President Doug Dilling

VIDEO TRANSCRIPTION:

Hello, and happy holiday greetings to you. I'm Doug Dilling here on Christmas Day Eve in Indianapolis, after celebrating a very different Christmas Day with my immediate family. And I'm sending you this high-tech Christmas greeting from the entire Phi Kappa Theta family. As we're all aware, this has been an extraordinary year in so many respects. The impact of the pandemic has manifested itself in a variety of ways, dramatically affecting lives, livelihoods, and communities of all shapes and sizes. The entire fraternity and sorority community as well as its educational partners have all experienced uncertainty and operational disruptions that have tested the very core of our organizations. And while there have been a few lost battles and unfortunate results here and there, I have been so impressed with the Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity leadership at all levels by our collegiate chapter leaders who've met the many twists and turns of the last ten months, and to forge new paths to keep our chapters alive by the many alumni corporate board volunteers who scrambled to sustain some semblance of financial stability for their housing corporations, to the chapter advisors who provided steady and caring guidance throughout this pandemic, and by the national leadership, the chapter coaches and the professional staff who have worked tirelessly to help adapt and create new achievable objectives for our service to our brotherhood. And a special thanks to the many of you who continue to support the Phi Kappa Theta National Foundation with your gifts. Knowing that your financial contributions are being carefully stewarded, and invested in our innovative programming that supports our mission of developing men who passionately serve Fraternity, Society, and God. So as we round the corner of this new year, we do so with the promise that our Creator has and will continue to provide the vision and perseverance we need to fulfill our individual and collective purpose. So whether you're celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or just celebrating the promise of light at the end of this tunnel, I want to send you a joyous holiday greeting and a sincere wish for a very prosperous 2021. Thank you and God bless.

Fraternity Board Member Dan Bureau, Ph.D., receives AFA’s Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award

Dan Bureau, Ph.D.

On October 8, 2020, the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (AFA) announced individual award recipients. Dan Bureau, Ph.D., is to receive the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award.

Among other awards recognizing outstanding contributions made by AFA members and colleagues, the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award is considered the highest award presented to a campus professional.

The award has traditionally been presented to an individual in the field of higher education who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to fraternities and sororities. It honors individuals that have “demonstrated a commitment to fostering positive change on college campuses through the advisement of the fraternity/sorority community, building partnerships in higher education and the interfraternal community, had positive and lasting impact on both campuses of employment and the profession of fraternity/sorority advising, and mentoring new and seasoned professionals” (afa1976.org).

AFA highlighted Brother Bureau’s contributions to the fraternal industry with the following statement:

For more than 20 years, Dr. Dan Bureau has been engaged in the fraternal industry. His resume details his extensive commitment to fraternities and sororities through his career path and volunteer work.

Dr. Bureau has served as the AFA representative for the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS) since 2008, and he currently serves as CAS president. Beyond defining and refining industry standards over the last 12 years for a number of areas of higher education, including Fraternity and Sorority Advising Programs (FSAP), Dr. Bureau has spent years conducting campus reviews to help professionals improve their operations through assessment and alignment with industry standards. 

Dr. Bureau is a past AFA president and has won many AFA awards. He also has an extensive list of presentations and publications where he has shared his knowledge to advance the profession.

In response to Bureau's recognition, Phi Kappa Theta Executive Vice President Robert Riggs, CAE, shared, "On behalf of the entire Fraternity, we share our congratulations to Brother Bureau for receiving AFA’s Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award. His commitment to students has been an inspiration for us all. We are so grateful to have Brother Bureau continue his leadership on our Fraternity Board."

On Facebook Brother Bureau wrote, “I've had a hard time putting into coherent words what being recognized by AFA in this way means to me. To win one of the most prestigious awards of the Association, a professional home for me for 24 years, is something for which I feel honored and humbled. I'm touched that people have reached out and let me know the influence I had on them and that of course is an opportunity for me to express the impact so many people have had on me.”

Earlier this year, Bureau was recognized by The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Educational Leadership Foundation as a 2020 Diamond Honoree. Bureau will be presented with the Dr. Robert H. Shaffer Award during a virtual AFA Annual Meeting in early December. 

Bureau and other AFA members invite friends and colleagues to donate to the AFA Foundation which will be used to advance the work of AFA through scholarships, grants, and funding for educational initiatives.

To make an In Honor Of gift, click here. Then, select “In Honor Of” and add Dan Bureau in the comment box before submitting the donation. The AFA Foundation plans to share the list of donors with the award recipients following the 2020 Virtual AFA Annual Meeting.

To learn more about AFA and this year’s individual award winners, visit afa1976.org.

More About Brother Bureau

Dan Bureau, Ph.D., joined Phi Kappa Theta at the University of New Hampshire. He has worked in higher education for over 20 years and currently serves as Associate Vice President for Student Academic Success at the University of Memphis. He is also the current President for the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). He served as the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors President in 2004 and has held roles in ACPA and NASPA.

His areas of focus have included fraternity and sorority life, leadership programs, student affairs assessment, and first-generation college students. He has served at the University of New Mexico, University of Illinois, Indiana University, and the University of Memphis. He has presented at several association conferences and has authored peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and many other publications. He is the co-editor and contributor to Leading Assessment for Student Success: Ten Tenets That Change Culture and Practice in Student Affairs. Dan enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and staying fit.

“I’m touched that people have reached out and let me know the influence I had on them and that of course is an opportunity for me to express the impact so many people have had on me.”

— Dan Bureau, Ph.D.

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How our chapter at Trine found new ways to operate amid the COVID-19 crisis

Written by: Indiana Alpha Gamma Chapter at Trine University

Former United States President, Brother John F. Kennedy once said that "only in winter can you tell which trees are truly green and only when the winds of adversity blow can you tell whether an individual or a country has steadfastness." When faced with the many challenges presented with COVID-19, we, the Brothers at the Indiana Alpha Gamma Chapter of Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity, held the sentiment behind this quote near and dear to our hearts. Persevering in unprecedented times, as Brother Kennedy noted, was integral in determining how true we are to our Fraternal values and how successful we will be moving forward.

Chapter performance coach Seth Ware speaks to Indiana Alpha Gamma collegiate members

As COVID-19 cases continued to grow, college campuses had to decide if they should remain open or close operations for the rest of the semester.  While we awaited Trine's campus status, our Chapter leadership proactively convened to determine how to prepare for the last half of the spring semester. The two main issues addressed were how each leadership position would conduct their duties like normal and how the Chapter could conduct meetings with all members. With nearly all of our Brothers residing in the house, most of them decided to stay and continue to fulfill their fraternal, intellectual, social, spiritual, and leadership duties. Our Chapter decided to conduct meetings in the basement where social distancing practices could take place. We also utilized Zoom's free conference platform to ensure other Brothers could partake virtually. The continued meetings and virtual calls afforded our Chapter leaders to complete tasks and report results. While the University had transitioned from in-person lectures to online classes, our Brothers' spirit and liveliness remained the same. All of our Brothers were there to support each other in our own personal, fraternal, and even scholastic development as we all shared a common goal–to maintain our Brotherhood. Our efforts transpired well into the end of the semester when elections came around.  We held elections virtually while protecting the privacy of each candidate's speeches, the confidentiality of voting, and the secrecy of our Fraternity rituals.

As we moved into the 2020-2021 academic year with a plan to keep our Brothers and our community safe and healthy, we continued to fulfill our chapter duties "as usual" as we were determined to continue to succeed in all of our endeavors. As leaders and as Brothers, it is our duty to stay true to this goal. Our Brotherhood asked, "Where are we going?". It was imperative and ironic to contribute to and have a successful Quo Vadis (QV) given the unexpected pandemic. In years past, the chapter Vice President has set up QV to be a weekend retreat somewhere away from the house, although this year, we decided it would be smart to hold QV at the house while also following our COVID-19 protocols. With the help of our advisor Dr. Sean Carrol, our performance coach, Seth Ware, and our Vice President JJ Whicker, as well as the rest of our Brotherhood, we selected three "SMART" goals of Recruitment, Alumni Relations, and Developing Leaders. Each of these goals had their respective metrics to determine success. When discussing potential plans, we considered them in the best-case and worst-case scenario to ensure we remained flexible to achieve our goals. We knew that communicating our tasks was necessary to reach our goals, so we remained open to the idea of meeting virtually.

Chapters members on a virtual call with various alumni

Operating a chapter, let alone a successful one, is no easy feat, especially in these unprecedented times. We upheld leadership decisions and precedents set in the spring and even considered some new operating norms. Once we were back on campus, our leaders continued to meet through Zoom instead of in the house. For large group gatherings, such as our Chapter meetings, we now utilize a large lecture hall on campus for a safer environment. Additionally, if a Brother or new member cannot attend or wishes not to participate in person, we have followed the precedent set by our University by offering a Zoom conference as an alternative method of attendance. Utilizing the Zoom platform has made it more convenient to meet with our alumni, such as Thomas Pompeii, to help mentor our chapter members. We also look forward to utilizing Zoom to meet with our National Fraternity President, Doug Dilling.

Expressing the importance of our ideals is nearly impossible without conducting our pinning and initiation ceremonies. We did not want to take these experiences away from our spring new member class. We held a formal, in-person initiation ceremony for them at the beginning of the semester. Most of the class moved into the house for this year, and we already established house rules for COVID-19, so everyone was masked and socially distanced.

Recruitment event adhering to COVID-19 policies at Trine University

While we had to cancel events, we successfully coordinated new ones that followed safety guidelines. It was important for us to remain conscious of our community's health and safety. We continue to look for ways to innovate and have explored the idea of conducting a virtual silent auction at the end of the semester. 

To secure success now and always, we needed to stay focused on recruiting quality men into our Brotherhood, as indicated by one of our QV goals. With a fall semester starting two weeks earlier than usual, the combination of beautiful weather and a sand volleyball court attached to the side of our house–we figured we were all set to have a successful recruiting semester–and we were right! We had returning brothers, new members, and potential new members playing volleyball every day after classes for the first month and a half. The outdoor, spacious courts fostered an environment perfect for strengthening our Brotherhood. We introduced ourselves to potential new members and found a way to relax during these stressful times while abiding by COVID-19 guidelines. With the success of our informal and formal events for recruitment, we decided to hold a larger event that would still be safe and manageable. We planned a cookout alongside our volleyball games. All aspects of the Brotherhood were present as stories, laughs, and food had been provided around volleyball. Shortly before the midpoint in the semester, our Dean of Students notified us that off-campus events would no longer be permitted. In addition to other policies affecting in-person gatherings, we planned on-campus events and virtual events while abiding under COVID-19 guidelines.

Despite recent challenges and obstacles yet to come, we remain steadfast in our values and duties to our community, each other, and God. Our faculty advisor Dr. Sean Carroll once reminded us that we are "gentlemen and scholars" and that "gentlemen never willingly cause suffering and scholars are always willing to learn." More than ever, these times allow our Chapter to show the world that we truly are Phi Kappa Theta gentlemen and scholars.

Dan Bureau, Ph.D., recognized by the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Educational Leadership Foundation

Dan Bureau, Ph.D.

On March 4, 2020, Dan Bureau, Ph.D., was recognized by The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Educational Leadership Foundation at a recognition banquet in Nashville, Tennessee.

The ACPA Foundation invites members and non-members alike to assist fundraising efforts for vital initiatives. …The Diamond Honoree Program, established in 1999, is a way for those that care about students – and the research, scholarship, and programs that promote student development and success – to help advance the association’s efforts. Diamond Honorees are “Championed” by dedicated individuals who recognize their specific contributions and choose to raise funds in honor of each Diamond Honoree’s outstanding and sustained commitment to higher education through student affairs and student development (foundation.myacpa.org).

In response to Bureau's recent recognition, Phi Kappa Theta Executive Vice President Robert Riggs, CAE, shared, "On behalf of the entire Fraternity, we share our congratulations to Brother Bureau for his recognition as a 2020 Diamond Honoree. Brother Bureau's commitment to the profession is demonstrated through his leadership on our Fraternity Board. We are blessed to have Brother Bureau invest his talents into our own brothers."

At the recognition banquet, Bureau spoke of his care and value of others’ unique stories within student affairs and student development. “I see a lot of hope and faith in every single person with whom I interact,” said Bureau.

Soon after the banquet concluded, Bureau reflected on the recognition through a Facebook post, describing what it means to be part of the Diamond Honoree Program, “Being recognized by ACPA for my contributions to the field is something for which I am forever grateful. Seeing the other honorees - past and in the 2020 cohort - reminds me of how much more work I can do to positively influence the lives of students and colleagues.”

Bureau also added a touching tribute to a personal mentor; his father, George Bureau, “George Bureau, you taught me all the things I need to be a good and committed college student educator.”

To support Bureau’s Diamond Honoree campaign, please visit his donation page.

This video was created with friends and colleagues sharing their thoughts about Brother Bureau. It was shared as an introduction to his recognition. This video was graciously provided by The American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Educational Leadership Foundation. All rights reserved.

More About Brother Bureau

Dan Bureau, Ph.D., joined Phi Kappa Theta at the University of New Hampshire. He has worked in higher education for over 20 years and currently serves as Associate Vice President for Student Academic Success at the University of Memphis. He is also the current President for the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). He served as the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors President in 2004 and has held roles in ACPA and NASPA.

His areas of focus have included fraternity and sorority life, leadership programs, student affairs assessment, and first-generation college students. He has served at the University of New Mexico, University of Illinois, Indiana University, and the University of Memphis. He has presented at several association conferences and has authored peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and many other publications. He is the co-editor and contributor to Leading Assessment for Student Success: Ten Tenets That Change Culture and Practice in Student Affairs. Dan enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, and staying fit.

“George Bureau, you taught me all the things I need to be a good and committed college student educator.”

— Dan Bureau, Ph.D.

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