2025 Academy
The Academy, conducted each year in early January, is designed to give new chapter officers a strong foundation so they can dynamically and courageously lead their chapters. Brothers participating are exposed to the basic elements of chapter operations as well as higher level leadership development, providing them with the knowledge and leadership skills needed for effective chapter management.
The 2025 Academy will be held January 3-5, 2025 in St. Louis, Missouri at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Registration
We strongly encourage Presidents, Recruitment Chairmen and Built to Lead Chairmen to attend, as well as NEW Purple Legionnaires. Educational tracks are also provided for Treasurers, Recording Secretaries, Corresponding Secretaries, Historians, Section Leaders and other graduate advisors.
The registration deadline is Friday, December 6. Hotel accommodations cannot be guaranteed if this deadline is missed.
Undergraduate Registration Fees
Every chapter/provisional chapter is billed for THREE undergraduate delegates ($500 each for a $1,500 total) to attend the Academy. Additional delegates are encouraged to attend and will be invoiced ($500 each) to the chapter/provisional chapter after the event.
Registration Includes:
- Shared accommodations (up to four undergraduates per double-bedded room from the same chapter) at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel for Friday, January 3, and Saturday, January 4, nights. Brothers will be required to provide a credit card to the hotel for incidental charges.
- The Fraternity will make all hotel room reservations based on Academy registration.
- If you need a room for Thursday, January 2, LET US KNOW. Your chapter will be billed extra room nights (approximate cost: $128/room night).
- Undergraduates may request additional room(s) so that a maximum of two (2) brothers share a hotel room. These are available on a limited (first-come, first-serve) basis, and your chapter will be billed for the additional room(s). Let us know if you would like to request additional rooms.
- All meals beginning with Friday’s Opening Dinner and concluding with Saturday’s Pig Dinner.
- All conference materials.
- A commemorative Academy gift.
Purple Legionnaires and Section Leaders are provided complimentary registration, and other graduate advisors/volunteers will be charged a $500 registration fee.
Registration Includes:
- Shared accommodations (up to two graduates per double-bedded room) at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel for Friday, January 3, and Saturday, January 4, nights. Brothers will be required to provide a credit card to the hotel for incidental charges.
- The Fraternity will make all hotel room reservations based on Academy registration.
- If you need a room for Thursday, January 2, LET US KNOW.
- Graduates may request a single room at their own expense (approximate cost: $64/room night), payable payable to the Union Station Hotel at checkout. You may make this request as a part of the Academy registration.
- All meals beginning with Friday’s Opening Dinner and concluding with Saturday’s Pig Dinner.
- All conference materials.
- A commemorative Academy gift.
Getting to the Academy
Arrivals & Departures
- Arrive: Friday, January 3, 2025 (sessions begin at 2:00 pm CT)
- Depart: Anytime on Sunday, January 5, 2025
Hotel
The Academy will be held at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel: 1820 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103. Phone: 314-621-5262.
Travel
Attendees are responsible for their own travel to/from the Academy and for all parking fees if driving (see below).
Additional Information
Driving Directions & Parking Fees
Visit the hotel’s Maps & Directions page for detailed driving directions.
The Fraternity has negotiated hotel parking rates of $20/day for self-parking or $25/day for valet. The parking fees are your responsibility.
Brothers flying to the Academy should arrive in St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), approximately 15 miles from the Union Station Hotel.
From STL Airport to the Hotel:
- Metrolink: A light rail train system connects both terminals of the airport to the downtown area. From the airport, take the Red Line to the Union Station Metrolink Station. Upon arrival, proceed to 18th Street and right onto Market Street to get to the hotel entrance. Reference these directions.
- The total travel time is 27-30 minutes, and trains depart approximately every 20 minutes. Fare from the airport is $4.00.
- Note: As in any setting, be cautious of your surroundings, especially on public transportation.
- Taxi/Ride-Share Services: There are taxis available outside of baggage claim at the airport or from the lobby of the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Cab fare runs approximately $45 each way. Shared ride services such as Uber or Lyft may also be available. Fares generally run between $30-$40 each way.
Because of the timing and location of our Academy, it is important to be prepared for travel delays. If you are delayed, do not worry. Just get to St. Louis and the Union Station hotel as soon as you can. If you are delayed to the point you will not arrive on your scheduled day, contact Todd Rotgers to adjust your hotel reservation.
Undergraduate Travel Reimbursement
Each chapter receives one reimbursement at a rate of $0.14 per mile for the round-trip mileage from your chapter to St. Louis, Missouri. The reimbursement will be applied to your chapter’s account at the International Headquarters following the Academy. To receive your reimbursement, your chapter’s delegates must attend.
Sessions & Schedule
Friday Pursuing Excellence Sessions: Menu Experiences
This year, the Pursuing Excellence sessions will showcase Built to Lead Menu Experiences. These sessions are available for undergraduate brothers on Friday, January 3, 2025, beginning at 2:00 pm CT.
Brothers must rank your top three choices on the Academy Registration form, and you will be notified of your assigned session before arriving at the Academy.
Facilitator: Jade Metcalf
Description coming soon.
Life Skills: Financial Literacy
Facilitator: Mike Rosen
Description coming soon.
Not for College Days Alone: Once a Phi Gam, Always a Phi Gam
Facilitator: Mitch Sonnen
Description coming soon.
Philanthropy & Service: Partnering with Purpose
Facilitator: Duke Murphy
Description coming soon.
Success in College: What Does “College, Fraternity, Self” Mean in Practice?
Facilitator: Amelious Whyte (Minnesota Faculty)
Participants in this session will explore what it means to be successful in college, identify personal goals for enhancing their success, and learn how to articulate what they have gained during their time in college.
Work & Play: Facilitating Successful Work & Play Experiences
Facilitator: Daylon Weddle (DePauw 2017), Associate Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life at DePauw University
Join Daylon Weddle for a discussion on brainstorming engaging brotherhood activities within the Built to Lead framework that will provide unique member experiences, enhance friendships and deepen their brotherhood.
Saturday Breakout Sessions
On Saturday, January 4, 2025, we are offering a breakout session for undergraduates registered for the President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Historian or Built to Lead Chairman tracks.
Brothers must rank your top two choices on the Academy Registration form, and you will be notified of your assigned session before arriving at the Academy.
Courageous Mentality for Chapter Leadership
Facilitator: Bonny Shade
Courageous Mentality educates students about sexual violence, healthy relationships and victim/survivor support. It also increases members’ interest in critical thinking about the topic, examining what occurs in their own chapter, and challenging their patterns of behavior to implement key takeaways they learn. Through this session, members will examine multiple levels of sexual violence prevention and data while developing best practices to prevent and respond to sexual violence in their chapter.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB)
Facilitators: Director of DEIB DeVere Kutscher and Director of Education Abby McCollom
Join DeVere Kutscher and Abby McCollom in a conversation about taking action in the face of DEIB incidents within the chapter, community or world. There will also be a brief overview of DEIB resources provided by Phi Gamma Delta.
Facilitator: Director of Chapter Services – East Ben Blacklock
An opportunity to review the judicial process used to hold members accountable for their actions. We will discuss how this process can be used to create member sanctions that are appropriate to the violation and provide an opportunity for member growth.
Facilitator: Ross Szabo
This session helps better prepare members for how to lead the Behind Happy Faces Mental Health Curriculum. Participants will discuss the main learning objectives of the curriculum, receive tips on how to personalize facilitating the curriculum, strategies for how to continue the conversation about mental health after the lessons and how leaders can continue to take care of their own mental health needs. Behind Happy Faces has been a strong way to educate about mental health in Phi Gamma Delta. It’s important to continue to learn best practices for how to further mental health education in chapters and understand the public health approach that this curriculum uses.
Using Your Membership Survey Results
Facilitator: ?
Remember that survey you and all your brothers took? Come learn how you can use what your members said about their experience in the chapter to guide your choices as a leader. This session will walk you through how to read your chapter’s report and give space for you to consider how the data from your members can be used to elevate the chapter experience.
Tentative Schedule
All times are in Central Time (CT).
Friday, January 3, 2025
- 12:00 – 6:00 pm: Registration
- 12:00 – 6:00 pm: Roster Updates
- 2:00 – 3:30 pm: Pursuing Excellence: Menu Experience Showcase
- 2:00 – 4:00 pm: New Purple Legionnaire/Advisor Training
- 4:00 – 5:15 pm: Built to Lead Planning Sessions by Field Secretary Region
- 5:15 – 6:30 pm: Vendor Reception; Appointed Volunteer Leader Reception
- 6:30 – 8:00 pm: Opening Dinner
- 8:00 – 10:30 pm: William R. Miller Model Initiation; Provisional Chapter Education Session
Saturday, January 4, 2025
- 6:45 – 7:30 am: Fun Run
- 7:30 – 8:30 am: Breakfast
- 7:30 am – 6:30 pm: Registration
- 8:30 – 9:45 am: Opening Session: What if I’m the Problem?
- 10:00 am – 5:45 pm: Educational Tracks for Officers, Recruitment Chairmen, Built to Lead Chairmen & Graduate Volunteers
- 12:30 – 2:00 pm: Foundation Luncheon
- 6:30 – 8:30 pm: Pig Dinner
- 8:30 – 11:30 pm: Game Night & T-Shirt Exchange
Sunday, January 5, 2025
- All Day: Departures
- 8:30 am – 12:00 pm: Board of Conduct Meetings (chapters will be notified)