About Menu Experiences
Menu Experiences are a chapter’s “choose your own adventure” programming within Built to Lead. There are seven Menu Experience Program Categories designed for all brothers to participate in annually. These programs are selected by the chapter and schedule by the Build to Lead Chairman each year. Chapters may choose to host programs provided by the Fraternity (linked under each program category below) or an outside resource.
Program Requirements
- All chapters are required to take Graduate Engagement, Philanthropy & Service and Success in College programming each year.
- Additional required Menu Experience programs depends upon the chapter’s Built to Lead Expectations sent via email at the beginning of the school year.
Program Categories
Belonging & Inclusion
Creating Connections for All Brothers
Belonging & Inclusion programming is vital to ensure all brothers feel like they belong within the Fraternity. It also supports brothers so they may become strong members of their campus and community.
Reporting Responsibility: Built to Lead or Belonging Chairman
Brotherhood Story Night: Our Journeys to the Bond
About Brotherhood Story Night
This interactive storytelling session invites brothers to share personal experiences of joining, growing and finding connection within Phi Gamma Delta. The session fosters deeper brotherhood by sharing personal stories that build empathy, highlight individual journeys, address challenges and inspire actions that strengthen belonging and inclusion within the Fraternity.
Resources:
About Brotherhood Through Beliefs
This program is designed to deepen connections within the Fraternity by celebrating the diverse faiths, cultures and traditions of its members. Through personal presentations, storytelling and group discussion, brothers gain understanding and appreciation for each other’s backgrounds. This fosters respect, inclusion and a stronger sense of belonging. The session emphasizes learning and sharing rather than debate, highlighting how diversity enriches the bonds of brotherhood.
Resources:
Graduate Engagement
Introduction to Graduate Brotherhood
Graduate Engagement gives undergraduates a variety of meaningful opportunities to engage with graduate brothers. It provides a sense of connection to the Fraternity post-graduation, preparing undergraduates for lifelong membership. Additionally, this programming allows undergraduate and graduate brothers to engage in healthy, semi-structured activities, while allowing graduates to give undergraduates advice for life after graduating. (All chapters are required to take this programming each year.)
Reporting Responsibility: Built to Lead or Graduate Relations Chairman
About Legacy Lunch & Learn
This program is an intergenerational Fraternity event where undergraduate and graduate brothers gather over lunch to share leadership lessons, professional insights and chapter history – to foster personal growth and strengthen lifelong brotherhood bonds. (Note: You may consider hosting this event at an existing chapter program like Homecoming.)
Resources:
- Program Guide (includes Conversation Questions)
Lunch & Learn: Wisdom Wednesday Webinars
About Lunch & Learn: Wisdom Wednesday Webinars
These programs are monthly virtual or in-person sessions where graduate brothers share valuable insights, real-world experiences and practical advice on topics such as leadership, conflict management, career balance and living the Fraternity’s values. Each session fosters connection across generations and strengthens brotherhood through continuous learning. (Optional Idea: Consider using this format as a “Lunch & Learn“ by inviting graduate brothers to attend in person rather than using the proposed virtual format.)
Resources:
About Professional Networking Mixer
This mixer brings together undergraduate brothers, graduate brothers and invited professional contacts for an evening of connection, career exploration and mentorship. This event strengthens the Fraternity’s lifelong network while expanding brothers’ access to professional opportunities across industries.
Resources:
Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years? (Mock Interview)
About Where Do You See Yourself in Five Years?
This interactive-facilitated program helps brothers identify strategies for researching a company before an interview; list the three main responsibility types a potential employer will likely ask questions about; and discuss formulating a response to situational questions.
Resources:
Leadership
Courageous Leaders Impacting Their Communities
Leadership programming focuses on key leadership skills that will be helpful throughout the undergraduate experience, as well as in brothers’ lives after graduation. It also helps brothers stand out on campus and in their careers. Completing this programming will help brothers build confidence as they explore leadership roles and develop ambitious professional goals.
Reporting Responsibility: Built to Lead Chairman.
Building a Chapter of Courageous Leaders
About Building a Chapter of Courageous Leaders
This graduate facilitated, interactive program gives participants the opportunity to examine the three elements of courageous leadership, practice courageous leadership with realistic scenarios, and develop a plan for the chapter to better fulfill Phi Gama Delta’s mission.
Resources:
About Building Trust
In this discussion-based program, Frances Frei, Harvard Business School professor and advisor to executives embarking on large-scale change initiatives, discusses how leaders can build trust, speak authentically and empower workers to do their best. Frei is a guest on the WorkLab podcast, where host Elise Hu has conversations with economists, technologists and researchers who explore the data and insights into why and how work is changing.
Resources:
Mission Possible: Understanding Your Personal Values & Mission
About Mission Possible
In this interactive facilitated program, brothers will be able to: identify their core values; describe how their core values can impact their collegiate experience; discuss the difference between a job and a purpose; and state their individual mission statements.
Resources:
- Program Guide
- Alternative Program – Defining Your Why: Personal Values & Purpose: This program helps brothers connect their personal values to how they lead, decide and communicate. Through realistic scenarios, discussion and reflection—grounded in the idea of purpose-driven leadership popularized by Simon Sinek—participants practice key leadership skills, clarify what motivates them and identify concrete ways to lead with intention in the chapter, on campus and beyond.
About the Problem With All Stars
Butler Bulldogs have a habit of shocking college basketball fans by beating top teams with far more talent. How do they do it? Adam Grant joins the team to talk about why stars are overrated, role players are underrated and how humility can go hand in hand with confidence. Also featuring “Moneyball” author Michael Lewis and Brad Stevens, coach of the Boston Celtics. (Format: Podcast and discussion.)
Resources:
- Program Guide
- Alternative Program – Build the Best Team: This interactive program challenges the “all-star” mindset and highlights why balanced, role-driven teams perform better. Guided by insights from Adam Grant, brothers participate in discussion and team-building scenarios to explore humility, self-awareness and the value of diverse strengths, helping chapters build stronger collaboration, shared leadership and a healthier team culture.
About Start With Why
Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership – starting with a golden circle and the question: “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Wright brothers. (Format: TED talk video and discussion.)
Resources:
- Program Guide
- Alternative Program – “Find Your Why” Chapter Challenge
Why Everyone Should See Themselves As a Leader
About Why Everyone Should See Themselves As a Leader
In this TEDTalk, Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei explains that trust is the foundation of strong leadership and relationships. She introduces a simple framework called the Trust Triangle, which says trust depends on three elements: authenticity (being genuine), logic (having sound reasoning and competence) and empathy (showing you care about others). When any of these elements weakens, trust begins to break down. Frei emphasizes that leaders can rebuild trust by identifying which part is “wobbling” and intentionally strengthening it through more transparent communication, better reasoning or greater care for others.
Resources:
Life Skills
Skills for the Modern Fraternity Man
Life Skills programming ensures brothers can confidently transition from living in a close-knit campus community to living independently and navigating common challenges not covered in traditional undergraduate education. This programming also supports brothers’ abilities to thrive in adulthood.
Reporting Responsibility: Built to Lead Chairman.
Ace the Interview: Strategies for Success
About Ace the Interview
This session helps brothers build practical, real-world interview skills they can immediately apply, including developing strong answers, improving communication, and mastering professional etiquette in an engaging, interactive and low-pressure setting.
Resources:
About Budget Basics
This interactive facilitated program ensures brothers can develop a budget for current expenses and describe values-based budgeting – including philanthropic giving.
Resources:
Communication & Pre-Interview Session
About Communication & Pre-Interview Session
This session helps brothers build practical, real-world interview skills they can use – preparing answers, practicing communication and mastering professional etiquette – while keeping it engaging, interactive and low-pressure. The goal is confidence, not perfection.
Resources:
Money Moves: Adulting Without Stress
About Money Moves
This session helps brothers build real-world financial skills (budgeting, saving and smart spending) they can use while keeping it engaging, competitive and low-pressure.
Resources:
About Getting Out of Debt
This interactive facilitated program helps members identify at least three steps they can take to address any current debt (Note: This program is a follow-up to Budget Basics).
Resources:
About I Have an Opinion!
This interactive facilitated program allows brothers to be able to list the steps for voter registration; describe the voting process and relevant timetables; access resources about political candidates; define healthy discourse; and demonstrate the ability to engage in healthy discourse.
Resources:
About Practical Car Care
In this interactive facilitated program members will be able to identify where a car’s washer fluid is; change wiper blades; describe how to check a car’s oil; describe the purpose of changing oil; describe how to jump a dead battery; demonstrate how to check tire pressure and refill its air; demonstrate how to change a tire; and discuss how to check all exterior lighting.
Resources:
Sticky, Slimy & Smelly (Housekeeping)
About Sticky, Slimy & Smelly
This interactive facilitated program ensures brothers can identify appropriate products to clean common household areas/items; discuss the frequency for cleaning common household areas/items; review sanitizing procedures for common issues; and describe the process for completing laundry.
Resources:
About Wait, I Have to Pay Taxes?
This interactive facilitated program helps brothers to identify documentation necessary for the tax process and list options for completing and submitting tax documentation.
Resources:
- Career connections with campus career center
- Cooking class with graduate brothers or campus/community kitchen
- Healthy relationships and violence prevention with campus health center
Philanthropy & Service
The Call to Serve Others
Service is one of Phi Gamma Delta’s five core values, and every brother participates in meaningful civic engagement and philanthropic work. (All chapters are required to take this programming each year.)
Reporting Responsibility: Built to Lead or Philanthropy/Service Chairman.
About Checklist for Volunteering
Brothers giving their time, talent and treasure are core ways our Fraternity can fulfill our value of service and make a positive impact on the community. This checklist will help your chapter complete a hands-on service activity that combines volunteering with fundraising, giving us the opportunity to support a meaningful cause, practice leadership and build chapter pride.
Resources:
About Host a Fundraiser
Through this program, brothers will understand the key steps needed to host a successful fundraiser while maintaining professionalism and the Fraternity’s values.
Resources:
- Host a fundraiser for one of Phi Gamma Delta’s philanthropic partners: Donate Life, Red Cross or the USO
- Coordinate a donor drive supporting the Immortal Phi Gam Project (organ and tissue donation)
- Volunteer at a local nonprofit
Success in College
Connecting with Resources
Success in College programming is designed to help brothers better utilize resources supporting their undergraduate experience, particularly with academic success. Attending certain on-campus activities may fulfill programming requirements. This programming also allows brothers to find tailored support as they strive for academic and personal excellence. (All chapters are required to take this programming each year.)
Reporting Responsibility: Built to Lead, Scholarship or Wellness Chairman.
About Behind Happy Faces
This peer-facilitated programming includes nine guided mental health conversations hosted by the Human Power Project. Specific content depends upon which lesson(s) are utilized.
Resources:
Graduate-Lead Hazing Discussion
About Graduate-Lead Hazing Discussion
The purpose of this program is to provide graduate brothers with a guide for a productive conversation with undergraduates about the “number one killer” of fraternity chapters. Learning outcomes are to define hazing and identify the types of activities that are considered hazing; show the conflict between hazing and our values; identify the consequences and risks of hazing; and set graduates’ expectations regarding member education and hazing.
Resources:
I Don't Have Time to Be Healthy: Introduction to Physical Wellness
About I Don’t Have Time to Be Healthy
Through this interactive facilitated program, brothers will be able to identify effective bodyweight exercises that can be done at home; list components of a healthy fitness regimen; recognize healthy alternatives to common snack foods; and discuss the importance of balanced nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Resources:
- Campus safety with campus police/safety
- Internship preparation
- Time management skills
Work & Play
Brotherhood Building Activities
Work & Play programming teaches brothers that life is meant to be experienced and is best experienced when they take care of themselves. The programs also encourage brothers to consider engaging in activities that promote physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Your chapter may select other Work & Play events with the approval of the Senior Director of Education.
Reporting Responsibility: Built to Lead, Scholarship or Wellness Chairman.
About Dinner Etiquette
Through this interactive facilitated program, brothers will learn how to correctly set a table for a meal with utensils and list common etiquette rules when dining with others.
Resources:
Escape Room: We Escaped, Now What?
About Escape Room
After participating in an escape room activity, brothers will: 1) recognize how the activity’s frustrations are similar to frustrations within the chapter; 2) discuss their contributions to the activity; and 3) identify ways their contributions mirror how they can contribute to their chapter.
Resources:
- Day hike or outdoor activity
- Game night
- Shared meal with rotating discussion questions
- Sports activities: football, basketball, e-sports, etc.
Program Planning Guide
Utilize the Built to Lead Program Planning Guide to track your chapter’s Menu Experiences programming.
Program Reporting
All Menu Experiences programming must be reported by the role listed in each program’s descriptions above.
Roles
Undergraduates: Brothers, Built to Lead Chairman
Graduate Advisor: BCA Built to Lead
