About the New Model to Build Courageous Leaders
Phi Gamma Delta is focused on the future. The future of our organization, the future of recruitment and the future of our members all start with a new model to Build Courageous Leaders.
Phi Gamma Delta moved away from the pledging model of joining in favor of a modern approach to recruitment, assimilation and member development. In August 2022, the delegates to the 174th Ekklesia voted to eliminate pledging in Phi Gamma Delta, allowing us to implement the new model, Built to Lead.
Why the new model?
We recognized the need to create innovative ways to become a Phi Gam to eliminate hazing, strengthen the Fraternity with a smart-growth philosophy, and enhance the undergraduate experience for years to come. We established the new model to support these efforts by reducing the power dynamics associated with traditional pledging; strengthening our values-based recruitment model to identify fully evaluate prospective members before inviting them to join; and extending learning beyond the first 6-8 weeks of membership to teach brothers how to be courageous leaders.
How we build courageous leaders with the new model?
We developed Built to Lead as a part of the new model. Built to Lead is a multilevel member development experience beginning on the first day of affiliation and extending throughout the undergraduate experience. The program helps brothers build and strengthen the skills necessary to lead with courage.
Learn more about Built to Lead planning, programs & resources:
What are our results of implementation?
2022-23 Academic Year
In the first year, over 40% of undergraduate chapters began implementation. Results and feedback from 2022-23 chapters have been generally positive. It can, and does, take chapters time to plan and adjust their recruitment and member development techniques. However, once they do, chapters are seeing success.
Preliminary data suggests two significant themes:
- Chapters are initiating more men and retaining them at a greater rate than their historical four-year average and compared to chapters that have not adopted the new model.
- Chapters are not always inviting more men to join; however, they are initiating more and being more selective about who they invite to join.
Chapters are sharing numerous anecdotal successes as well, suggesting they are attracting recruits who would not have been interested under the traditional pledging model. Also, new initiates are becoming engaged in their chapters more quickly. This leads to early successes in increasing retention – though data over time will be used to better measure these results.
2023-24 Academic Year
Through the fall 2023 academic term, an additional 45 chapters began implementation, meaning 73% of chapters have adopted the new model as of November 2023.
The Fraternity anticipates additional chapters to begin implementation in late fall 2023 and early spring 2024 so more than 85% of chapters will implement before it is required on July 1, 2024.
Testimonial Form
Share your chapter’s Built to Lead success stories using the form below:
FAQs
Why did Phi Gamma Delta implement the new model?
The Fraternity recognized the need to develop innovative ways to become a Phi Gam, which bolster our efforts to eliminate hazing, strengthen the Fraternity with a smart-growth philosophy and enhance the undergraduate experience. This process resulted in the development of the new model.
Among the benefits, the new model:
- Puts a greater emphasis on quality, values-based recruitment to identify and attract good men, including those who would not have typically availed themselves during formal rush
- Shifts the mindset of initiation so it’s the beginning of a man’s PGD journey, not a goal at the end of pledgeship
- Better assimilates and engages brothers throughout their undergraduate experience
- Reduces the power dynamic associated with traditional pledging and at the heart of hazing activities
With the decline of male college enrollment, and a significant portion of college men holding a negative perception of fraternities, Phi Gamma Delta’s future success relies on providing a joining experience free from hazing and retaining members with meaningful development throughout their college years.
When are chapters required to implement the new model? What happened before that time?
On August 13, 2022, the 174th Ekklesia amended Fraternity Laws to immediately allow for initiation without pledging and to eliminate the pledge status and pledging process at all chapters by July 1, 2024.
Chapters were provided a two-year implementation window to give chapters time to plan their transition. Chapters that continued to pledge members until July 1, 2024 were required to limit the new member period to a maximum of four weeks and utilize Foundation of Courage as its new member education program.
When are chapters expected to initiate members under the new model?
Chapters must initiate new members within four days of accepting an invitation to join. If acceptance occurs prior to an academic term, then the new member must be initiated within four days after the beginning of the next academic term.
Will chapters be expected to initiate members without evaluating them?
Just the opposite. The new model helps a chapter make a full, honest evaluation of a man before he is invited to join. Through quality recruitment efforts, chapters will often take a much longer time to get to know a prospective member and determine if he is a good fit based upon the chapter’s joining criteria and the Fraternity’s values.
Do other fraternities operate with a no-pledging joining model?
As of 2022, Phi Gamma Delta became the seventh men’s fraternity to adopt a non-pledging joining model. The other organizations are Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Kappa Lambda, Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Zeta Beta Tau.
Will the new model eliminate hazing?
Hazing is a problem that extends well beyond fraternities. Research suggests 50% of men have experienced hazing before coming to college. We recognize the elimination of pledging is not a complete solution. However, combined with continual efforts in education and accountability, it is a significant step to prevent hazing by changing the power dynamics inherent in the pledging / probationary model.
How does the new model work with campus/IFC recruitment policies and rules?
While many campuses and/or IFCs have recruitment policies, few have such strict rules that chapters cannot choose to get to know men better over an extended period. In fact, our experience so far has been that many barriers chapters perceive do not exist, and no campus/IFC policy prohibits implementation of our Growth System or recruitment strategies.
Chapter Coaches also assist chapters by working with the campus to navigate these policies and develop a customized plan.
Simply put, by not solely relying on the campus formal recruitment period to attract new members, the new model helps chapters to identify new recruitment pipelines rather than a “rushed” process where time to learn about men is limited. Member recruitment becomes a more natural process of building friendships, learning backgrounds and inviting members to join – regardless of time of year.
Where chapters continue to participate in the campus formal recruitment, they will make efforts to get to know prospects before the period begins or wait to invite them to join until they are comfortable and have made a full membership evaluation. Also, new recruitment education will help our members develop more meaningful relationships in a shorter amount of time.
Yes. The new model does not abandon education and learning. It embraces it and makes it a significant part of how a chapter operates. Built to Lead programming extends learning about the Fraternity beyond the first 6-8 weeks of membership (which is the typical length of a pledging model). It is also more intentional when engaging brothers throughout their undergraduate experience.
Built to Lead also focuses on the whole chapter, not just the pledge class. It provides brothers with opportunities and skills that fit them where they are in their undergraduate careers, providing value throughout their fraternity experience.
How will new members bond without pledging?
The new model helps chapters have better, stronger bonding experiences between all members. A primary focus of Foundation of Courage (the first year of Built to Lead) is helping our newest members forge bonds with ALL brothers, not just a pledge class. This early assimilation into the full chapter will improve retention and engagement of new members.
How will chapters evaluate academic performance without getting grades prior to initiation?
The best predictor of future performance is past performance. In recruitment, chapters will set standards to evaluate a man’s commitment to our our value, knowledge. Without over-programmed pledge activities, brothers should have plenty of time to focus on their academics. Additionally, they can draw upon the experiences of mentors and upperclassmen and will be held to the same academic expectations of all the chapter’s members.
There are many ways graduates and friends can assist Phi Gamma Delta and its chapters with the new model, Built to Lead.
- Make your support known to your chapter and the graduates advising it.
- Provide direct support to an undergraduate chapter as a BCA Built to Lead, Foundation of Courage or Recruitment advisor. The support of advisors, beyond the Purple Legionnaire, is important to our chapters’ success with Built to Lead. Contact us to learn more.
- Make a gift to support Built to Lead programming. Your gift will help Phi Gamma Delta best equip the next generation of Courageous Leaders and provide this programming to chapters.
