Academy

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.

This registration is for brothers attending only the Pig Dinner on Saturday, January 4.

Register for Pig Dinner Now

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.

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.

Facilitator: Jade Metcalf

Discover how to create impactful change by learning how executives use purpose-driven leadership to identify key initiatives and the core motivations that help inspire their teams to act. 

Facilitator: Mike Rosen

Gain essential insights into managing your finances with confidence. This session is designed to be repeatable with your members and will cover foundational financial skills to help you make informed decisions, plan for the future, and achieve your personal financial goals.  

Facilitator: Mitch Sonnen (Idaho 1986)

Curious how one chapter transformed their Pig Dinner from a gathering of 38 to a record-breaking 508 person event? Join this session to explore the best practices, strategies, and innovative ideas that led to their success. Whether you’re looking to boost attendance or deepen graduate connections, learn how to bring your graduates back and keep them coming year after year! 

Facilitator: Duke Murphy (Coastal Carolina University 2011)

Explore strategies for building meaningful partnerships that drive impactful service and philanthropy initiatives. This session will provide insights on aligning values, fostering collaboration, and creating programs that leave a lasting legacy in your community. 

Facilitator: Amelious Whyte (Minnesota Faculty)

This workshop will take a deep dive into several skills that are important for career readiness when searching for internships and jobs, as well as being a successful applicant to graduate or professional school. Participants will learn how to enhance their networking skills, how to secure strong letters of recommendation, and how to tell their story (including what they have gained from Phi Gamma Delta membership) effectively during interviews and when writing personal statements.

Facilitator: Daylon Weddle (DePauw 2017), Associate Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life at DePauw University

Fraternity is about brotherhood but how do we bring people together?  This session will dive into how your chapter can host Work & Play events with intentional outcomes that enhance performance, build stronger brotherhood, and create memorable experiences. 

Your wellbeing is the foundation of your success and happiness. This session dives into the 8 Dimensions of Wellness—Social, Emotional, Spiritual, Intellectual, Physical, Environmental, Financial, and Occupational—and explores how each dimension contributes to a balanced, fulfilling life. Participants will reflect on their own wellness across these areas and leave with practical strategies to enhance their self-care.  

True brotherhood starts with a sense of belonging, and fostering that connection requires intentional reflection and collaboration. Participants will use the Social Identity Wheel to explore how their personal identities shape their leadership style and approach to fostering inclusion. Drawing inspiration from Carin Taylor’s PEACE framework—Psychological Safety, Empathy, Acceptance, Connection, and Embraced—attendees will uncover actionable strategies to create environments where every brother feels valued and supported.  

Explore how a fair and effective judicial process can uphold standards while fostering personal development. This session will provide an overview of The Fraternity’s member accountability procedures, focusing on creating sanctions that are not only appropriate for the violation but also serve as opportunities for growth and improvement. Come to learn strategies for turning challenges into teachable moments and reinforcing a culture of responsibility within your chapter. 

Hazing prevention is often singularly centered around the things you can’t do. “Don’t do this or it’s hazing…”, “You can’t do this or it could be hazing…”, the list goes on and on. Join Archie Messersmith-Bunting as we flip that script and talk about what we can do, what should be expected from every member development program, and what all fraternities & sororities should be providing through their onboarding process. Redefine onboarding by exploring your Member Bill of Rights—highlighting what every chapter should offer through their member onboarding program. 

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.