Greetings, chapter presidents:
We know you are each dealing with a number of needs and concerns as you manage your leadership role during this time, specifically the University guidance provided around COVID-19. You can always reach updated, accurate information at https://www.safety.colostate.edu/coronavirus.
Our staff is here to help you think through how your chapter will manage during this time, and we are sending this message to provide some basic information to guide your discussions. We also know your (inter)national organizations are providing guidance and communication, and encourage you to adhere to and review what is shared from that source as well.
It is very important to note that additional information will be shared by CSU in the coming days and weeks. Available information and guidance may change and there are still a number of questions that need to be addressed. Please stay connected to accurate information provided by email from CSU and via the website listed above.
Here is some insight about what the most recent updates from CSU mean for you:
- Travel: All university international and domestic travel that has not yet commenced is suspended effective March 23 through April 10. For fraternities/sororities that are planning on traveling between now and March 23, reconsidering travel and creating alternate plans is strongly advised. This might include regional or (inter)national conferences and retreats requiring travel. See additional information below about off campus events (like in-state retreats and formals).
- Events: All university events involving 20 or more external visitors (on-campus) or 20 or more people (off-campus), or targeted toward an at-risk population, including meetings, events, and gatherings, are suspended effective March 23 through April 10.
- While on-campus gatherings/events that don’t involve more than 20 external visitors are allowed (which might include chapter meetings, new member meetings, and more), we encourage chapters to think critically about the need to host events/meetings during this time. We also encourage you to consider those members of your chapter that will not physically be in Fort Collins due to the remote nature of classes. This may mean canceling or postponing all chapter events and meetings and/or conducting these meetings/events remotely.
- Philanthropy, fundraising, and social events are generally designed to bring in as many people as possible. Given that goal and university guidance, we recommend these events be cancelled or postponed through the April 10 date. If your chapter has a confirmed philanthropy/fundraising event registered in the March 23 to April 10, 2020 timeframe that you would like to reschedule or cancel, please contact fsl_csp@mail.colostate.edu.
- Follow guidance from your (inter)national organization regarding new member education or intake activities to consider how best to move forward during this time. This will likely include consideration of postponement of these events and meetings, which may require additional permission or exemptions be provided by your (inter)national organization.
- OFSL/Community Events: There are a number of community or office sponsored events, meetings, or workshops currently on the calendar between now and April 10. Communication will be sent to individuals or communities/chapters affected about how these events will be managed moving forward, but we do plan to either cancel, postpone, or manage these events remotely. That includes trainings, OWS workshops, and presidents forums.
- The programming Board will communicate today to chapters intending to participate in F/S Fest regarding their steps moving forward. The F/S Fest packet will not be sent out today and Programming Board will work to determine how to move forward in compliance with university guidance.
- Housing: For those organizations with a facility, we encourage you to work with your house corporation board and/or (inter)national organization regarding next steps. Many of your organizations have already issued communication to members living in the facility and have a plan moving forward. Each of these facilities are considered off campus, and all decision regarding the facilities should be made with house corporation boards and/or (inter)national organizations.
As you think about helping your membership manage during this time, we want to share a couple of thoughts about ways you and your chapter leadership and advisors can work to support members.
- Consider ways your chapter can support the academic success of your members while they are taking classes remotely. This shift may be difficult for some members who may benefit from support and the sharing of best practices.
- Think through how sisterhood/brotherhood can be maintained even without in-person gatherings. How can members check in on one another and build community remotely or in small groups?
- Connect members to resources if they need it. Students can still access resources and support through the CSU Health Network, and will be able to throughout the next several weeks. Encourage students to remain healthy, get sleep, eat well, and stay safe.
- While there may be more options provided by the institution moving forward, we encourage you to download the free version of Zoom to conduct meetings virtually as needed or use free conferencing services such as FreeConferenceCall.com. Your organization may have services like these already provided for you by your (inter)national organization. Think ahead about how you may utilize these resources to support your chapter during this time.
- We have linked two documents provided by CSU below that we encourage you to share with your chapter members widely and to print and post if you share physical space.
We know this situation continues to evolve, and we encourage you to keep checking reliable sources of information, including the CSU Website provided above, for up to date information. Our staff will continue to be a support to you, so please feel free to outreach to your chapter liaison or any staff member as you navigate the support and functioning of your chapter.
-Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life