Perspectives to Practice: Continued Engagement

On average, American adults process 34 gigabytes (more than 100,000 words) of information daily. Our lives are flooded with Google searches, YouTube videos, Facebook and Twitter posts, and a never-ending feed of suggested reading, watching and listening. Media consumption is a constant task — conscious and subconscious — to separate the trivial from the significant, process new information, and discern meaning.

Perspectives provides a forum for ideas, opinions and experiences that is thought provoking and innovative; shares new information; highlights best practices; and challenges thought. As a quarterly publication, we recognize Perspectives is a microscopic part of your general — and professional — information consumption reality. We want to ensure the content published in Perspectives is communicated, positioned and promoted in a way to maximize impact by encouraging continued discussion and informing practical application.

“From Perspectives to Practice” aims to provide a guide for learning through a focus on continued discussion, engagement and action. You’ll find this section at the end of each issue. We hope it helps you critically examine the viewpoints offered, make meaning of the content, and identify ways for further engagement through applying the ideas in these pages to your everyday practice.

Making the Most of this Publication

1. Engage with the content : Read the article more than once, and as you are reading, do the following:

Identify one important concept, research finding, theory, or idea you learned. Determine why you identified that piece of information as important. Apply what you learned from the article to some aspect of your work. Take it a step further: What question(s) does the article raise for you? What are you still wondering about? What do you agree or disagree with?

2. Reflect : What stood out to you in each article? What new information was presented? Did you experience any “aha” moments?

3. Share & Discuss : Take those highlights and insights and discuss them with friends. Share them with stakeholders. Create an idea pipeline and see how the concept(s) evolve.

4. Write About It : Did something resonate with you? Frustrate you? Did reflection lead to brilliance? Put those thoughts into words and add your own viewpoints to the discussion.

5. Put it into practice : What is a key takeaway that can inform your work? How can you take that information and apply it? What is realistic? What is a longer term goal?

Using Data to Make Better Arguments

Discussion Question: Reflect upon a time you presented a proposal for a new program, increased resources, or method for accomplishing work in your area. What data did you utilize to inform that proposal? Was it well-received? If not, what information from the article can help improve the proposal process?

Discussion Question: The author notes it is important to focus on collecting data that leads to achieving mission priorities. Think about your current priorities. What data do you need to achieve those priorities? What avenues exist for collecting that data?

Determining Priorities in Fraternity/Sorority Life Assessment

Discussion Question: It can be difficult to prioritize assessment among the many other tasks associated with working in fraternity and sorority life. Think about your role, office, department, division, etc. Is assessment prioritized? If not, how can you begin to place increased emphasis on assessment?

Discussion Question: What assessment priorities exist for the fraternity and sorority community you support? What assessment must occur to inform and achieve those priorities?

The Data at Your Fingertips

Discussion Question: What data would be helpful to advance the mission and vision of your area or organization? What individuals or organizations may already have those data available to share?

Discussion Question: What barriers exist in your use of data? What is one thing that would make managing the data collection or management process easier?

Maximizing the Effectiveness of Your External Review

Discussion Question: The author emphasizes the importance of a self-study prior to an external review and suggests it is likely the most neglected component of reviews. If you were preparing for an external review, what steps would be necessary to conduct a self-study to clarify framework and set reviewers up for success?

Discussion Question: The author warns stakeholders about avoiding placing expectations for a final report on the review team prior to the process. Consider your own workplace or community. What potential expectations could arise prior to an external review that you must be aware of to avoid influencing the review process?

Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform

Discussion Question: The Timothy J. Piazza Center for Fraternity and Sorority Research and Reform builds upon the notion that increased and improved research is needed to create sustainable change within the fraternity and sorority experience. How can your workplace, organization, or company utilize resources provided by the Piazza Center now and in the future?

Discussion Question: One early product of the Piazza Center is a National Fraternity and Sorority Scorecard (NFSS) to create common reporting practices in fraternity and sorority advising. What benefits does a common reporting practice provide? What challenges exist? What avenues exist for addressing those challenges?

30 Years of UIFI

Discussion Question: This article showcases how data informs programmatic evolution and improvement over time. Think about a hallmark program your office or organization hosts. How is data gathered and utilized to continually improve the program?

Discussion Question: The article notes data shows the greatest impacts from UIFI on students are the ritual-based conversations and accountability discussions. Is this surprising? How can that insight be utilized in educational program creation on campus or within organizations?

Writing and Retreating: Our Perspective on the AFA Oracle Writers Retreat 2019

Discussion Question: This article showcases how disconnecting from the day-to-day can spark creativity, big picture thinking, and problem solving. How can you find time to separate yourself from the day-to-day to focus on generating new ideas and methods?

Discussion Question: This article demonstrates the art of storytelling in describing an experience and conveying a message. How can you utilize storytelling to communicate experiences — personally and professionally — to increase the impact of a message?

Hi, Values-Based Recruitment. Meet Research-Based Recruitment.

Discussion Question: Establishing deep connection takes time. In recognizing the NPC formal recruitment process is not structured to allow for the time needed to do this, how can data be used - at the organizational and campus levels - to better prepare chapters to identify shared priorities and engage in meaningful discussions?

Discussion Question: The author suggests several means for measuring what chapters need such as a formalized assessment process, observations of chapter operations, staff or volunteer reports, and/or focus groups. Depending on current assessment strategies, what methods for measuring chapter needs currently exist and how can you utilize that data to inform a more research-based approach to member recruitment and/or intake?

Identity Work in Online Fraternal Spaces

Discussion Question: The author notes “online platforms allow fraternity and sorority members the opportunity to engage in identity work - a process through which people manage and revise their identities.” Recognizing student identity work is occurring in both physical and virtual spaces, how can professionals adapt current practices to account for the evolving lived experiences of students beyond physical spaces?

Discussion Question: The author describes identity work as a “personal endeavor,” “socializing process,” and “community effort.” How does this multi-layered approach inform advising; especially of those with marginalized identities that increasingly turn to online spaces for social support?

Building Better Brotherhood: A Data-Based Approach to Membership Development

Discussion Question: This article showcases what is possible when professionals engage students in conversations about data-driven decisions and membership experiences. How can we work to ensure student leaders have avenues to participate in this work?

Discussion Question: What insights can be taken from this article to inform future conversations with student leaders on how to increase engagement, feedback, and ownership within the chapter experience?

A New Rite of Passage: Fraternity Men as Sexual Violence Prevention Educators

Discussion Question: Who primarily attends and/or leads sexual violence prevention education programs offered within your communities? What message does program marketing communicate? Reflect upon programs offered and audiences involved, and identify three areas for improvement based on this article.

Discussion Question: The author references 27 “life skills” that can be utilized to invite male-identifying individuals into conversations about sexual violence prevention. How can these thematic areas be infused into current programs to increase engagement for men and/or male-identifying students?

Using a Chapter Health Index to Support Our Students

Discussion Question: The Chapter Health Index is based on four categories that contribute to a “healthy” chapter at CWRU: Community Standards, Community Involvement, Recruitment/Retention, and Academics. In thinking about the community you work with, what categories would you use or create to define and assess chapter health?

Discussion Question: This article focuses on new professionals’ perceptions. As you welcome new professionals into your office, department, organization, and/or company, what questions can you ask to ensure a productive working environment for entry-level staff?

CONTINUED ACTION

1. Read and/or consider contributing to upcoming editions of Essentials and Oracle.

2. Select an article to discuss at an upcoming staff or division meeting, council meeting, with students, etc. — use it as a discussion topic to kick off the meeting and then share the conversation’s outcome with the hashtag #AFAPerspectives.

3. Review the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Core Competencies and identify ways the content relates or doesn’t relate — how can you use the information gained to continue to build your professional competence?

4. Circulate an article that resonates with stakeholders based on your campus, organization, vendor, or company’s circumstances.

5. Look outside of the industry — what concepts relate, challenge, or inform our thinking and practice? Who else can we learn from?

6. Reflect and write for a future issue: Perspectives is getting a refresh in 2020! Keep an eye out for information about exciting changes coming to the publication next year and email borton@deltau.org or brookegoodman01@gmail.com with questions, article ideas, and submissions.

7. Stay curious: Ask questions, challenge ideas, and see how this content can spark ongoing thought and practice.