Fraternities and sororities recognize the importance of holding members and chapters accountable. For decades, punitive sanctions that “helped members learn” were the golden standard. We focused on prohibiting behavior instead of preventing it; moreover, we viewed health and safety through a lens of adherence to pages and pages of dos and don’ts. Alongside the pandemic, organizations needed to adjust how they held members and chapters accountable—not only because the state of the world was different but because our collegians, part of Generation Z, were different. Generation Z is characterized by their desire to know “the why.” With this in mind, Alpha Delta Pi realized our chapter accountability model took a top-down discipline approach that minimized the chapter’s voice and emphasized doing instead of learning and failed to change behavior. Our chapters were frequently entangled with the discipline process, growing increasingly frustrated with their volunteer support teams and headquarters professionals.
In 2022, Alpha Delta Pi formed a team to deeply examine our accountability processes and identify ways to enhance their effectiveness. Our initial review indicated the traditional discipline process marginalized chapter officers’ voices, despite their understanding of how to best address issues with their chapter. Additionally, many chapter officers and advisors felt unequipped to address increasingly complex issues, leading to greater conduct issues within chapters. This feedback indicated a clear need to foster growth, learning, and sustainable positive change within our chapters’ member and chapter accountability processes.
The project team collaborated with chapter leaders, volunteers, industry experts, and campus partners to design an accountability process that met the needs of our members, elevated the input of our volunteers, and created opportunities for collegiate growth and development. After many rounds of feedback, the team launched a pilot to test the accountability process. We selected a chapter unable to adhere to organizational policies and procedures as a result of ongoing campus culture issues. We quickly noticed that providing collegians the opportunity to share their insights better served their chapters and empowered chapter leaders to lead change in their chapters.
This new process was designed to ensure that chapters meet high standards of conduct and performance, and foster an environment of growth through education and detailed support. The intentions of the Chapter Accountability process are threefold:to build stronger connections with the International Organization; to provide layered support from volunteers and staff; and to increase chapter ownership of accountability.
One of the core aspects of this new accountability process is the Educational Conference & Resolution Agreement. This meeting is designed to facilitate constructive conversation between chapter leaders and the team of volunteers and staff who support the chapter. The Educational Conference serves as a space where chapters can gain deeper insight into how their actions should align with the organization’s values, policies, and performance expectations. Rather than being a punitive tool, the process helps chapters understand their role within the larger organization and take responsibility for their actions. Additionally, chapters can tailor outcomes to their unique challenges while still adhering to the organization’s core values. To ensure that the responsibility for holding members accountable does not fall solely on the shoulders of the Chapter President, the Educational Conference includes the chapter’s executive board (executive officers and advisors). Their involvement promotes shared responsibility within the chapter, ensuring accountability is a collective effort of the sisterhood.
The Resolution Agreement includes an outcome determination based on a holistic view of each chapter’s performance and the incident. This approach is aligned with Alpha Delta Pi’s core values – Knowledge, Sisterhood, Character, and Service – and shows the chapter how they are affecting the larger organization. Chapters focus on addressing knowledge gaps through education before applying it in practice. This creates a structured plan for improvement, supporting chapters in making sustainable behavior changes.
Shared responsibility is further reinforced by volunteer involvement. Volunteers participate in the Educational Conference and the chapter’s outcome determination. By increasing the role of volunteers, Alpha Delta Pi ensures chapters receive the support they need to succeed while also allowing for a more personalized and impactful experience. Chapters provide feedback on the process during periodic check-ins with the volunteers. This supports Alpha Delta Pi’s desire to help chapters learn, grow, and foster positive relationships with volunteers and staff.
The revised Chapter Accountability process represents a significant shift toward a more collaborative and educational approach. By incorporating feedback from chapters, volunteers, and university partners, Alpha Delta Pi created an approach that fosters responsibility and supports positive behavior changes. This new model encourages chapters to engage actively in their own accountability, ensuring they are aligned with Alpha Delta Pi’s core values while intentionally addressing challenges.
About the Authors
Mary Flora, a member of Alpha Delta Pi, has worked in higher education since 2019. As the Assistant Director of Accountability & Harm Reduction, her focus is on enhancing members’ well-being and fostering responsible behavior within the sorority.
Ansley Long, a member of Tri Delta, has been with Alpha Delta Pi since 2021. As the Director of Collegiate Services, she focuses on supporting chapter operations, fostering member engagement, and enhancing the overall sorority experience for collegiate members.
