AFA values the preparation and development of graduate students and new professionals. As those who will keep the profession thriving, the AFA Annual Meeting intentionally creates spaces and designs programs specific to helping elevate the work of graduate students and new professionals. Below you will find programs curated to help graduate students and new professionals thrive!
Order of Omega Case Study Competition
Virtual Orientation: 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. ET Monday, November 25 [Zoom link]
Competition: 30-minute period between 10:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Thursday, December 5
No Cost
The Order of Omega Case Study Competition provides an educational learning experience for graduate students, headquarter consultants, and new professionals in the fraternity/sorority profession. The Case Study Competition provides participants the opportunity to reflect on their academic and/or practical learning and apply it to a case focused on a complex situation a professional in the field could encounter.
The Case Study Competition consists of two tracks: (1) Crisis Intervention and (2) Systemic Issue. Teams of two will work on one case study and the team will present to a panel of judges. The intended goal is for participants to develop in their core competencies by participating in the track focused on the area they are seeking knowledge and skill.
Participants should plan on attending the virtual orientation session, but a recording will be made available. Participating in the Case Study Competition will not impact participants’ or judges’ opportunities to attend educational sessions on Thursday.
This program is free to all graduate students and new professionals in attendance thanks to support provided by Order of Omega. The top three winning groups in each track will win $300, $200, and $100 respectively.
Registration for the Order of Omega Case Study Competition is first come, first serve. Please register on FSCentral through the 2024 AFA Add-On’s event registration form. Note: the maximum program registration is 28 individuals.
Project Job Search
4 -6 p.m. Thursday, December 5
Facilitators: Dee Hawks (Kansas State University) & Kevin Saberre (University of Texas at Dallas)
No Cost
Project Job Search is designed to enhance your internship or job search experience. Join us as we explore the employment journey – from resume & cover letter preparation, the interview process (including phone, Zoom, and on-site interviews), to the important art of negotiation. Project Job Search utilizes storytelling techniques and best practices to help you feel confident and prepared during your process. Participants will gain knowledge to enhance their resume and cover, questions to ask at different stages, negotiation tips, and strategies to identify your non-negotiables. Participants will leave with a personal action plan for their search experience.
Participation in Project Job Search is free to all graduate students and new professionals in attendance. Registration for the program is first come, first serve. Register for Project Job Search on FSCentral through the 2024 AFA Add-On’s event registration form.
Graduate Student and New Professionals Intensive Session
8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Friday, December 6
Facilitators: Kari Murphy (University of Kansas) and Ronald Atkinson (University of North Texas)
The Graduate Student and New Professionals Intensive Session is designed to help you explore the AFA Core Competencies and forge your path to success. There is a theoretical side and practical side to the role of every fraternity/sorority educator and both are valuable. You understand each end of the spectrum and put in the time to understand how they fit into the larger context of our profession. Graduate school may entrench you in the theory of higher education, but a practical approach is needed to build the skills and best practices of a proficient and successful fraternity/sorority professional.
This interactive and personalized experience will allow participants to develop their own professional development action plan utilizing the AFA Core Competencies. Participants will assess their current skills and through self-exploration, review of personal goals, reflection on passion projects, and collaborative conversations, develop an action-oriented blueprint to guide them through their next steps within our field. We will focus on current issues facing fraternity/sorority life professionals and provide strategies for practical application.
The Graduate Student and New Professionals Intensive Session is made possible through an endowment with the AFA Foundation made possible by the generous support of Michelle Guobadia.
Registration for the program is first come, first serve. Register for the Graduate Student and New Professionals Intensive Session on FSCentral through the AFA Add-On’s event registration form.
