Join us on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Va., for the AFA Research Writers’ Retreat!

AFA believes that strong fraternity/sorority research has a dramatic impact on defining successful practice of the fraternity/sorority profession. The AFA Research Writers’ Retreat is designed to bring together scholars and scholar-practitioners in community with the goal of advancing research in the fraternity/sorority experience. Attendees will connect with other fraternity/sorority researchers and strengthen their writing through intentionally-designed writing sessions, all under the access and support of the Research 1 VCU libraries. We’re excited to bring together scholars and scholar-practitioners for a week of inspiration, motivation, and writing!

The Interdisciplinary Institute for Hazing Prevention (IIHP) is an intensive, multi-day training experience that prepares up to 60 participants to use the principles of prevention to address hazing in their community or organization. The program is interdisciplinary, welcoming participants from various roles across higher education, inter/national organizations, public safety, academia, and more. Participants include campus and organization professionals, volunteers, and students.

The 2025 event is being held virtually through four sessions spanning two weeks. This format allows us to teach content in smaller portions and offer more coaching time with faculty while providing participants time to reflect, process, and apply lessons between sessions. Because you’ll be learning while doing, this is a chance to work with your team to rethink your hazing prevention work and develop plans for the fall.

Program Dates

July 15, 17, 22, and 24 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm CDT

To learn more and register, visit https://hazingprevention.institute/.

Funded in part through the generous support of the Chi Epsilon Educational Programming Endowment, this program will highlight experiences and challenges of LGBTQ+ students in higher education broadly. Participants will discuss concepts and strategies for creating an inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ students in higher education and consider how these may be applied to fraternity/sorority settings.

This program is the second of three sessions in the Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in Fraternal Organizations program series. This program series is intended to be an institute-style experience such that the content builds on itself. Registered participants will receive access to the live webinar and on-demand recording for one year after the session.

Continuing Education

Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd) may obtain CE credits for attending this program. This program is eligible for Core, Social Justice and Inclusion (SJI), or Fraternity Sorority Life specialty (FSL) credit [1 credit].

AFA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd). Programs that qualify for CE credit in this program will be clearly identified. AFA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.

From executive orders and immigration enforcement, to student protests and funding cuts, each day has brought new challenges to campus communities. At both the federal and state levels, lawmakers are targeting higher education in legislation like the “Big Beautiful Bill,” putting at risk any remaining sources of funding. Now more than ever, campus-based professionals are increasingly finding themselves being asked to do more with significantly less.

This Legal and Legislative Update will focus on the rapidly changing landscape for education funding. Presenters will explore different types of funding cuts affecting colleges and universities, and what campuses are doing in response. We hope participants will identify one creative approach to advocate for existing funding and to help fill financial gaps on their campuses.

AFA Legal & Legislative Updates are designed to provide professionals with knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape that impacts the work of fraternity/sorority professionals. Presented in partnership with Fraternity/Sorority Law Group and TA Strategies, these updates are designed to equip our professional community with a foundational knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape impacting the work of fraternity/sorority professionals and fraternity/sorority experiences. These live, virtual updates focus on covering proposed or recently enacted legislation and relevant court decisions and case law that may impact the fraternity/sorority community and the professionals who support them.

During this program, funded in part through the generous support of the Chi Epsilon Educational Programming Endowment, participants will share and discuss advanced strategies for supporting LGBTQ+ students in fraternities and sororities. Presenters will define key concepts related to transgender identity and experiences and share guidance and practical solutions for addressing transgender issues within fraternity/sorority life. The session will wrap up with a brief discussion about opportunities to assess the impact of LGBTQ+ member support initiatives. This session will engage participants through interactive activities, group discussions, and expert insights, encouraging active learning and collaboration among advisors. 

This program is the third of three sessions in the Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in Fraternal Organizations program series. This program series is intended to be an institute-style experience such that the content builds on itself. Registered participants will receive access to the live webinar and on-demand recording for one year after the session.

Continuing Education

Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd) may obtain CE credits for attending this program. This program is eligible for Core, Social Justice and Inclusion (SJI), or Fraternity Sorority Life specialty (FSL) credit [1 credit].

AFA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd). Programs that qualify for CE credit in this program will be clearly identified. AFA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.