SigEp Stakeholders Report: EDGE 2013-14

STAKEHOLDERS REPORT: EDGE 2013-14

edge EDGE sparked the idea that SigEp goes far beyond my chapter. Before attending EDGE, it never really registered that SigEp isn’t like any other organization you can join in college. It’s a lifestyle. We have our rituals and our letters, but if you boil it down it’s all about becoming the best man you can be. EDGE helped me realize this and ever since I’ve tried to apply this idea every day. ” —Jack Emery, University of Arizona SEC

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SIGEP STAKEHOLDER REPORT 2014 | SIGEP.ORG

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n the 2013-2014 academic year 3,822 of our newest members had the opportunity, just like Jack, to experience EDGE. When a young man joins SigEp, he begins to learn what the SigEp lifestyle is all about.

While these brothers come from different backgrounds and universities, they share important qualities:

EDGE addresses these shared attributes head-on. When an individual joins a new organization, their first few weeks will shape their perception of what they will consider normal behavior. Both long-term loyalty and habits, either positive or negative, are formed during this pivotal transition. When we capitalize on this time for new members, SigEp is more likely to retain, engage and maximize the talents of these young brothers. Unfortunately, historically on average, 38.5% of our new members do not attend EDGE. When men don’t have this experience, we miss our opportunity to spark the idea that SigEp is more than just a fraternity; it’s a lifestyle.

What are the qualities of a first year male?

They are going through an important time in their lives, transitioning from a structured school and home environment to a college environment filled with choices and temptations that can hinder their personal health and success.

They enter college with preconceived notions about fraternity life based on the negative stereotypes perpetuated by Hollywood and the media.

They have a limited knowledge of SIGEP’S scope, size, history, and timetested values.

EDGE exists to: • Help men overcome obstacles they will face in college • Create a foundation for a successful life in college and beyond • Introduce men to the SigEp lifestyle and the values and choices that come with it • Make new members more aware of how their choices as men affect themselves and their fraternity • Teach men critical leadership skills that will help them excel in SigEp and their everyday lives

To learn more, visit sigep.org/edge

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the edge experience EDGE has the potential to shape the path new members take throughout their collegiate career. As a result, considerable time and resources are invested to ensure every new member has an impactful experience. This process begins by making EDGE accessible to our members. We work hard to hold EDGE on dates that maximize attendance and at locations which enhance the experience. The semester long EDGE schedule is created based on research of important events that impact a chapter’s calendar such as sporting events, homecomings and university breaks. By doing this research early, we help minimize the number of schedule conflicts and maximize the number of attendees.

Today, EDGE takes place at retreats centers and campsites across the country.

These venues are chosen based on distance from chapters attending, American Camp Association accreditation, guidance from University Greek Life Offices, and feedback from facilitators and past EDGE participants.

Once participants arrive at EDGE, they are introduced to the curriculum by a group of dynamic facilitators. As college students’ needs have changed, the curriculum has grown and evolved to address them. EDGE currently consists of a series of large and small group sessions with themes that directly align with the areas of development of the Balanced Man Program. These developmental themes include SigEp, personal, professional, leadership, sound mind, and sound body. During these sessions, facilitators use interactive activities and peer-topeer discussions to provide new members the tools they need to successfully transition into the SigEp and collegiate world. EDGE consists of 6 sessions that both enhance and complement each attendee’s development experience at their own chapter:

√ Brothers in SigEp have a lot of things in common, the most important of which is a shared set of values that define how we act and how we judge what is important in life. In the session titled My Values and Why They Matter, participants discuss how their values impact their lives and begin to realize how their values are congruent with of the cardinal principals of SigEp

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SIGEP STAKEHOLDER REPORT 2014 | SIGEP.ORG

√ When men join SigEp, they are expected to serve as leaders in their chapters and on their campus.

Leadership can be defined in a variety of ways and being a leader does not always mean holding a leadership position.

Throughout Leadership: It Begins With Me men learn what it takes to lead and begin to develop their own leadership skills through interactive activities and in depth discussion.

√ Everyone has a different vision of success. No matter the new member’s vision, My Roadmap for Success helps these new SigEps make it a reality.

Men create short and long term goals, build a roadmap for the future, and start to learn how SigEp can help them develop as young professionals. This is where new members are first given the knowledge and tools to achieve their aspirations as SigEps.

√ There are many obstacles and challenges that a man will face upon entering college. One of the most taboo subjects is the challenge of actually being a man and understanding what that means. During Man Up! participants discuss and become more aware of the role that their choices play in their lives and how those choices ultimately influence their perception of masculinity.

√ During the Camp Fire men have the opportunity to learn about our founding as facilitators share their experience with SigEp. Participants discuss why they decided to join and leave the camp fire feeling empowered by the fact that they made the great decision to join Sigma Phi Epsilon.

√ SigEp’s time tested mission is to build balanced men. Men achieve this balance through the development of both a sound mind and a sound body.

Throughout the previous sessions, men participate in critical discussion that helps shape a sound mind. During the Sound Body Workout, brothers are challenged to push themselves to learn what it means to have a sound body through a variety of physical activities.

The EDGE curriculum must be delivered by dynamic facilitators for it to have the highest impact. Consequently, staff makes a considerable investment in facilitator selection and preparation. All facilitators are prepared for EDGE through a conference call which is organized and facilitated by the volunteer lead for their program. Lead facilitators are typically volunteers with an extensive background in education, the fraternity, and/or facilitation and program execution. During these calls, facilitators become familiar with their roles on site, the overall schedule, and how to best prepare for EDGE. Updates that have been made to the program are discussed and facilitators are given an opportunity to ask questions and share best practices. Providing this opportunity for facilitators to connect and learn from each other allows for a more cohesive program experience.

REACH When EDGE was founded in 2000 as “New Member Camp” it was intended to lessen the risk management problems resultant from substance abuse involving new members. From 2001 through 2004, the program went through several iterations which helped shape the current experience.

Some important additions that were made to the program included discussions of SigEp history, the ritual, and a general introduction to the fraternity. A full time headquarters staff member was hired to coordinate “New Member Camp” and work with various committees composed of key alumni and volunteers to continue to improve the experience. During this time there was over a 200% increase in the overall program attendance.

In 2004, the title “New Member Camp” was changed to EDGE and the program took on a new direction. From 20042009, the purpose of EDGE was to educate new members on how to live their best life. This mission, coupled with our cardinal principles and the balanced man ideal, took a holistic approach to providing new members with insight, thoughts, and resources to be as successful as possible in both SigEp and college. The health and safety of our brothers has always been and will always be a huge priority. By providing these tools to new members, they would be more apt to do the right thing and less likely to put themselves in risky and harmful situations throughout their time in college and

in their lives after graduation. Fitness professionals were recruited as keynotes to deliver their insights on what it means to be a balanced man.

EDGE took place over one, two or three days at both campsites and college campuses. Feedback from participants strongly endorsed more engaging and active sessions.

In the spring of 2009 funding for EDGE was reduced due to the economic downturn. From spring 2009 to spring 2010, EDGE was shortened to a one day program held on college campuses.

Over that period EDGE attendance decreased by a staggering 45% and received its lowest satisfaction ratings ever from facilitators, volunteers, and participants.

As a result of an improving market and generous donations from our alumni, funding was restored for the 20102011 academic year. Between spring 2009 and spring 2010 it was clear that EDGE had begun to acquire a negative reputation. Something had to be done to bolster enthusiasm and rebuild the positive brand recognition that once existed. EDGE once again consisted of overnight programs and in early 2012 fraternity staff and volunteers revisited the EDGE curriculum to develop a new look and feel for the program.

All of the content was updated based on the most relevant research in higher education as well as feedback from volunteers, EDGE faculty, and past participants. In its first full year (2012-2013), the new curriculum was met with positive feedback from both facilitators and participants. Overall,

they found this new curriculum to be more engaging and relevant to new members. Since then, there have been further improvements made to address the evolution of programming provided by colleges and universities and a shift in the needs and expectations of new college students. In the 2013-2014 academic year the following changes were made: • Every session was updated to be more experiential by including more interactive activities and cutting down on time spent lecturing.

• Headquarters staff worked with an expert in the leadership field to refine “Leadership: It Begins with Me” to make it more impactful and relevant.

• More multimedia was included to help provide a base for the discussion of topics such as values and male stereotypes (ex. movie clips).

• More relevant discussion topics that are affecting our new members today were added (ex. Total Frat Move) to show the lack of congruency between our Creed and TFM. The 2013-2014 EDGE season had the largest reach since the program’s inception in 2000. The number of programs, the overall attendance and the number of new members attending EDGE all increased dramatically.

Since spring 2012, the number of new members attending EDGE has nearly tripled, providing more new members than ever before the opportunity to develop a framework for a healthy

lifestyle, gain the tools to help them through this vital transition time, and experience SigEp beyond just their local chapter.

2013-2014 3822 OVERALL ATTENDANCE

NEW MEMBERS 2600

2012-2013 3069 OVERALL ATTENDANCE

NEW MEMBERS 1960

2011-2012 3102 OVERALL ATTENDANCE

NEW MEMBERS 1834

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impact While these statistics show the influence that EDGE has on both a chapter and national level, they fail to fully communicate the impact that EDGE has on the individual members who attend. The testimonies below give a small glimpse of the large significance this experience has in the lives of our members:

New members, on average, comprise about 40% of our undergraduate membership.

When they leave EDGE, the vast majority agree that they have a better understanding of how values impact their lives, how to be an effective leader, and how to create relevant goals that will shape their lives. Men are more aware of how their choices impact their lives and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. When new members attend EDGE, we can be more confident that the future of SigEp rests in good hands.

EDGE not only has an impact on the individuals participating in the program, it also positively impacts our organization on a national level.

When EDGE was founded in 2000 it was meant to decrease the amount of risk that SigEp is put in as a result of poor decisions made by our newest members. We wanted to empower them to speak up against negative behaviors such as binge drinking and hazing so that they could begin to rid these actions from our organization. Although the means by which we accomplish this has changed, the result remains the same.

The graph below illustrates the relationship between EDGE attendance and total number of insurance claims. There is a clear correlation between EDGE participation and the number of insurance claims. The relationship shows that as EDGE participation increases, the number of claims incurred decreases.

In fall 2009 and spring 2010 the reach of EDGE decreased dramatically.

To show the impact that EDGE has on risk management, we analyzed the incident report data from that academic year. In 2009-2010 there were 103 risk management incidents reported by 72 chapters. 65% of those incidents occurred at chapters who had not attended EDGE that year. Of that 65%, almost half of the chapters had not participated in EDGE in fall 2008 or spring 2009. This shows that when men attend EDGE, they are better equipped to make healthy choices and live a balanced life.

2009-2010

Risk Mgt.*

Sexual Assault

Hazing

Alcohol Violation

Attended EDGE

15

6

3

9

Did not Attend EDGE

32

3

14

21

Total

47

9

17

30

3500

25 20

EDGE ATTENDANCE

2500

15

INSURANCE CLAIMS

2000 1500

10

1000 5

500

0

0 2000

2001

2002

2003

SIGEP STAKEHOLDER REPORT 2014 | SIGEP.ORG

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

INSURANCE

EDGE ATTENDANCE

3000

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*Includes: fighting, drug use, weapons and other risk management violations

EDGE showed me what it means to be a SigEp. When I joined the fraternity, I thought I was just joining a brotherhood with a bunch of guys.

Throughout the weekend I learned a lot about who SigEp expects me to be in terms of a man and a brother. ” —Joseph Mehlhaff, Marquette ‘17

I love being able to have a positive impact on the men who attend EDGE from across the region. Every time I leave an EDGE, I feel like I’ve made a difference in their lives.

Having the opportunity to volunteer at one or two chapters is a humbling experience, but being an EDGE facilitator confirms why I continue to support SigEp.”

I am a 31 year old Marine Corps Veteran and currently on my second bachelor’s degree... Learning leadership and growing as a student and a man may seem a bit redundant for someone like me but I really did enjoy EDGE. As a former Marine sniper I firmly believe in training and going back to the basics.

A lot of EDGE was going back to the basics for me and was very refreshing and made me realize how far I have come and how much I can continue to grow as a man.”

—Benjamin Hallstrom, Florida State ‘17

—Joel Saslaw, CSUSacramento ‘10

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What Does edge Look Like in 2014-2015?

Last year, EDGE had the highest survey results and reach in the history of the program. A very large part of this success can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of volunteers such as yourself. Although we are extremely happy with these results, we recognize that there are always ways to improve the EDGE experience. After completing last year’s programs we began to analyze all feedback, survey results, anecdotal evidence from participants, and feedback from staff who played integral roles in the program experience. This process resulted in multiple refinements for the 2014-2015 school year. There will be 4 main areas of improvements:

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SIGEP STAKEHOLDER REPORT 2014 | SIGEP.ORG

Facilitator, participant and on site resource improvements With the help of volunteers and higher education professionals, all EDGE resources were refined to provide volunteers with the most cohesive facilitation material. With these improved resources, facilitators do not have to put all of their preparation time into finding and learning the resources.

Instead, they can focus on their facilitation style and mode of delivery.

All of the refinements that were made will ultimately result in a more impactful experience for participants.

The refinements to the resources include: • Major edits to the facilitator guide to ensure there is a consistent framework based on educational best practices.

The facilitator guide is now more in depth and includes clearer instructions and outcomes for sessions.

• The creation of an on-site preparation guide, a pre-EDGE facilitator meeting agenda and table of contents for the facilitator guide.

• The review of all materials to ensure consistency between the facilitator guide, participant guide and PowerPoint presentations which will provide a smoother experience for facilitators and participants.

Curriculum refinement The participant and facilitator survey data on the 2013-2014 EDGE curriculum was overwhelmingly positive.

Nevertheless, constructive feedback was provided on how to further refine the program. Using that feedback, we changed the curriculum in several ways: • More movie and TV clips have been included to appeal to a broader audience. The content of the clips are now less sports oriented to appeal to a wider variety of men. Participants will feel connected to the material that is being presented and feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and opinions as a result.

• The EDGE facilitator guide now contains improved processing questions based on input from higher education professionals. These processing questions are designed to spur more conversation, foster critical thinking, and provide clear takeaways for each participant.

• All sessions were reviewed to ensure a more cohesive flow of material.

Refinement of the title, purpose and role of the squadron leader

facilitation/volunteer role for SigEp’s upperclassmen to be involved in EDGE. As a squadron leader, these upperclassmen would be responsible for leading a small group at EDGE and ensuring the smooth execution of the program. The introduction of a squadron leader was a large success for the 2012 – 2013 EDGE programs. Based on the feedback from undergraduate participants, these older members had a positive impact on new members’ experiences. Squadron leaders helped manage small group breakout sessions and assisted in the overall execution of EDGE. Based on feedback, the following refinements have been made: • The title “squadron leader” does not give an accurate description of the responsibilities of this role. The title also seems militaristic and does not translate well on a resume. As a result, the title of “squadron leader” has been changed to EDGE Group Leader.

• More structured training and onboarding will be provided to each EDGE Group Leader. They will feel prepared to arrive at EDGE and start making a positive impact.

• There is a greater focus on the specific intended outcomes and follow up responsibilities for EDGE Group Leaders. They will now be responsible for preparing the new members prior to arriving for EDGE and following up with men after the program to ensure that their experience impacts the rest of their time in SigEp.

Replacement of the low ropes course Based on participant feedback in 2013 – 2014, the low ropes course was the lowest rated session at EDGE. According to this feedback, the facilitation style of the men and women from the camp sites was not catered to college aged men. Some campsites researched SigEp and provided an amazing experience during their low ropes course, but others provided too elementary of an experience. For the upcoming academic year, the low ropes course has been replaced with a series of team building activities that will be facilitated by our own volunteers.

These team building activities will promote more meaningful interaction between participants and facilitators grounded in the SigEp experience.

Since we now have control over this session, we can take advantage of new experiential activities as they are developed, keeping the program both fresh and current. Finally, the inclusion of these team building activities has freed valuable time to allow for additional on-site facilitator preparation and a 15 minute extension of each small group session.

Last year we introduced a new

EDGE

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What Does the Future Look Like?

As a key stakeholder, your feedback has driven the evolution and success of this program. Each year you inspire new ideas and provide staff the resolve and determination to enhance the EDGE experience. We expect to recruit over 6,000 men each year. The long term vision is to have 100% of these new members attend one of 70 programs across the country. Imagine the impact that EDGE would have if all of our new members experienced our values first hand, learned how to lead, learned what it means to be a man, and had a plan for their future. Not only would these men improve themselves, but they would help take SigEp to the next level. Member safety would increase and insurance claims would drastically decrease. Retention would increase, and men would be more prepared than ever before to have a successful SigEp and collegiate career.

So, how do we make this a reality?

At the core of every great EDGE experience there are engaging, qualified, and dynamic facilitators. There are currently three ways we provide facilitator training: the facilitator guide which contains tips and best practices; the pre-EDGE conference call; and the

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SIGEP STAKEHOLDER REPORT 2014 | SIGEP.ORG

on-site facilitator meeting. Headquarters staff, along with a group of student affairs professionals, is currently delving into the question of how to improve our recruitment, training, and retention of EDGE volunteers. There is amazing technology available today that gives us the ability to impact a very large audience. While we understand that this technology does not replace person to person training, having web-based resources available is a great way to start providing our volunteers with the tools they need to be successful. This is why a website for facilitators will be created, which will provide access to all materials, allow facilitators to watch videos of sample sessions, and host blogs and message boards for facilitators to provide feedback and share best practices. Additional training will also be provided prior to the arrival of participants at EDGE. In the future we would like to invest much more time and money into in person training at all of our leadership events and additional “drive in” training. With the addition of these tools, resources, and training we can enhance the delivery of the material and facilitation skills which will create a more impactful and positive EDGE experience for our new members.

EDGE is the most successful when a chapter provides an experience that is congruent with the lessons and values that are discussed at the program. As it exists today, EDGE complements and enhances a brother’s development within the BMP and new member education, but it is not an integral part of either program. Whether you are

volunteering with a Balanced Man Program or pledge model chapter, EDGE should be interwoven into the new member experience. Imagine the impact that would be possible if all new members engaged in discussions about their values and leadership skills prior to coming to the program. During EDGE, men would feel better prepared and more open to discuss these sensitive topics with other brothers from the area and leave with a greater sense of fulfillment. When new members arrive back at their chapters they would have the chance to further discuss everything that was presented to them and be empowered to go into their campus community to put what they learned into practice.

EDGE opens doors to new members.

To illustrate the opportunities that will be available to them, we’re exploring partnerships with outside organizations. SigEps want to have both an educational and fun experience. Across the country, more and more universities are offering leadership certifications. By partnering with Universities, EDGE could play a role in their leadership certification process or help undergraduates earn college credits. Various companies and startups could provide our members with access to products such as educational apps or clothing.

The curriculum could also be vastly improved by bringing in personal trainers to teach men about having a sound body or college professors to facilitate EDGE’s leadership or masculinity sessions. We have over

250,000 living alumni, many of which are professionals in various industries across the country. Some of these alumni may not have the ability to donate their time or money, but still have the opportunity to have a positive impact on EDGE through their organizations. With all of these opportunities, our ability to enhance EDGE through partnerships is limitless.

The future of EDGE is a bright one and we would not have reached our current status without your support. Thank you for everything you’ve done for SigEp and EDGE. EDGE is the first of the 6 high energy leadership events that men experience as members of SigEp. It’s here that they start to live the SigEp lifestyle, inspired to meet their full potential. This program plays a crucial role in the overall success of SigEp and it wouldn’t make such a substantial impact without your support.

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