Fraternity & Sorority Life
New Member Orientation Handbook
Updated January 2013
Table of Contents
Role of the New Member Educator
2
Goals of a Constructive New Member Orientation Program
3
Assimilation vs. Rites of Passage
4
New Member Program Evaluation
5
Outcomes & Suggested Activities
7
Campus Policies
9
Hazing Policy Information
11
Unacceptable Activities
12
1
Role of the New Member Educator / Intake Coordinator

Clearly define the specifics and expectations of the New Member Orientation program to
all new members and/or candidates for membership
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Clearly articulate the approved New Member Orientation program to all active and
alumni members, in addition to their individual roles, responsibilities, and expectations

Host an educational workshop for the active membership to review the purpose of New
Member Orientation and inter/national and campus policies and expectations

Ensure that all activities within your New Member Orientation plan uphold the values of
your organization
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Be a role model for new members/candidates, chapter members and alumni; setting an
example of appropriate behavior and member accountability

Communicate regularly with the Chapter President, alumni advisor, and Assistant
Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life about any changes to your approved plan and/or
candidate roster
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Safely and responsibly guide new members/candidates through a morally uplifting,
respectful and meaningful orientation period

Support member development efforts beyond the orientation period

Submit all required New Member Orientation registration paperwork to the Assistant
Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life
**Adapted from Lehigh University New Member Educator/Intake Coordinator Handbook**
2
Goals of a Constructive New Member Orientation Program

To educate new members/candidates on the ideology, history, inter/national structure,
and ceremonies of the organization
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To instill an understanding of, and appreciation for, the principles on which the
organization was founded
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To develop responsible, motivated and dedicated members
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To promote and encourage lifelong friendship, loyalty and the values of good
sisterhood/brotherhood
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To stimulate individual development of new members/candidates
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To establish a sense of civic duty and carry out activities of campus and civic value

To assist in the orientation and assimilation of new members/candidates into the chapter

To build chapter unity, camaraderie and respect

To develop a well-rounded and inclusive chapter with opportunities to excel in various
pursuits

To provide an environment for the free exchange of ideas amongst all members of the
organization (new member/candidate, active, and alumni)

To encourage new members/candidates to become involved in the fraternal community
**Adapted from Lehigh University New Member Educator/Intake Coordinator Handbook & San Diego State University
Positive New Member Education Programming Ideas**
3
4
New Member Program Evaluation
Take a few minutes to reflect on your current new member orientation program. Answer the
following questions and complete the included audit. This will help you understand what works,
what doesn’t have the best outcomes, and what the intended and unintended messages new
members are receiving.
1 = Poor
1
2
5 = Excellent
3
4
5
New members know the history of the organization
Our new member’s GPA’s improve as a result of our
new member program
Our new members informally spend time with our
active members
Our membership seeks out opportunities to get to
know new members
Our new members have an individual mentor during
their new member process
Our new member orientation program demonstrates
pride in our organization
Our new member program demonstrates the value of
academic excellence
Our new member program demonstrates the value of
service
Our new member program demonstrates the value of
personal development
Our new member program demonstrates the value of
leadership
Our new member program demonstrates the value of
brotherhood & sisterhood
Our new member program demonstrates the value of
multiculturalism
We provide a calendar of new member/candidate
activities upon the beginning of the new member
program
We involve the entire membership in our new
member program
We hold regularly scheduled new member meetings
Our alumni play an active role in our new member
program
Our alumni play a positive role in our new member
program
Our new members/candidates understand the
expectations of active members
5
What are your chapter’s values? Do these values reflect your inter/national organizations
values?
How do you teach your organization’s values to your new members/candidates?
What goals do you hope to accomplish during your new member orientation program?
List 3 events/components you like about your new member orientation program that you want
to continue. These should be congruent with your values and in adherence with campus and
inter/national policy.
Why are these events/components positive for your organization? Why are they considered
best?
List 3 things you could stand to change in your new member orientation program.
How can you alter these practices?
List anything that has to stop. How are you going to ensure that they stop?
**Adapted from Worcester Polytechnic Institute New Member/Intake Handbook **
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Outcomes & Suggested Activities
It is important for us to identify our intended outcomes for our new members as a result of their
new member orientation process.
What end result do you wish to see in your new members/candidates? What do you hope your
new members/candidates learn about becoming a member?
When developing outcomes ask yourself the following questions:

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What goal is sought?
For which people?
How is this going to affect my organization?
Suggested New Member Orientation Outcomes & Activity Ideas
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Provide an understanding of national/local history, traditions, and programs
o Distribute materials on history and assign weekly homework assignments
o Have game-show style competitions with actives and new members/candidates
o Have regional or national officers speak to the chapter
Promote friendship and brotherhood/sisterhood
o Host a chapter retreat designed to build relationships
o Provide an opportunity where all members and candidates share what they value
about the organization
Better acquaint new members with initiates
o Create personal discussion cards with questions for members to share answers
o Do icebreakers with actives and candidates
o Host a dinner or lunch and pair candidates with actives to spend time with
Work together as a team to achieve common goals
o Conduct team-building and/or communication exercises
Educate new members regarding chapter operations, including organization structure
and financial management
o Assign each new member/candidate to “shadow” a chapter officer
o Have officers make a presentation to new members/candidates about their
position and responsibilities
o Conduct a chapter financial workshop and include new members/candidates
Teach new member how to plan and organize events
o Ask the new members/candidates to work together to plan a service event
Encourage and motivate new members/candidates to achieve their academic potential
o Have new members/candidates set academic goals
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o Require new members/candidates to meet with an academic advisor to discuss
their academic progress
o Conduct workshops on study skills and test taking tips
Develop and enhance time management skills
o Conduct a time-management seminar
o Purchase daily planners for new members/candidates
Make new members knowledgeable regarding policies of the campus, local chapter, and
national organization
o Provide information and assign each new member/candidate a policy and have
them make a presentation about it to the rest of the new members/candidates
Provide social and recreational opportunities
o Organize a sporting event between big’s & little’s, alumni & new
members/candidates, etc.
o Host a dry social event (picnic, bowling, mini golf, etc.) with actives and new
members/candidates
Unacceptable Outcomes
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To prove one’s worth as a member
To require useless memorization of material
To break one down to rebuild in the organization’s image
To waste the new members’ time
To see if they are “worthy” of being initiated
To provide personal servitude to active members
To “earn” their membership through physical work and/or exhaustion
**Adapted from Worcester Polytechnic Institute New Member/Intake Handbook & San Diego State University Positive
New Member Education Programming Ideas **
8
Stony Brook University Policies Regarding New Member Orientation
1. All students participating in the new member orientation process must be full-time, regularly
enrolled students, have at least a 2.3 cumulative grade-point average, and have earned a
minimum of 12 credit hours. Credit hours must be accrued during matriculation at a college
campus. Advance placement credits or other credit acquired prior to high school graduation
cannot be included. Transfer students are eligible provided proper verification from previous
college or university attended is presented to the Assistant Director for Fraternity and
Sorority Life indicating the completion of at least 12 credits with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
2. All new member orientation and activities can begin when:
 All prospective members have submitted a Membership Acceptance, Grade Release, and
Emergency Contact Card.
 New Member Educator has attended an educational session on how to conduct a positive
and effective membership recruitment and training program.
 A roster of prospective members and a new member orientation plan has been submitted.
Plans must include goals, learning outcomes, and a calendar of activities.
 The chapter has received written notification of approval from the Assistant Director for
Fraternity and Sorority Life.
3. The Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life will annually determine the earliest
date that bids can be issued and the date that all new member orientation activities must be
completed by. These will be no longer than an eight week period.
4. Organized new member orientation activities may begin after 10:00am and must end by
12:00am, Sunday through Thursday, and may begin after 10:00am and must end by 2:00am
on Friday and Saturday.
5. All new member orientation activities are restricted to the Stony Brook University campus
unless written approval is received by the Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life.
6. New member orientation activities shall not interfere with classes, academic activities or
requirements, and/or a prospective member’s work schedules. Those prospective members
whose class and work schedules conflict with scheduled new member orientation activities
must be excused from those activities and/or those activities must be rescheduled for such a
time when they do not interfere with a prospective member’s work and/or class schedule.
7. Alcohol or drugs should not be in any way a part of the recruitment or new member
orientation process.
8. Prospective members must be informed of financial and other obligations of membership
prior to beginning the new member orientation process.
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9. Prospective members may withdraw from the new member orientation process at any time
without fear of harassment or ridicule.
10. Students may only join one fraternity or sorority at a time.
11. The practice of influencing and/or harassing prospective members from a fraternity or
sorority, by a member of another fraternity or sorority, commonly referred to as cross-intake,
is prohibited.
12. The practice of conducting new member orientation processes for individuals who are not
registered students at Stony Brook University, commonly known as “cross-campus intake”, is
prohibited.
13. Requests for exceptions to the outlined new member orientation process (i.e. off campus
activities, etc.) shall be made in writing to the Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority
Life. The Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life will initiate a meeting with the
organization president and new member educator to determine if an exception will be granted
and will document in writing any accommodations made for that particular process. Special
requests need to be made for each new member orientation process and organization plans
and accommodations made will only be valid in the semester they are approved.
10
Hazing Policies & New York State Law
Hazing is…
…any behavior, activity, or situation that creates an environment that intentionally or
unintentionally harms an individual physically or psychologically.
Hazing and/or harassment of new members/candidates and members is strictly prohibited as
stipulated by New York State Law and the University Student Conduct Code. Hazing may be
perpetrated by individual(s) against individual(s), individual against group, group against
individual, or group against group.
Hazing conduct may result in charges under the rules for “Maintenance of Public Order”
(Education Law, Section 6450), withdrawal of chapter recognition as described in this document,
campus judicial charges against individual students, and/or the arrest of individuals.
New York State Law (as of 4/24/2010)
Section 120.16: Hazing in the first degree
A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person’s initiation
into or affiliation with any organization, he/she intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct
which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and
thereby causes injury.
Hazing in the first degree is a Class A Misdemeanor.
Section 120.17: Hazing in the second degree
A person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person’s
initiation or affiliation with any organization, he/she intentionally or recklessly engages in
conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person.
Hazing in the second degree is a violation.
Stony Brook University Student Conduct Code Section II.A.1.g - Hazing
Whether by omission or commission, no student shall take any action, or create, or participate in
the creation of any situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers another person's
psychological, mental, or physical health or that involves the forced or expected consumption of
liquor or drugs for the purpose of initiation into or affiliation with any organization. Examples of
hazing activities include, but are not limited to: paddling, branding, tattooing, shaving of hair, or
other physical abuse or brutality; activities that involve excessive fatigue and/or stress; verbal
and/or psychological abuse that compromises the dignity of any individual. Hazing conduct may
result in charges and arrest under the New York State Penal Law, and charges under this CODE,
which can lead to suspension or expulsion from the University.
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Unacceptable Activities
Hazing is about power. Most hazing behavior helps one group or person exert power over others.
If you are unsure if an activity is okay, ask yourself this question: Is the activity designed in such a
way that members exert power over new members as a condition of their new member status?
If yes, then you may be on the path toward an activity that is not positive or acceptable. Here are
some items that are considered unacceptable by Stony Brook University. Please understand that
this list is NOT inclusive.
Unacceptable Activity
Marching
Walking in line
Individual military walking / cutting corners
Social probation/Code of silence
Greetings
Wearing uniforms or gear
Sleep deprivation
Verbal or physical threats, violence, or forced
physical activity
Dietary restrictions or forced consumption
Changes to normal hygienic routines
Manual servitude
Creating a “home base” for new
members/candidates
Description
Walking linked arm in arm, stepping/stomping
loudly in unison. Exceptions can be made if
included as part of a structured show and must
be approved by the ADFSL.
Walking one in front of each other in a line or
walking in an intentional structured formation.
Walking with a stiff back, staring forward, and
turning corners with sharp edges.
Not being able to speak or socialize with
individuals outside of the organization. Not
being able to attend social events.
Formalized and exaggerated ways in which
current members are addressed that imply
admiration and/or appreciation
Wearing matching clothing and/or hair styles.
Exceptions can be made for structured shows
and ceremonies and must be approved by the
ADFSL.
Keeping new members/candidates up past the
allowed time periods. Waking up new
members from sleep for no specific purpose.
Exercise routines, workouts, running, etc. Any
form of physical violence including beating,
paddling, etc.
Forced consumption of any substance. Only
being allowed to eat certain food, use certain
utensils, or eat at specific times.
Restrictions on showering, teeth brushing, etc.
Not allowing new member/candidates to wear
makeup.
Doing favors or tasks for actives or alumni.
Requiring or requesting that new
members/candidates report to one location
when not in class or at work
**Adapted from Worcester Polytechnic Institute New Member/Intake Handbook **
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