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Recruitment Challenge Update

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Recruitment Challenge Update

By Chris Buck, Associate Director of Expansion

Last semester, each chapter and colony received a recruitment goal for the 2016-2017 academic year. This goal was meant to challenge our members to work diligently to find the highest quality and quantity of men to grow our brotherhood. In the fall term, sixteen of our chapters met or exceeded their goal.  We would like to congratulate the following chapters on this achievement:

  • University of Alabama (Alpha-Phi)
  • Arkansas State University (Iota-Theta)
  • California State University – Northridge (Beta-Rho)
  • Culver-Stockton College (Kappa-Mu)
  • University of Idaho (Epsilon-Gamma)
  • University of Illinois (Chi)
  • Indiana State University (Iota-Epsilon)
  • New Mexico State University (Zeta-Gamma)
  • Northeastern University (Delta-Beta)
  • University of Northern Colorado (Sigma-Omega)
  • Oregon State University (Alpha-Lambda)
  • University of South Dakota (Alpha-Gamma)
  • Louis College of Pharmacy (Pi-Lambda)
  • University of Texas – Austin (Alpha-Mu)
  • University of Texas – El Paso (Zeta-Epsilon)
  • Wabash College (Alpha-Kappa)

For the chapters that were unable to reach their goal in the fall, there is still time, as this challenge was meant to be a year-long endeavor. Lambda Chi Alpha has adopted year-round recruitment, and it is the duty of each Zeta to seek out potential members continually.

It is easy for our chapters to  only focus on recruiting in the spring because “that is what every other fraternity is doing”. We should be taking advantage of the lower amount of competition and the high quality men other fraternities are not pursuing. Often, there are a number of men who were intimidated by formal recruitment or the “rush” mentality. Many of these men are the ones who are turned off by parties and the “frat” culture, men that could benefit from becoming a Lambda Chi brother.

They are the kind of men who would want to join for the values, brotherhood, and leadership opportunities; these are the types of men who can push a chapter or colony to the next level. The challenge is, are you willing to put in the work to get them? Are you willing to walk into the Honors College and ask a Dean or Professor for the names of the highest quality men in the program? Are you willing to attend a Student Government Association meeting to find the top leaders? It will take work and it may take breaking out of your comfort zone, but the continued success of Lambda Chi Alpha is dependent on recruitment. If you are looking for a place to start, I would encourage that you contact the campus Greek Advisor and see if you can get a list of men who signed up for formal recruitment but did not receive a bid or join. The men on this list were the ones turned off by formal recruitment or they did not find what they were looking for. This is your opportunity to show them that Lambda Chi Alpha is what they are looking to join and show them what being a member is all about.

Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing more recruitment best-practices and some success stories from chapters and colonies. You can also visit our stories and tips from the fall by going through the Cross & Crescent Archives. If you want more advice or feedback on your chapter or colony’s recruitment practices, you can always contact your Educational Leadership Consultant or email expansion@lambachi.org for more help. Best of luck as you push to achieve your recruitment and retention goal for 2016-2017.