The Phi Kappa Tau Executive Offices have been closely monitoring the Coronavirus pandemic as it continues to unfold. Currently every campus with a Phi Tau colony or chapter has been affected by the outbreak. With health and safety of our members at the forefront of operations, we want to encourage all chapters to take proactive steps toward protecting themselves as the situation develops.
We understand that all campuses and communities are being affected differently by this pandemic and that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to operating in this new normal. We defer first and foremost to your campus policies regarding next-step actions. Listen to your institution and take their policies into account before you take any significant steps.
Will National Convention/Leadership Academy’s be canceled?
Unfortunately after a long deliberation and a motion circulated by the National Council and approved by the Residents Council, National Convention has been postponed. Read the statement here.
All three 2020 summer Leadership Academy sessions are canceled as well.
Do we need to shut down operations?
Operations may continue to the best of your ability as long as they do not violate standards set by your institutions. We will include a variety of different ways to stay engaged in some of our other answers below, but there is no mandate to shut down operations. We encourage our chapters to engage virtually, similarly to how your institution may be participating in online learning.
What do we do about new member activities?
Brotherhood and Fraternity are not totally dependent on being on a campus. We encourage you to find creative ways to continue your new member education, specifically to host any educational programs online. Google Hangouts is a great and free way to do this. If your campus moves to an online or remote class structure, we encourage you to do the same. If your campus shuts down and you are not able to host new member activities online, new member education can be continued as usual at the beginning of the Fall semester. There is no mandate to restart the new member process.
How does this impact spring reporting on ChapterSpot?
Chapter reporting on ChapterSpot will remain a loose expectation but given the measures being put in place we understand that certain due dates may not be possible. We will be extending the deadline for all ChapterSpot reports to June 15th to allow flexibility during this difficult time. If this deadline is not feasible, please contact your Chapter’s Success Manager.
What about initiations?
Defer to your host institution related to student gatherings. As most of our host institutions have moved to virtual learning, this will certainly limit this ability. If your campus has suspended student gatherings, do not host initiations. If you are still clear to host student events, you may proceed with initiations. If initiations must be temporarily paused, they can be moved to early in the fall semester. Communication with the campus administrators, chapter advisors, and your chapter’s Success Manager are critical to keep people informed and up to date.
What about other social events?
The same policy applies to social events. If your campus has suspended or encouraged you not to gather, do not host your event.
What does this mean for chapter billing?
Outstanding Spring balances are still due, but there will be flexibility for any chapter on payment plans. Please refer to the Chapter Services Finance Memo for more information.
Do we need to leave our house?
As all leases and campuses agreements are different, we cannot say definitively if you need to vacate your house. Defer to your campus guidelines and pay attention to what other Greek organizations are doing. Contact your Housing Corporation officer to develop a plan for maintaining your chapter house and the potential return to campus.
What resources are available to me as my institution is now 100% remote for the remainder of the semester?
There are many resources that are being offered Free of charge by different organizations. You can find a full list of these resources here[hyperlink ‘everything is cancelled]. If you are interested in these services or attending a webinar, contact your chapters Success Manager for more information.
How do we keep up the morale of the chapter and stay-in-contact with my chapter brothers?
After gauging feedback from respective chapters, we have taken into consideration some of the ways they have been communicating. Some of these ways of staying in touch have included:
Group Communication-GroupMe, Slack, Discord, Skype, Group Facetime, Google Hangouts, Snapchat, Facebook Group chats, Email, Other Social Meda Platforms
PC/Console gaming -Xbox Live Party chats, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
Shared Viewership- Netflix watch parties, Twitch Streaming, etc.
I’m an advisor, how can I best assist the chapter?
Continued communication and support. During this time of uncertainty there are sure to be a lot of questions or concerns. Being able to continually touch base with the undergraduate officers and members can be a big help for them through this new normal. No one has lived through a situation quite like this so there is unfortunately no precedent on how to move forward. Our students will rely on us to help them find some consistency.
What should our chapter focus on with my campus now fully remote?
Maintaining some level of normalcy should absolutely be a priority. With classes now being remote for most, assuring a focus on scholarship and operations should still be important.
Maintain meetings as an exec board and a chapter as often as you can, although there is not much to do in terms of in-person activities in the Spring, you can still plan and get ready for the Fall!
I still have questions or need assistance. Who do I contact?
If you have any additional questions contact your Success Manger. We will be updating this list as information continues to update around the country, so check back here for further details.
We wish you to remain safe and healthy during this time. Our thoughts are with all of our members and their families who have already experienced the effects of Coronavirus.