FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Farrell
Oxford, OH. — Beta Theta Pi has partnered with Phired Up to create a modern, customized growth coaching model. The pilot comes after months of discussion on how Phired Up technology and education could be combined to build a growth system.
“As we navigate our changing world, it is important that the Fraternity invest in our chapters to ensure they have the infrastructure and training they need to be successful,” says Beta Theta Pi Executive Director Jeff Rundle. “But it isn’t just in recruitment – we need to retain the men who have said ‘yes’ to Beta.”
That process began with equipping the latter group with access to ChapterBuilder CRM Technology, Phired Up Digital Classrooms, and the Growth Summit.
But the true customization came in how Beta Theta Pi has tied it together. The Fraternity has brought on Phired Up to host bi-weekly coaching calls, while building a moderated coaching channel to connect all participating chapters in between calls. 30 Beta Theta Pi chapters opted into this pilot program, which will extend through summer 2021 before potential expansion.
“Our coaching is focusing on deliberate action,” says Phired Up’s Woody Woodcock. “There is a tendency to default to being passive, so we’re here to help Beta implement while we track the results on ChapterBuilder.”
Two coaching calls in, University of Michigan recruitment chairman John Gonzalez agrees. “This is simplifying a complicated process and empowering us to do the best job we can,” says Gonzalez.
For Beta Theta Pi, this partnership goes far beyond a response to the global pandemic. In fact, the seeds of the partnership were planted before “virtual recruitment” became standard language.
Director of Expansion Zach Lepperd describes the beginning of a multiyear vision for Beta Theta Pi: “Beta’s growth strategy isn’t just about one-time results. It is about strengthening the infrastructure at the local level for year-over-year successes. We’re excited about our chapters having stronger recruitment systems – not just stronger recruitment.”
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About Beta Theta Pi: Beta Theta Pi is a college fraternity committed to developing men of principle for a principled life. Founded in 1839, Beta is the fraternal home of more than 213,000 members, including 10,000 undergraduates on 139 campuses across North America. The Fraternity’s Administrative Office is located near its founding site at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
About Phired Up: Phired Up helps fraternities and sororities grow. The company’s products, services, and brands are creating the future of fraternities and sororities by transforming the way people join. The company delivers relationship-focused, data-driven, results-producing TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, and STRATEGY solutions for every aspect of the pre-member experience from first-impression through initiation.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matt Farrell
Carmel, Ind. – Phired Up & TechniPhi are eager to announce a 15th full adoption partner at the Headquarters level. Sigma Pi is supplying upgraded accounts to all of their 107 chapters, effective immediately.
The multiyear agreement allows all Sigma Pi chapters to both personalize and systemize their future growth, while being automatically transitioned to the ChapterBuilder 2.0 software this academic year.
“This will provide enhanced, measurable opportunities for our chapters and advisors to implement a robust recruitment program,” says Executive Director Jonathan Frost.
The platform is specifically known as customer relationship management software. CRM is used in nearly every professional industry to manage relationship-building activity such as sales, hiring processes, and prospecting leads. ChapterBuilder personalizes this process to fraternities, and is used by over 5500 chapters.
“I believe our undergraduates will most appreciate the simplicity of being able to communicate with multiple people at one time,” says Director of Chapter Services Scott Quinlan. “By making the process more streamlined, it will save our members a lot of wasted time that they can spend elsewhere.”
“Sigma Pi’s future growth will be largely determined by data points like texts, calls, and internal notes,” adds Matt Farrell of the TechniPhi team. “ChapterBuilder allows advisors and staff to measure this faster, while giving undergraduates the speed they crave in the process.”
Current members will benefit not only from the professional edge of using technology that will follow them into their career, but also opportunities to influence non-members during an unprecedented era in higher education.
“We’re excited to better engage and connect with potential future members of Sigma Pi,” says Frost.
To learn more about ChapterBuilder, or to schedule a demo, visit our website or email Matt Farrell at farrell@techniphi.com.
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About Phired Up and TechniPhi: Phired Up and TechniPhi help fraternities and sororities grow. The company’s products, services, and brands are creating the future of fraternities and sororities by transforming the way people join. The company delivers relationship-focused, data-driven, results-producing TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, and STRATEGY solutions for every aspect of the pre-member experience from first-impression through initiation.
About Sigma Pi: Sigma Pi was founded in 1897 at Vincennes University, in Vincennes, Indiana. Our Executive Office is located near Nashville, Tennessee. The Fraternity is one of the top men’s collegiate organizations in North America, with more than 115 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada. With over 100,000 alumni and 5,000 undergraduates; our men strive for excellence by living our core values to promote fellowship, develop character and leadership, advance heightened moral awareness, enable academic achievement, and inspire service.
by Matt Farrell
On a recent digital training, students and I were experimenting with initial texts to send to potential members. After lighting up everyone’s phones with a catchy text, one student’s text back caught my attention.
“I wish my council did this for me before I joined!”
It got me thinking… if everyone (including you, reading this) joins fraternity or sorority because of a strong connection made with a human, why don’t councils take advantage?
Well, exciting news: a few councils beat us to the punch and already started. Even when we told them it would require a spreadsheet upload from their formal recruitment technology, they remained undeterred. As one student put it, “We know there are so many students on our campus not ready to jump right into fraternity or sorority, but still wanting a one-on-one conversation.”
So, how are councils doing it? With the same ChapterStarter accounts that expansion and extension teams have used to build new chapters in the modern era. It’s all at scale, with no energy typing out new names, adding new numbers into their phones, or worrying about who has already talked to who.
And it’s working (it also helps that their advisors have access to all the data.)
Here are three big ways councils are excited about ChapterStarter, as told by the users themselves.
Scouting New Leads:
Joshua Robinson, Associate Dean at Jacksonville State University, is embracing the ability to add to their names list during an era where new students aren’t exactly kicking the door down.
“ChapterStarter allows us to not just be satisfied with who is filling out our registration form. We definitely have some exciting ideas of what we want to do. Asking our students who have signed up, “Do you know anyone that might be a good sorority woman,” and not having to rely on them to fill out a form. We can ask them through the tech and add them ourselves if we need to.”
Even if your council has 1200+ names registered on CampusDirector, as was the case with Florida State University Panhellenic, Associate Director Freddy Juarez reminds us how easy it is to add more without losing track of the old ones.
“We can generate new leads and allow our recruitment counselors to engage our PNMs in a customized and scalable way using tags, text messaging, and the built-in email functionality.”
Managing Existing Leads:
But what about those 1200+ women already signed up?
Jenna Leval, Panhellenic President at Florida State, adds “ChapterStarter allows our Panhellenic community to connect with potential new members in an incredibly unique way. We are able to reach out to more women to share the benefits of the experience and to prepare them more than ever for the week of recruitment.”
At UC Irvine, the ChapterStarter focus lies on a deliberate way to “further enhance the engagement of potential new members with current affiliated students amongst our three councils,” says Ed E-Nunu, director of this community with 47 different organizations. “UCI knows this resource can further help them grow and connect like never before.”
Speaking of large communities, the University of Illinois has one of the largest fraternity populations in the nation. This threatens to make the feeling of connection less individual, and Vice President of Recruitment Bill Laitar is determined to change that with ChapterStarter.
“The texting feature is a greatly useful tool to communicate with all the potential new members. It allows us to get out last minute changes to the whole of the population, while also letting us answer the individual questions of the men seeking to join the Greek community.”
Fostering Continued Engagement
The true appeal of ChapterStarter for councils goes beyond adding new names and tracking existing ones. It allows the overall feeling of engagement to go as far as you want it to.
Jacksonville State, like many communities across the country, is facing an uncertain fall with confidence that the fraternity and sorority life experience is more important to share than ever before. As Panhellenic President, Mckenzie Chunn is overseeing a recruitment team with the primary goal of increasing PNM engagement.
While the format may look different, and long-term ramifications may seem cloudy, Chunn is focused on how ChapterStarter gets back to the basics of one-on-one connection.
“It’s going to allow us to get into contact with the PNMs so much easier to promote the sorority experience!”
How will your council benefit from this? Please reach out to farrell@techniphi.com to talk through ideas!
by RJ Taylor
I still believe in handshakes…
Stay with me for just a second… I made a new friend recently. Really. In 2020.
Here’s how it happened…
A friend tagged me in an Instagram comment with someone I had never met. This person is in my social circle but we had never crossed paths and we weren’t even following each other. The comment said, “@RJExcited You guys would have a blast getting to know each other!”. I followed up with a DM and said “Happy Monday! Matt mentioned we should connect.. Let’s grab a virtual coffee! What time this week works best?” A couple days later… I’ve got a bomb new friend.
How is it possible to make friends if we can’t meet in person?
How can we really get to know people well enough in a virtual environment?
What does it take to develop meaningful relationships virtually?
For more than 15 years, Phired Up has taught that “handshakes lead to conversations, conversations lead to relationships, relationships lead to collaboration, collaboration results in organizations, and organizations (like fraternities and sororities) change lives and change the world”.
Hot take – I STILL believe in handshakes!
In 2020, handshakes just look different. They often look like interest/registration forms, social media DMs, phone calls, and text messages.
And those handshakes can still lead to important conversations and meaningful connections.
Here’s the catch – the way we choose to show up for our conversations matters probably *10x more than ever!
*Just a rough estimate based on some initial polling…
If you still believe in handshakes, you have to keep reading (CLICK HERE). We have more to share about how to build real connections in this strange new virtual world.
by RJ Taylor
How is it possible to make friends if we can’t meet?
How can we really get to know people well enough over virtual settings?
What does it take to develop meaningful relationships virtually?
Even in a virtual space, we can choose to be more human! We can not allow a virtual meeting window to separate people so much that we lost our humanity. We have to do everything possible to keep proving our humanity to each other.
Here are 10 reminders I give myself as I work very hard to build relationships virtually. (check out this blog and this blog too)
Be seen. Literally. How is the lighting in your room? Can your facial expressions be easily seen? What’s that weird “art” piece behind you? Log in to the virtual room early. Be there to greet the person you are hosting. Start with a smile.
Be heard. Again, literally. Test your internet connection before the meeting starts and toss in some headphones! We know connection is built through deep listening, and if the other folks can’t hear you, well you don’t have much of a chance.
Be active. Body language is still a thing. Honestly, it’s even MORE of a thing. Lean in. Wave. High five your new friend through the camera. Laying on the couch with your laptop on your lap while only your forehead is in the picture does not communicate a desire to connect.
Be curious. Do your homework. Check out their social media accounts, review their professional profile, use information from interest forms, registration forms, and look for mutual connections. Come prepared with specific questions about things that are important to them.
Be known. Choose authenticity and vulnerability first. Choose to dive deeper. Instead of asking “How are you?” try out something like “Tell me about your…” Great questions lead to great conversations. As importantly, share about you. Let them know what is real in your life right now. You have to work extra hard to build real emotional connection when there’s a camera and a wifi connection between you.
Be extra. Actively facilitating the room you are hosting is even more important in a virtual setting. Awkward moments are amplified. Convey presence. Close all of your tabs, turn on do not disturb, be present. “For some people right now, you ONLY exist in an occasional box inside their computer screen. We have to be extra. Fill it with all of you. Make the little choices to be extra in your virtual presence.”
Be personal. Even though we are in a virtual environment, we are still BUILDING real human relationships. We are not INTERVIEWING for virtual robot relationships. Don’t make the conversation stiff. No one will pass the interview (you or them) if that’s the vibe. Let some of your fun show. Let some of your weird show.
Be graceful. Virtual connections can feel different. Did you know Apple’s Facetime feature is only 10 years old? And let’s be honest, most of us didn’t even think about trying it out because the quality was horrible! This is still a new form of connection. Let’s have fun learning together.
Be action-oriented. What’s the next step? When will you connect again? Can you set up a next meeting? Relationships are built over time, and time requires planning and forethought.
Be intentional. Send a message 30 minutes before letting them know you are excited to connect. Plan a follow-up message with a clear next step. Get really good at “Thanks for that conversation! It made my day!” emails and texts.
*Disclaimer – These 10 practical tips actually aren’t all that special to virtual connections… Social Excellence works ALL THE TIME! Whether someone has access to a Facetime/Zoom compatible device, gives you a good ol’ fashioned phone call, or asks meet over coffee at the local spot – we can upgrade all of our meaning connections by following the guide above.
by Matt Mattson
Human connection is hard right now. Building relationships is hard right now. Meeting new people is hard right now.
Here are just 10 of the many, many reasons why it’s hard…
Good luck making new connections! Yikes.
[Deep Breath]
O.K., I suppose we could get mired in the swampy emotional muck that is 2020, or we could focus on WHAT IS IN OUR CONTROL. I want to offer 6 practical ways you can connect with other humans that are all entirely within your control. You might apply these in virtual meetings, in recruitment or a virtual membership intake process, in socially distanced small gatherings, in brotherhood, sisterhood, and siblinghood building efforts, in virtual classroom spaces, on social media, with your professors, with your family, in masked encounters walking through campus, and more.
I’m not sure how else to say this first and most important tip. We have to increase the level of HUMAN we’re being in any given moment because everything else around us is starting to feel inhuman and digital and a little scary. We have to be… a little extra.
Take Zoom (or whatever video call platform you use) for example. You know the people who don’t try very hard. They never turn on their camera… or when they do the background is a mess, the lighting is like a scene out of a vampire movie, they always forget to unmute, and you can only see the top of their head (along with a rapidly spinning ceiling fan). Don’t get me wrong… you do NOT need to impress people with fancy stuff in your background. And you can use the virtual background if needed. This isn’t about impressing people, it’s about connecting with people.
For some people right now, you ONLY exist in an occassional box inside their computer screen. Fill it with all of you. Make the little choices to be be extra in your virtual presence.
You are now the star of a TV show every day whether you like it or not. Frame yourself. Fill up the Zoom box with your head nearly touching the top, change your lighting set up, sit up, and… smile. Engage actively in the chat feature (to the whole group and through private messages to others), exaggerate your non-verbals a little, use more hand gestures… you get it. Be extra.
Oh, and when you’re in real life, face-to-face, you’ll probably be wearing a mask and standing six feet apart. You still have a “box” to fill. It’s the box that makes up the six-ish feet of space between you and the other person. Fill it with all of you. You’ll likely have to be more expressive with your eyes and your hand gestures. You’ll need to talk more loudly. You’ll need to be extra intentional and extra forgiving. In-person or online… you’ll need to be extra.
There are SOME moments of significant human connection right now (albeit far fewer than we’d all like). There are some altered events that are taking place. There are the Zoom meetings. There are some small gatherings. But because a) there are fewer of those things, and b) those moments are filled with other obstacles (masks, distancing, fear, etc.), it is more important now than it has ever been to maximize THE IN-BETWEEN TIME.
The in-between time is the space between the big moments. Before and after an event or virtual meeting for example… Sending personal text messages or DMs via social media. Connecting, following, liking, and commenting on social media accounts and posts. Picking up the phone for extra personal calls. Preparing questions and thoughts prior to a meeting and following up with a summary email or a thank you text. The in-between time is where real networking happens. This is where you can make small choices to deepen connection and experience a richer level of humanity in your relationships.
*Note: Be sure to intentionally schedule in-between time.
Have you noticed so many of your conversations start (and end) like this?
“So, how are you doing through all this?”
“Phew. It’s been hard. But I guess it’s been hard for everyone. I’m doing o.k. I suppose. How about you?”
“Agree. What a wild time. I just want things to go back to normal. I’m doing fine.”
Nobody is building connection in a conversation like this. It almost feels like the required way to start any interaction (but it’s not required at all). We have to dive deeper. Lead your conversations with better questions and you’ll end up with better conversations. Here are some that might work for this moment.
Great questions lead to great conversations. These are just a handful of better questions. I’m sure you can come up with your top 10 list of questions that lead to real, meaningful conversations.
This mantra has become incredibly important in my life. “Create the culture you crave.”
Culture and community are created by choices, and the choices you make regarding the way you interact with people contribute siginificantly to the culture within which you exist. So, create the culture you crave.
It can feel like the world is happening to us right now. A lot feels outside of our control. But we are almost entirely in control of the way we choose to interact with others, and those social choices greatly define who we are as a person.
Stop for a moment and reflect on this question, “What is the culture you crave?” (For your organization, your workplace, your school, your family, your home, your next Zoom meeting, your social media feed). You actually have a lot of influence over that culture. And if you’re a leader of any sort, one of the most powerful things you can do right now is work with your team to clearly define the CULTURE within which you want to lead. What are the expectations for how your people will interact with each other right now? What are the non-negotiables? The choices you make about the little things right now, will give you far more control over the experience you’re having.
New friendships and meaningful connections are likely to have a reversed “flow” in a virtual world. Here’s what we’ve been observing.
In a pre-COVID world, one might bump into a stranger and engage in very light small talk… sports, weather, etc. The interaction would start very with very informal chit chat and small talk, and it might grow from there into more and more intimate and serious subjects of conversation. But many interactions in a virtual space start with a higher level of formality or purpose to them, and then (eventually) move into more informal topics.
So, for example, instead of finding Tanya in line at Starbucks and striking up a polite conversation about how hot/cold/rainy/snowy it is outside which leads to a comment about the changing environment, which turns into an invitation for Tanya to sit with you at a table and talk through an organization you’re involved with around environmental advocacy, which results in a deep connection around an important topic and Tanya expressing interst in joining your group…
A post-COVID converation might look like you delivering a Zoom presentation about environmental advocacy and afterwards Tanya hangs around to ask a few extra questions. After the topical questions have been finished, Tanya compliments your outfit at which point you excitedly share about the new on-line store you bought it from and how you saw it on an Instagram ad. Then Tanya jokes about how Instagram knows so much about her and how she’s a sucker for ads too, and you both feel a friendship-level connection such that the next time you encounter each other you make jokes about Instagram and compliment each other’s outfits with glee.
The flow is becoming more often reversed. And that’s o.k. It’s different, but it’s o.k.
Finally, remember that humans are an incredibly adaptable species. We’ve survived (as a species) plagues and pandemics before. Our social worlds have been upended an infinite amount of times, and we’ve adapted. The discovery of fire, the wheel, the printing press, the telegraph, the telephone, the internet are just a handful of the ways our social lives have been absolutely transformed over the years… and we’ve been just fine.
The secret of humans adapting to all those changes of the past? Fundamental human connection principles.
Humans connect through curiosity. When we ask each other, when we wonder together, when we inquire and research and ponder and swim in uncertainty together. We connect.
Humans connect through generosity. When we give to each other, when we are selfless, when we offer the gift of listening, when we help and support and uplift and share. We connect.
Humans connect through authenticity. When we are real with each other, when we stop trying to impress, when we are open and honest and true and pure. We connect.
Humans connect through vulnerability. When we reveal our hopes, our fears, our joins, and our sorrows, when we express real emotion, when we allow others to experience our humanity alongside us so that we might experience theirs. We connect.
Human connection is hard right now. But it is more important than ever. We must choose, in every moment, to be social… to be Socially Excellent.
Fraternity chapters right now are asking for practical ideas for engaging with potential members in things that feel like “events,” but happen in a virtual setting. They need ideas that aren’t cheezy or childish. Ideas that members and potential members will both participate in.
We’ve curated a list of the Top 10 Fraternity Virtual Recruitment Event Ideas we’re seeing around North America right now.
[Note: Check out the COMPLETE GUIDE TO VIRTUAL RECRUITMENT for more ideas]
Before we get to the list, it’s important to say that fraternity recruitment relationships are built differently when recruitment is virtual. In-person relationships often start with small talk and casual interactions and evolve into more formal conversations and even interviews at the end of the process. Virtual recruitment reltationships are sometimes flipped… they start with interviews or topical small group conversations/presentations and grow to be more friendly and casual. Be prepared for that flipped social dynamic.
These events would fit great for members you already have trust built with, and who already know some members (“B’s” and “A’s” if you’re using ChapterBuilder). It’s less likely that strangers will just pop into your Zoom room because they saw a flier or a social media post. For those “C’s” and “D’s” (folks you are still getting to know), try 1-on-1′s, interviews, small group conversations, virtual coffee meetings, and other smaller interactions.
Without further ado, here are Top 10 Fraternity Virtual Recruitment Event Ideas we’re seeing right now.
P.S. Remember that the “winner” of recruitment is NOT the chapter that comes up with the most creative recruitment event idea… it’s the chapter that builds the best connections and builds the deepst trust with potential members.
by Matt Mattson
The year was 1993. I was about to go on one of my first “real” dates. And get this… my date was a year older than me (and could drive!). I was utterly elated. We had a movie picked out (I just agreed with the first suggestion). I had a ride (not my parents). This was going to be amazing.
O.K., so it all started off fine. I got picked up at my house, rolled my eyes at my mom saying something about “be careful” and we headed out. I think we had a quick dinner at Fazoli’s (not making that up). And we headed to the movie theatre to see… wait for it… Sleepless In Seattle. Tom Hanks. Meg Ryan. Rosie O’Donnell. ROMANCE!
Pause. If you’re not familiar with the premise of the movie, here’s a quick recap. Tom Hanks’ character, living in Seattle, is a widower. His young son calls a sappy nighttime radio call-in show (Have you listened to Delilah? Like that.) Hanks ends up talking about his love for his late wife in beautiful terms, and the whole world falls in love with him. Even Meg Ryan (who lives in Baltimore!) Fast forward, bada bing bada boom, Meg Ryan + Tom Hanks = DEEPLY IN LOVE and it all happened before they ever even met in person. Gush.
Want more like that? You’ve Got Mail. Same movie. Just email this time instead of an old-timey typewriter!
Here’s my point… We (humans) have known that building real, meaningful, long-lasting relationships from a distance through whatever communication technology was hot at the time has been not only possible but not really that hard. I mean, if you’ve seen Hamilton, you know about the letters between Alexander and Angelica! Building relationships via Zoom, or DM, or text message, or Snapchat, or phone calls… this is something we can do. And when it comes to recruiting new members for our fraternities and sororities, there’s no way that we’re going to let a little fumbling through the learning process of a relatively new medium get in our way.
I predict that 3 years from now we’ll look back at 2020 and say, “We were so silly. Now 90% of our friendships and recruitment efforts start via video/social media. We were all so scared of Zoom recruiting that summer.”
Back to the date…
I’m not going to lie, things went downhill really fast after Fazoli’s. I (literally) fell asleep during the movie. Then we drove home in relative silence. Then there was a goodbye kiss in my driveway as I was being dropped off. And you know that urban legend that’s like, “If two people who both have braces kiss, they’ll get stuck together.” Yeah, so that happened. Not every date is a winner.
Here are a few things that Sleepless In Seattle knew back in 1993 about distance-created relationships that we should probably remember today.
Oh, and by the way… big shout out to my date that night. We weren’t a match, and it didn’t really go great, but they are a really great person and I’m grateful that I could recall this story with a smile on my face.
See you on Zoom!
CONTACT: Matt Farrell
Carmel, Ind. – ChapterBuilder was built for organizations to systemize growth for all of their chapters. For that reason, Phired Up & TechniPhi is especially proud to announce a 14th Fraternity and Sorority full adoption partner. Beginning in August 2020, Alpha Delta Phi is supplying upgraded ChapterBuilder accounts to all of their chapters.
While current recruiting realities played a role, Alpha Delta Phi sees the multiyear partnership as a long-term shift of the organization’s approach to holistic growth. The agreement includes an automatic transition to ChapterBuilder 2.0 during the 2020-2021 academic year.
“We believe that making this investment in our chapters is critical to give our members the tools necessary to help them succeed when it comes to recruitment,” says Executive Director Steve Ehrfurth.
Experience with customer relationship management (known as CRM) software continues to be highly desirable for young professionals across the country. CRMs help students in ways such as building their own businesses, advancing through hiring processes, and managing growth across a wide variety of industries.
Director of Chapter Services Mitchell Fratrik is eager to provide this resource to students, while building a centralized growth system for an organization founded in 1832. In the 188 years since, Alpha Delt’s national growth has been mostly decentralized.
ChapterBuilder full adoption changes that.
“Helping our chapters with organizational resources will allow them to focus on their values and marketing while taking the guesswork out,” says Fratrik. “We feel that the technology will help our chapters create a positive culture and attitude around recruitment that will lay a strong foundation for future growth.”
Alpha Delta Phi has paired full adoption with Phired Up coaching targeting specific chapters needing extra support. “Without data, our growth education can only so far,” says Phired Up Vice President Woody Woodcock. “We’re excited Alpha Delta Phi will now have repeatable practices, so we can track real-time relationships and coach real-time data.”
Ehrfurth summarizes the holistic growth partnership, stating “our goal is to meet our chapters where they are by providing useful digital tools, and increasing the support our remote team can offer to our chapters.”
To learn more about ChapterBuilder, or to schedule a demo, visit our website or email Matt Farrell at farrell@techniphi.com.
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About Phired Up and TechniPhi: Phired Up and TechniPhi help fraternities and sororities grow. The company’s products, services, and brands are creating the future of fraternities and sororities by transforming the way people join. The company delivers relationship-focused, data-driven, results-producing TECHNOLOGY, EDUCATION, and STRATEGY solutions for every aspect of the pre-member experience from first-impression through initiation.
About Alpha Delta Phi: The Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity was founded in 1832 at Hamilton College in Clinton, New York by Samuel Eells (1810-1842). Founded as a literary society, it evolved into one of the most distinguished of the original American college fraternities. It has retained its focus on its literary roots, by attracting only the best students at only the more prestigious colleges and universities in Canada and the United States. Alpha Delta Phi has initiated over 52,000 lifelong members who have become top leaders in business, industry, government, and education.
by Matt Farrell
Your fraternity & sorority community is probably thinking about these three things right now.
What’s the plan for recruitment?
How are we supposed to meet people?
Who is going to join?
Rather than sit back and wait for clear answers, Drury University (in Springfield, Missouri) took matters into their own hands. After a recent Phired Up coaching call, they got to work.
Fraternities & sororities knew all of their big questions involved one simple starting point: new relationships with incoming students. The next steps they took are three things any team of committed fraternity & sorority leaders can do RIGHT NOW:
Reach out to the Dean of Students to partner
Get the list of new students/phone numbers
Pick up the phone and start making new friends
Some final stats from ONE night:
269 phone calls made, over half the list picked up, and most calls turned into 5+ minute conversations. 137 follow-up calls were set for after the session.
Our Phired Up team picked up on three themes from this exciting night – let’s hear them directly from those who made it possible.
Sharing the Gift with Future Students
Collins Ray, IFC President: Those calls didn’t feel so much as about recruitment, they were about making genuine connections with future leaders within my community. So many talked about how they originally never thought about going Greek but are all requesting information and are excited about seeing the opportunities presented to them.
Macayla Schebaum, Panhellenic President: It gave us the opportunity to make them feel comfortable by providing a personal contact to ask questions, voice concerns, and get information.
Reinforcing the Gift for Current Students
Granvill Adkins, Coordinator for Greek Life and Student Activities: Getting to see the smiles on the officers faces as they made those connections with the incoming freshmen students. The stories that they would tell me after of the joy it brought….
Collins: My favorite part of calling all the new students was making a strong initial connection with everyone. I love meeting new people and especially making the new students feel important and wanted.
Chip Parker, Assistant Dean for Student Success and Campus Engagement: I believe our students received more positive feedback from our new students than they expected and I know that made our students feel very happy and proud to be promoting Greek Life.
Driving Results
Macayla: This experience allows us to introduce organizations we are so passionate about while also giving the incoming freshman that first personal interaction with a member of our communities. The individual will remember this experience and it will have an impact on their life when they get to campus.
Collins: You must have an honest conversation with them, not so much as a telemarketer for Greek Life but as a future colleague and friend sharing your honest experience. No one wants to be lied to about an organization they are joining for the rest of their lives. Having these calls and conversations makes me wish I was called going into my first year.
Chip: I think schools across the country should be making phone calls so they can share the real benefits students receive from being associated with a Greek organization… Students need to know how Greek life can help with future career goals, teaching leadership roles and organizational skills needed to enter into the workforce or graduate schools in the near future.
Nobody is better equipped to boost admissions, enrollment, and overall student engagement right now than fraternity & sorority members. Phired Up is here to help – read this to see another great example and contact us to build a plan together.