The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) offers a variety of programs, events, and services to support council and chapter operations, officers, and members.

FSL staff meet with council and chapter leadership and individual members of the community for advising. Chapter officers are expected to:

  • Participate in FSL advising communities
  • Support their individual development
  • Build connections and community among individuals who share that officer role across the community
  • Share chapter operations, challenges, and successes

Chapter officers are grouped into communities for training and development that include, but are not limited to:

  • Membership Education
  • Risk Management
  • Service and Philanthropy
  • Leadership
  • Accountability
  • Chapter Operations
  • Recruitment

Near the start of the fall and spring terms, FSL hosts a chapter leadership retreat. During these retreats we:

  • Connect with officers through educational and developmental offerings
  • Continue to evolve the vision for the community,
  • Build strong relationships among chapter officers
  • Increase connection with fraternity and sorority life staff.

Chapter leadership retreat topics have included:

  • Chapter operations and expectations
  • Leadership development
  • Risk management and harm reduction
  • Responding to crisis
  • Mental Health
  • Sexual Assault
  • Alcohol and Drugs
  • Anti-Hazing

New Member Academy

New Member Academy is an educational off-campus retreat for new members of fraternity and sorority life. It allows participants to discover who we are as a community, develop relationships across organizations and councils, and create opportunities to positively impact Denison’s fraternity and sorority life. This program is provided at no cost to members. Each new member of the community is required to participate within their first year of membership.

Emerging Leaders Institute

Emerging Leaders Institute is a program designed for those members who want to learn more about their leadership style and gain skills to take on leadership roles within their organization. Students will have an opportunity to learn about values-based leadership and the social change model, and how they can contribute to building an inclusive fraternity and sorority community. The program runs over five sessions during the course of the fall semester.

National Advisors

Each fraternity and sorority at Denison is advised by their national organization. Denison expects advisors and national partners to take an active role in the organization’s success. The role of the advisor is to guide, advise, and support the chapter and its officers and monitor their progress.

The advisor must be willing and able to devote significant time to the organization, and be knowledgeable about the policies of their organization as well as Denison’s. Additionally, it is our hope that advisors are skilled in organizational and leadership development. Our committed advisors/alumni help chapters to achieve their greatest success.

View the advisor handbook