On behalf of our President, Dr. E. Gordon Gee and Dean of Students Corey Farris, I am sending the undergraduate and alumni members of the West Virginia Alpha Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi my warmest wishes.
The fraternity and sorority community at WVU likely looks a bit different in 2023 than it has in years past. The COVID-19 global pandemic, mixed with a new generation of students with their own expectations of higher learning, has created a time to reflect on the utility, merit and worth of what we know as a “Greek experience.”
Our community has shown agility during ambiguity, and in all times of challenge, we evolve. Above all obstacles, our community engaged in a much-needed paradigm shift. As we look toward the 2023-24 academic year, I would like to share with you the strategic direction of the Center for Fraternal Values and Leadership.
To echo President Gee’s charge of “Students First,” we will reflect on the foundational question of “Are we relevant in 2023?”
By reflecting on what makes fraternal life unique and special, we can better tailor our focus on providing a solid return on investment for our members. A driving force behind our operations will be intentionality. Whatever we do, we will have a clear purpose for doing it, while keeping fraternal growth at the forefront of our minds.
Next, we will acknowledge the proverbial “spotlight” that is upon us as a Greek community and accept it — as opposed to pointing out how “unfair” it is. We’ll learn how to better tell our story and use University resources to emphasize the positive impact of fraternity and sorority membership. We will also acknowledge when things go wrong and work to remedy our mistakes. And we’ll do so with a spirit of collaboration among all key stakeholders.
Concurrently, we will focus on the theme of membership experience. I often hear “the reason why I joined was not the same as the reason I stayed.” If this is true, then what are the priorities of an undergraduate experience that prepares a man for active alumni membership? What are the elements that go into a healthy, collaborative and fraternal community? How can we continue to have fun and forge lifelong friendships that power our large alumni networks and enhance our sense of belonging at our alma mater?
The future of our community must be vested in student learning while proving the merit, value and worth of our existence. Students must help create the changes they wish to see. They have a voice. They have the intelligence necessary to engage in authentic mission-driven conversations. It is their table that we, as alumni members, have a seat. My goal is to ensure that undergraduates are good stewards of the charter that keeps their chapter alive. When they are not, they jeopardize our history. Let’s impress upon them, together, the important role they play.
My door remains open to students and alumni alike. Until we are together again, know of my admiration of Phi Kappa Psi. I remain your constant friend and ally.
Fraternally,
Matthew R. Richardson, Ed.D., CSAEd-FSL
Director, Center for Fraternal Values and Leadership, West Virginia University
