Zeta Beta Tau continues to adapt and grow our selection of educational opportunities for undergraduate brothers to meet the ever-changing needs of today’s student and the lingering concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic. Educational programs continue to advance the ways in which the Fraternity connects with brothers at all levels.

So far in 2022, the Fraternity has reached approximately 600 chapter leaders in a group education setting … and that’s before 2022 International Convention, the largest and most exciting event of the year! See more details on how brothers can join us in Las Vegas in July here.

James E. Greer, Jr. Presidents’ Leadership Academy

This program creates an intensive leadership development experience that challenges brothers to create positive change in their chapters and communities by equipping them with the necessary tools and skills. Presidents have the opportunity to network with their peers from across the country, develop a plan for chapter/prospective chapter success and grow as a leader who can effectively manage his peers.

This year’s event faced a unique challenge due to the spike in COVID-19 cases experienced in early January. The academy, alongside the Emerging Leaders Institute, was expected to take place in person but unfortunately had to be transitioned to a virtual only program on short notice due to health and safety concerns. Zeta Beta Tau holds the health and safety of our brothers in the highest regard and the decision was not easy. A positive outcome of this change was that more brothers than originally planned to attend in person were able to join virtually.

Participants had an overwhelmingly positive experience with their brothers.

• “I learned a lot about the type of leader I am, and the leader I can become.”
• “My greatest takeaway from this program is that the right decision might not be the most popular and the most popular decision may not be the right decision. Going through different scenarios helped me understand this difficult aspect of leadership and I understand the steps I now need to take when faced with hard decisions as president.”
• “Communication is everything. Expectations for the executive board and the chapter must be clearly communicated to be able to hold brothers accountable. Building alumni engagement requires consistent communication with them and a solution to improving brotherhood participation could be better communication about events.”

Emerging Leaders Institute

This program continues to grow each year. The graduates of the Emerging Leaders Institute consistently become better brothers, and we find past emerging leaders go on to serve as Chapter Presidents, student government leaders and ZBT Undergraduate Supreme Councilors. The program targets an audience of new initiates or those within their first two years of brotherhood who do not hold an officer position.

• “I found it helpful to rate each area of our chapter operations, and the ideas I got from the brothers from other chapters.”
• “My greatest takeaway was learning about the different personality traits of leaders. This broadened my perspective on the qualities a leader possesses.”
• “I am always wearing my letters.”

Virtual Officer Institute (VOI)

Virtual Officer Institute supports students of all ZBT chapters serving in leadership roles, specifically the nine officers of the International Fraternity’s recommended Executive Board structure. Most chapters have elections late in the fall term and officers begin work in their new roles at the start of the spring term.  As a result, the institutes are hosted early each year to set up leaders for success. Chapters are required to participate and hundreds of brothers take part in this program.

VOI combines overall leadership and communication skills with specific education for each role, for example budgeting assistance is taught to Finance Directors. Brothers in the same leadership role in similar chapters connect in small group settings to learn and share ideas.

• “Fraternity cannot be replaced or forgotten. It is important to create solid traditions and plans also to ensure that finances of the chapter stay healthy.”
• “Some chapters are going through the same problems that we are too, it’s OK to talk to other people about the problems.”
• “One key takeaway from today’s institute was that communication is key and all of the chapter’s progress depends on the hard work and collaboration of the officer team.”
• “ZBT is about bringing brothers together through service, not just socialization.”

Thank you!

Zeta Beta Tau Foundation underwrites the cost of many undergraduate educational leadership programs that allows ZBT brothers to maximize their personal development opportunities in the Fraternity and prepares them to be leaders of society. These programs have been made possible through the generous grants provided by the Zeta Beta Tau Foundation.

We are thankful for the generous support of donors to the Zeta Beta Tau Foundation who make programs like these possible. To learn more about your Foundation, please visit zbtfoundation.org.

• Share this article