MIT FSILG Relationship Agreement

MIT FSILG Relationship Agreement

The relationship between MIT and its Fraternities, Sororities, and Independent Living Group (FSILG) contingent is one based on respect, understanding, and trust. MIT and the FSILGs are interdependent and focused on a mutually beneficial relationship that produces agreed upon goals and expectations. The ultimate objective of this coexistence is to foster a supportive environment for the MIT educational experience. All MIT FSILGs will strive to support the learning environment by building leadership and life skills amongst their members, encouraging good citizenship within their organizations, MIT, and larger society, and fostering a lifelong connection to MIT and its alumni base. Entities that hold a stake in this commitment include the Division of Student Life, AILG, Student Councils (IFC, Panhel, LGC), FSILG chapters, Alumni House Corporation and Advisory Boards, and (Inter) National Organizations. The enumerated goals can be achieved by each FSILG entity through engaging and respecting several integral areas of functionality including recruitment management, facility upkeep, personnel training, self-governance, judicial adjudication, risk management, community building activities, and operational sustainability.  (The detail or these areas is in a separate and evolving document of expectations.) MIT vows to aid in the development the FSILG community through administrative and operational support, institutional recognition, and inclusion in the student life sphere. The FSILGs existence within the MIT community is one of privilege and as a result must work together with the institutional staff to ensure that regulations and guidelines are understood and respected. Should any issue or incidence arise, it is the duty of both MIT and the FSILG organization to provide an immediate response by working together through established trust relationships. By uniting, the MIT-FSILG partnership can aim to serve the community and student population while cultivating leadership skills, engaging in campus life, encouraging academic excellence, and supporting a diverse array of students, staff, and alumni.

FSILG COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP AGREEMENT

Organizations that are parties to this agreement:

  • Student Chapters and Living Groups (FSILGs)
  • Student Councils (IFC, Panhel, and LGC)
  • Alumni Housing Corporations and Advisory Boards (“Alumni”)
  • Association of Independent Living Groups
  • MIT, acting through the Division of Student Life and its FSILG Office

This agreement includes the following operational areas:

  • Organizational Self Governance
  • Disciplinary Matters
  • Recruitment
  • Scholarship and Academics
  • Housing and Physical Plant Issues
  • Dining
  • Sustainability and Finances
  • Municipal Relations
  • Other Issues

FSILG Student Expectations of their Alumni

FSILG students and their respective organizations expect the following assistance from their Alumni:

  • Organizational Self Governance
    • Alumni will provide advice and counsel to their student organizations on internal self-governance.
    • Alumni will provide an effective Chapter / Alumni Advisor.
    • Alumni will mentor student officers.
    • The AILG will offer educational programs to train student officers.
    • The AILG will advocate for the student governing councils in matters of self-governance.

 

  • Disciplinary Matters
    • Alumni will provide advice and counsel to and be an advocate for their student organizations in addressing disciplinary matters with their Inter/National office, MIT, and others.
    • Alumni will provide advice and counsel to their student organizations on dealing with individual student disciplinary matters.
    • The AILG will mentor the student governing councils and their judicial bodies in disciplinary matters involving AILG member organizations.

 

  • Recruitment
    • Alumni will provide logistical and organizational assistance to their respective student organizations in preparation for and during recruitment.
    • The AILG will advocate for the student governing councils in matters of recruitment.

 

  • Scholarship and Academics
    • Alumni will provide career mentoring and networking advice.
    • RAs will provide assistance with organizing study groups.
    • Resume writing workshops?
    • Interview practice?

 

  • Housing and Physical Plant Issues
    • Alumni will provide advice and counsel to and be an advocate for their student organizations in housing matters.
    • Alumni will be responsible for the long-term property management and maintenance of their respective house properties.
    • Alumni will perform capital planning and maintain financial reserves to ensure the long-term viability of the property.
    • Alumni will manage larger capital repairs and improvement projects.
    • The AILG will provide and manage the SLI and BSF programs to assist its member organizations to manage their properties.

 

  • Dining
    • FCI will provide a source for bulk purchasing of food and supplies.
    • Alumni will assist their respective student organizations in the hiring and management of cooks or cooking services.

 

  • Sustainability and Finances
    • Alumni will maintain long-term capital reserves and perform capital planning.
    • Alumni will maintain an alumni relations program for their organization
    • Alumni will provide financial support to their student organizations through fundraising and capital campaigns.
    • Alumni will maintain and manage insurance for their organizations.
    • Alumni will perform all required corporate filings for their organizations (except those that are specific to the student organization).
    • The AILG will provide and manage an insurance program to assist its member organizations to maintain appropriate coverage.

 

  • Municipal Relations
    • Alumni will assist students to maintain their houses in compliance with all municipal regulations.
    • Alumni will participate in the AILG’s SLI / BSF programs, or provide equivalent services on their own.
    • Alumni will represent their student organizations at meetings requested by municipal authorities.
    • Alumni will provide long-term guidance and continuity to the students in municipal and neighbor relations.
    • The AILG will provide assistance to member organizations in managing municipal relations through its SLI ad BSF programs, and by representing the system collectively before municipal agencies when requested by MIT.

FSILG Student Expectations of MIT

FSILG students and their respective organizations expect the following assistance from MIT:

  • Organizational Self Governance
    • MIT will provide on-campus space for FSILG student councils to meet.
    • MIT will advise the FSILG student councils and support the councils’ decision process and outcomes.
    • MIT will provide advice and counsel to student organizations on internal self-governance.
    • MIT will defend the self-governance rights of the FSILG student councils from encroachment by other student governance groups
    • MIT will provide a Resident Advisor in each housed organization.
    • MIT will take responsibility for a governance matter when requested by the appropriate student council.

 

  • Disciplinary Matters
    • MIT will advise the FSILG student councils disciplinary processes and support the councils’ decision process and outcomes
    • MIT will adjudicate appeals of FSILG student council disciplinary decisions
    • MIT will provide advice and counsel to and be an advocate for their student organizations in addressing disciplinary matters with their Inter/National office and others.
    • MIT will provide advice and counsel to student organizations on dealing with individual student disciplinary matters.
    • The AILG will mentor the student governing councils and their judicial bodies in disciplinary matters involving AILG member organizations.

 

  • Recruitment
    • MIT will facilitate FSILG recruitment by providing on-campus space and support for events and activities.
    • MIT will publicize and promote the value of the FSILG system to all students.
    • MIT will allow the student councils to create their own rules for recruitment

 

  • Scholarship and Academics
    • MIT will furnish grade reports to student organizations and their alumni to allow each organization to benchmark itself.
    • MIT will train RAs to provide assistance to struggling students.
    • MIT will provide and maintain internet connectivity and access to the MIT data network for all FSILG properties (where feasible).
    • MIT will provide equivalent academic services to all housed FSILG students equivalent to those provided to students in residence halls.

 

  • Housing and Physical Plant Issues
    • MIT will provide advice and counsel to and be an advocate for student organizations in housing matters.
    • MIT will provide temporary housing consistent with its policies, for students who are temporarily displaced from FSILG housing by renovations or repairs.

 

  • Dining
    • MIT will provide flexibility on campus meal plan design to ensure that off-campus FSILG residents are not unfairly burdened by the meal plan.
    • MIT will work with AILG to design an FSILG-specific meal plan option.

 

  • Sustainability and Finances
    • MIT will provide planning assistance to FSILG organizations with fundraising and capital campaigns.
    • MIT will maintain the IRDF to provide grants and low-interest loans to FSILGs.
    • MIT will assist the AILG to provide an insurance program.

 

  • Municipal Relations
    • MIT will assist FSILG organizations in their relations with municipal authorities.
    • MIT will represent all FSILG organizations in systemic issues.
    •  MIT will support and promote the value of the FSILG system to municipal authorities.

 

  • Other Issues
    • MIT will articulate its commitment to the FSILG system as an important and meaningful part of the campus student life experience.

MIT Expectations of FSILG Students

MIT expects the following of its FSILG students and their organizations:

  • Organizational Self Governance
    • MIT expects each FSILG to have a functioning internal accountability mechanism.
    • Each FSILG will have a clearly articulated values/mission statement that, if applicable, is aligned with the values and mission of its inter/national organization
    • Each FSILG will have a clearly articulated expectations of membership aligned. with their mission/values statement.
    • MIT expects each governing council to have a functioning accountability mechanism to hold member organizations accountable to community standards.
    • Each council will have a clearly articulated values/mission statement.
    • Each council will have a clearly articulated expectations of membership aligned. with their mission/values statement.
    • Each council will promote collaboration, education, and advocacy to advance their missions
    • Each FSILG will fulfill administrative expectations set by the Institute, including the submission of rosters, officer contact information, new member information, and other pertinent documentation identified by MIT
    • Each FSILG will maintain an active relationship with the Institute through the FSILG Office, that will include at minimum a semesterly meeting with an FSILG Office staff person and promptly returning correspondence from Institute community members
    • Each FSILG will comply with their inter/national organization’s rules and regulations for membership, risk management, event hosting, member intake and removal, and housing policies, if applicable.
    • Each FSILG must maintain recognition with their inter/national organization, if applicable.

 

  • Disciplinary Matters
    • Students will uphold State, Local, Institute and Organizational policies and bylaws. MIT advocates for self-governance and empowers organizational accountability, where applicable, to the Panhellenic Association, Interfraternity Council, and Living Group Council. In conduct cases involving individual members and residents, the MIT Committee on Discipline will adjudicate.

 

  • Recruitment and New Member Education
    • Membership recruitment practices will be aligned with MIT nondiscrimination policies
    • Alcohol/substance-free
      • not forcing decisions of potential new members
      • single-sex organizations protected under Title IX will implement recruitment and membership practices aligned with Title IX
  • All organizations will follow recruitment regulations ordained by their national organizations (if applicable) and FSILG Student Governing Councils
  • New Member Ed programs will align with all local, federal, and MIT policies on hazing.
  • All organizations will comply with a 10 week new member program
  • All new member activities must be scheduled around the academic calendar, avoiding any mandatory events
  • Suggested end of NM activities/initiation by Sat before Thanksgiving or First week of December) — not finalized
  • New member programs will follow the principles of academic support, time management, balance, and positive integration into the MIT experience.
  • All FSILGs will provide a fully outlined new member education program to the FSILG Office before finals of the preceding academic semester
  • Initiation dates and new member details will be published in recruitment materials and clearly communicated during recruitment and the new member program
  • A full list of all accepted bids must be reported to the FSILG Office by the second week of each semester.
  • All organizations must report any additions or deletions to the new member roster within 48 hours of changes
  • Scholarship and Academics
    • FSILGs will foster cultures for academic success and good scholarship
      • FSILGs falling in the bottom ⅓ of the FSILG community academic rankings will implement strategies to foster academic success within their memberships
      • FSILG students (new and active members) must sign a waiver permitting access to academic records (what else should this include?)

 

  • Housing and Physical Plant Issues

 

  • Cleanliness, safe  – meeting all inspections and licensing
    • address any concerns in a timely manner to ensure to safety
      • report name and contact info to FSILG office for house manager during academic terms and summer months
      • groups will comply with all inter/national policies for housing, if applicable (alcohol/substance use)

 

  • Dining
    • FSILGs will provide, where applicable, dining options similar to what residents would be granted in an on campus dining hall
    • Sustainability and Finances
    • FSILGs will keep accurate and up-to-date financial records
      • FSILGs will clearly articulate the membership financial obligations to their members, new members and potential new members

 

  • Municipal Relations
    • FSILGs will maintain a positive working relationship with the municipality in which they are located, and will abide by all municipal laws and ordinances
    • As representatives of the Institute, FSILGs will maintain a positive image within the community

MIT Expectations of FSILG Alumni

MIT expects the following of FSILG Alumni Housing Corporations and Advisory Boards (“Alumni”):

  • Organizational Self Governance
    • FSILG Alumni will provide thoughtful and effective advising of Chapter operations and management, when appropriate, while allowing undergraduate chapter members to maintain primary autonomy of Chapter governance.
      • MIT alumni organizations will support the undergraduate organization’s compliance with State, Local, MIT, and Inter/National policies (if applicable).

 

  • Disciplinary Matters
    • FSILG Alumni will ensure undergraduate chapter members uphold Institute and/or National/local policies and bylaws, holding chapter members and alumni accountable for violating said policies
    • Recruitment

 

  • Scholarship and Academics

 

  • Housing and Physical Plant Issues
    • MIT expects that alumni will have detailed knowledge about day to day operations of physical facilities and will respond in a timely manner to resident problems and requests.
    • MIT expects that the alumni will have an active, binding housing agreement for each residential occupant in the FSILG, where applicable.
      • MIT expects alumni to take an active role in ensuring municipal code compliance and safety regulations.
      • Dining
        • MIT expects that alumni will assist the undergraduate members in providing healthy meals and clean dining spaces, if applicable.

 

  • Sustainability and Finances
    • In addition to any House Corporation members, MIT expects each FSILG to have one (1) active advisor that serves in a mentor and advisory capacities for the organization. The advisor’s contact information must be on file with the FSILG Office prior to the start of each academic year, with any changes communicated in a timely manner. It is strongly recommended that each organization has a full Advisory Board, that mentors an undergraduate officer, especially in the areas of chapter operations, housing policies and resident contracts, social, and risk management policies. Advisors are not required to be MIT alumni.
    • MIT expects that alumni will assist the undergraduate members in providing advice and guidance in chapter financial matters, including budget creation and tax filing compliance.

 

  • Municipal Relations
    • FSILG Alumni will provide guidance and support in navigating Boston/Cambridge/Brookline municipal policies and services, including Inspectional Services, Police Force….

Alumni Expectations of FSILG Students

  • Alumni expect the following of FSILG students and their respective student organizations:
  • Organizational Self Governance
  • Disciplinary Matters
  • Recruitment
  • Scholarship and Academics
  • Housing and Physical Plant Issues
  • Dining
  • Sustainability and Finances
  • Municipal Relations
  • Other Issues

Alumni Expectations of MIT

  • Alumni expect the following of MIT:
  • Organizational Self Governance
  • Disciplinary Matters
  • Recruitment
  • Scholarship and Academics
  • Housing and Physical Plant Issues
  • Dining
  • Sustainability and Finances
  • Municipal Relations
  • Other Issues