Orientation

What is our member education program like?

Total membership development involves a continual learning experience throughout your undergraduate years. As college provides you with your formal education, through The KEY, Delta Chi will provide you the opportunity for an "informal" education. This education is provided through certain Areas of Mastery that are separated into four phases for ongoing education.

Individuals need to develop a commitment to their ongoing personal and professional development or what is known as lifelong learning. This requires an ability to assess what qualities, skills, and knowledge one needs to develop; to self-evaluate one's current strengths and weaknesses: to solicit feedback from peers; to identify, seek out, and utilize programs, activities, and opportunities that will provide the necessary learning: to reflect on experiences and note what learning has occurred. The KEY program fulfills all of these aspects. Throughout the program you will have to develop then follow through with plans of action to accomplish each task you choose to tackle.

From each experience you have with The KEY, you will take a valuable lesson. Anyone can go out and do some of the activities included within this program. However, it is the planning that goes into an activity beforehand, and the reflection that takes place afterwards with the Learning Journal that enhances the ideas and concepts. By actively engaging all of the aspects of this process, you will maximize your potential for growth and achieve a level of competency in many skills necessary for a successful life.

At a self-directed, self-paced learning rate, you will progress through the program in a linear fashion which will provide the gradual transition from associate member to alumnus. Since members who join the chapter are of different ages, experiences, and years in school, this flexibility allows them to set appropriate personal goals.

The Areas of Mastery

The KEY consists of 12 Areas of Mastery, with each containing four activities for you to complete. The typical mastery area will require approximately 8-10 hours (2-2.5 hours per activity) to complete. So, if a member worked on one activity an hour a day, he could probably complete one mastery area per week. Some activities require more time; some activities require less time.

The Learning Journal

Because the program has as one of its primary goals, "to develop in the fraternity's members a commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth," individual members need to be actively engaged in selecting their learning goals, learning format/process, and self-assessment. This self-assessment is coupled with feedback from your peers; hopefully leading to brothers feeling a greater connection with, and commitment to, each other. Using the Learning Journal, you will track your progress through the program and reflect on what you have accomplished.

The Big Brother/Little Brother Program - Our Mentoring Process

The initial anchor for the beginning of total membership education is a man's Big Brother. Although the Big Brother/Little Brother program varies from chapter to chapter, this relationship serves as an integral part of The KEY program. Through a mentoring process, the Big Brother will be responsible for the progression of his Little Brother, and the Little Brother will likewise hold his Big Brother accountable for this responsibility. This Big Brother/Little Brother structure is the vehicle for members' progression through The KEY program.

The KEY is a flexible, individual development program. Delta Chis strength comes from the diversity in our brotherhood. Each member brings with him different skills, goals, and experiences. It would be wrong for us to assume all members need the exact, same activities and programs without regard for their level of experience. Remember, the goal of The KEY is to provide our members with a co-curricular experience that will offer a well- rounded opportunity for personal growth through brotherhood. This can be accomplished only by developing the individual through group interaction and self reflection.