The Interfraternity Council

Our Purpose

The purpose of this non-profit organization shall be to promote cooperation among fraternities, to formulate rules and procedures for recruitment and new member education, to regulate interfraternity activities, and to insure cooperation between fraternities and other student organizations and the University administration.

Our Mission

We, the Interfraternity Council, know that the social fraternities of the University of Rhode Island are an integral part of the University. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the fraternities to cooperate with each other and the University Administration in the promotion of intellectual, social, and moral development of our undergraduate student members. As an instrument to further these ends and to maintain a bond of friendship among the fraternities of the University of Rhode Island we have created this mission.

 

History of the NIC

The North-American Interfraternity Conference (formerly known as the National Interfraternity Conference) has a long and storied history as a body that has assisted fraternal organizations to work together. On November 27, 1909, 26 fraternities met to discuss critical issues facing fraternities at that time. A formal organization was completed in 1910. In 1931 the organization’s name was changed from Interfraternity Conference to National Interfraternity Conference. In 1999, the leadership again changed the name to North-American Interfraternity Conference to celebrate the membership of brothers in Canada.

Today, the NIC has 64 member organizations with 5500 chapters located on 800 campuses in the United States and Canada with approximately 350,000 undergraduate members. The NIC is led by a Board of Directors comprised of 15 volunteers from member fraternities. The headquarters and professional staff are located in Indianapolis, IN.

SOURCE: www.nicindy.org

Mission of the NIC

The NIC serves to advocate the needs of its member fraternities through enrichment of the fraternity experience; advancement and growth of the fraternity community; and enhancement of the educational mission of the host institutions. The NIC is also committed to enhancing the benefits of fraternity membership. Each of the 64 member organizations has adopted basic expectations of their members and agreed to the following Nine Basic Expectations:

  1. I will know and understand the ideals expressed in my fraternity ritual and will strive to incorporate them in my daily life.
  2. I will strive for academic achievement and practice academic integrity.
  3. I will respect the dignity of all persons; therefore I will not physically, mentally, psychologically or sexually abuse or harm any human being.
  4. I will protect the health and safety of all human beings.
  5. I will respect my property and the property of others; therefore, I will neither abuse nor tolerate the abuse of property.
  6. I will meet my financial obligations in a timely manner.
  7. I will neither use nor support the use of illegal drugs; I will neither misuse nor support the misuse of alcohol.
  8. I acknowledge that a clean and attractive environment is essential to both physical and mental health; therefore, I will do all in my power to see that the chapter property is properly cleaned and maintained.
  9. I will challenge all my fraternity members to abide by these fraternal expectations and will confront those who violate them.