Health and Safety Policies

Health and Safety Philosophy

To foster a spirit of cherished friendships and sisterhood, allowing each member to strive to meet the high ideals of Alpha Gamma Delta, the Fraternity commits to preparing members to be confident, purposeful women. The philosophy statement seeks to provide intentional education and support to equip members to navigate situations involving harm.

• Every member’s responsibility is to make safe choices that contribute to a lifetime of health and vigor of the body for themselves, their sisters and their campus communities.
• Members and chapters should make informed decisions, act with social integrity and accept personal and chapter responsibility to impact their community positively.
• The Fraternity commits to providing ongoing education and support, understanding that reducing risk and learning from past behaviors contributes to personal growth and a healthier member experience.

Accountability

Members make personal choices with the expectation to follow the foundation and principles of the Fraternity, federal, state/provincial, local and university laws and regulations. The Fraternity acknowledges a member will make personal choices that impact self and the Alpha Gamma Delta member experience.

• Each Alpha Gamma Delta chapter and individual members should adhere to the Health and Safety Policies.
• Failure by a chapter or individual members to comply with any outlined policies, federal, state/provincial, local laws, college or university policies, Fraternity or chapter requirements are considered non-supportive of the standards of Alpha Gamma Delta. Failure to comply can result in disciplinary action, which may include additional regulations.
• The International Fraternity reserves the right to revoke event privileges or cease all chapter operations of any Alpha Gamma Delta chapter at any time.
• The local chapter reserves the right to revoke event privileges of any member, alumna or non-member for violation of Fraternity policies or disrespect to a member, the chapter or a chapter event.
• New chapters established within the last five years may be subject to additional regulations.

Alcohol and Drugs

• The possession, sale, use or consumption of alcoholic beverages while on chapter premises (owned, rented or utilized) is prohibited.
• Alcohol brought, kept, stored, served or consumed in the chapter house, room, designated space or on chapter property by members or non-members is prohibited.
• No person under the legal drinking age may possess or consume alcoholic beverages.
• No members—collectively or individually—shall purchase for, serve, or sell alcoholic beverages to any minor.
• Any event or activity related to recruitment, the new member process or Ritual must be substance free.
• The possession, sale or use of drugs (including but not limited to cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy and heroin) or unprescribed controlled substances and misuse of any prescribed controlled substance are prohibited.
• Possession, sale or use of drugs on chapter premises at an event an observer would associate with the Fraternity or a situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter is prohibited.
• An event, activity or situation endorsed by the chapter should comply with all applicable federal, state/province, country and city laws and institution of higher education policies.
• Any chapter event with alcohol should comply with BYOB or Third-Party Vendor (TPV) procedures.

Event Planning

• Any event a reasonable observer would associate with Alpha Gamma Delta must follow the health and safety policies and the outlined structure for event planning. Event organizers can find the outlined structure in the event planning guide (EPG).
• The event planning committee will review and approve all chapter events and add each event to the chapter calendar.
• Events with alcohol, contracts/agreements for services or substantial use of chapter funds must be approved and added to the chapter calendar at least 21 days before the event and added to VeriSky according to the outlined structure.
• Chapters are not permitted to plan events that cross international borders.
• A chapter may not plan a mandatory event for new members outside the prescribed Epsilon Pi Journey, other International Fraternity-directed programs or university requirements. All other chapter events are optional for new members to attend.
• Events involving guests who are non-members may not be overnight events.
• Events at an FHC chapter facility require an FHC Event Request Form so local staff can be aware of the events and prepare, if necessary.
• Events at an HA chapter facility require a House Association Chapter Facility Form so local staff can be aware of the events and prepare, if necessary.

Prohibited Events

Participation in, hosting or co-hosting an event on chapter premises or at any event a reasonable observer would associate with Alpha Gamma Delta is not permitted. This list includes but is not limited to:

• Bounce houses/inflatables on or off chapter property
• Boxing tournaments
• Events with alcohol near or attendees in bodies of water
• Food Eating Competitions or Challenges
• Slip and slides, waterslides or any other water feature

Events with Alcohol

• Events, where alcohol is present may not be overnight events, mandatory or occur on the same day as Initiation or Feast of Roses.
• Events with alcohol require sober monitors.
• Common sources of alcohol, including bulk quantities not served by a licensed and insured TPV, are prohibited.
• Chapter funds or money pooled by members or guests (admission fees, cover fees, collecting funds through digital apps, etc.) cannot purchase alcoholic beverages.
• Alpha Gamma Delta chapters must not co-host, co-sponsor, or participate in any activity or event with another group or entity that purchases or provides alcohol.
• A chapter cannot co-host or co-sponsor an event with a bar, event promoter or alcohol distributor. A chapter may rent a bar, restaurant or other licensed and insured TPV to host a chapter event.
• Neither chapter members nor a specific group of members shall participate in, tolerate or encourage drinking games or “pub/bar crawls.”
• Participating in, co-sponsoring with or attending events for an organization with withdrawn recognition by the institution or inter/national organization is prohibited.
• Events with alcohol must be closed, invitation-only events with a guest list system and must not exceed three guests per member. The total number of attendees must not exceed fire code capacity.
• Attendees of legal drinking age intending to consume alcoholic beverages must have a wristband or other unique identifier to designate they are of legal drinking age.

Third-Party Vendor Procedures

• TPV must have an appropriate license by local and state/provincial authorities and may involve a liquor license or a temporary license to sell on the premises.
• TPV must be adequately insured with a minimum of $1 million of general and liquor liability insurance, evidenced by a correctly completed certificate of insurance prepared by their insurance provider.
• The TPV must agree to per-drink sales only, collected by the vendor, during the event.
• The TPV must assume all responsibility that any other purveyor of alcoholic beverages would assume in the normal course of business, including but not limited to:
  • Checking identification cards upon entry.
  • Not serving minors.
  • Not serving individuals who appear to be intoxicated.
  • Maintain absolute control of all alcoholic containers present.
  • Collecting all remaining alcohol at the end of an event (No excess alcohol—opened or unopened—is to be given, sold or furnished to the chapter)

BYOB Procedures

• BYOB events are allowed if they are compatible with campus/university social policy.
• Each person of legal drinking age may bring and consume NO MORE THAN: six standard drinks (beer, cider, servings of wine, wine coolers, etc.) at a BYOB event.
• No hard liquor is allowed.
• The chapter is responsible for checking IDs at the door to identify physically (e.g., non-removable wristband, non-transferable stamp or marking) those of legal drinking age.

Transportation

• For any events with alcohol held outside of the college/university area, all members and guests must travel to and from the event by bus or public/commercial transportation within the same day or evening. Transportation exceptions are permitted only with approval from the Fraternity Wellness Team.
• Sober driver programs are allowed when associated with an Alpha Gamma Delta chapter event within the college/university area.
• Alpha Gamma Delta members shall not participate in sober driver programs for events held by other organizations.
• Attendees cannot transport alcohol in the passenger compartment of a vehicle. For Third-Party Vendor events, no alcohol is allowed on the bus.

Facility Safety

• All chapter facilities should meet local fire and health codes and standards and hold the minimum fire and safety drills.
• All chapters should post the Crisis Response Plan in common areas of the facility and have evacuation routes posted on the back of each sleeping room door.
• All chapter facilities should comply with loss prevention recommendations reported by the insurance company or municipal authorities.
• The possession or use of firearms, explosives or incendiary devices within the confines and premises of the chapter facility or an Alpha Gamma Delta event is prohibited.
• All Alpha Gamma Delta facilities are smoke-free, including but not limited to e-cigarettes and vape devices.
• The use of space heaters or candles in chapter houses or individual rooms, except under controlled circumstances such as Initiation, is not permitted.
• Alcohol, cannabis, and illegal substances on any part of the premises are not permitted.
• For House Association properties, persons hired by the chapter to perform services regularly are employees of the chapter. Local, state/provincial and federal laws protect employees. The chapter should prepare an Employment Agreement with the assistance of local legal counsel. The local chapter is legally required to provide a safe workplace.
• The above policies are in addition to any rules, regulations or policies provided in house rules or Resident Member Agreement with the Fraternity Housing Corporation or Chapter Housing Agreement with the local House Association.

Hazing

Activities not consistent with academic achievement, the Epsilon Pi Journey, Ritual, Alpha Gamma Delta policies, or the regulations and policies of the educational institution or applicable state/provincial laws are not permitted. No chapter, new chapter, collegian or alumna shall conduct, participate in or condone hazing activities. Permission or approval by a person to be hazed is not a defense.

Hazing activities can be “any action taken, or situation created intentionally, on or off Fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule.” Practices that include, but are not limited to, kidnapping, scavenger hunts, road trips, use of blindfolds and involvement/participation in hazing members from different organizations are prohibited.

Sexual Harassment

Actions, activities or events, whether on chapter premises or an off-site location, which are demeaning to people, including but not limited to verbal harassment or sexual assault by individuals or members acting together. Any form of sexist or sexually abusive behavior on the part of its members, employees and vendors, whether physical, mental or emotional, is not tolerated or condoned by Alpha Gamma Delta.

The employment or use of strippers, exotic dancers or similar, whether professional or amateur, is prohibited at any event an observer would associate with the Fraternity.

Fighting and Physical abuse

Fighting or physically abusive behavior of any form while on chapter premises, during an Alpha Gamma Delta event, participation in another organization’s events, in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter or in any event an observer would associate with the Fraternity will not be tolerated or condoned.

Online Posting and Communication

An Alpha Gamma Delta chapter and individual member posting negative, insulting, threatening information or engaging in any behavior contrary to the membership standards of conduct outlined in the Alpha Gamma Delta policies or Code of Standards may be subject to discipline at the local or international level.

Retaliation

Retaliation against a member, new member or non-member who makes an allegation, files a report, serves as a witness, assists a complainant or participates in a policy violation investigation will not be tolerated. Overt or covert acts of retaliation against an individual or group for exercising rights or responsibilities under this policy will be subject to appropriate and prompt discipline at the local or international level.