CLA Volunteer Training

The Carlson Leadership Academy provides our undergraduate officers and leaders a chance to develop skills, acquire resources and expand their SigEp network in an effort to push their chapters to the next level.  As members of an Alumni & Volunteer Corporation, you have the same opportunity.  SigEp volunteers will engage with National Directors, district governors, higher education professionals, and expert volunteers to develop and hone their skills in undergraduate mentoring, alumni cultivation, and asset management.  

Core Program Components (All Sites)

Each Academy will offer a diverse spectrum of programming on undergraduate mentoring, alumni cultivation and fundraising, and corporate health.  

SigEp and Undergraduates Today: Alumni and volunteers will work with higher education professionals to examine how SigEp’s programs are meeting the needs of today’s college student.  The discussion will focus on the millennial student and how his SigEp experience is preparing him to be successful during and after college.

Maintaining the Health of Your Corporation: Too often, volunteers reinvent the wheel when it comes to maintaining the health of their AVC. Alumni and volunteers will engage with expert volunteers about key corporate documents and best practices as well as state and federal responsibilities.

Alumni Cultivation: Experienced volunteers and professionals will present on best practices for cultivating an engaged base of alumni, parents and university staff. Communications, programming and volunteer recruitment will be discussed in this session.

Fundraising:  Every AVC can and should raise money for their chapter each year.  Fraternity and Foundation staff will lead a conversation about your chapter’s fundraising lifecycle, how to develop a case for support, and best practices for putting your raised funds to work. 

Balanced Man Program Training: The Balanced Man Program (BMP) works. Our chapters that effectively implement the program attract the best leaders and scholars on their campus, they maintain higher GPAs, and more of their members graduate as SigEps. This session, led by SigEp staff, will focus on refining the BMP at your chapter. It will examine issues such as fighting campus culture, upperclassman development, putting your plan in writing, and building a culture of mentoring.

Time with the National Board: Alumni and volunteers will have the opportunity for candid conversation with current national directors who will answer questions and discuss the Board’s vision and priorities.

Academy-Specific Programming (Atlanta, Santa Clara, and Stamford)

The Atlanta, Santa Clara, and Stamford Academies will offer two volunteer training tracks – one focused on undergraduate mentoring and a second focused on alumni cultivation and fundraising.  This will allow for greater focus on the above topics and the following additional programming: 

Risk Management Discussion: Each year the Academy features a program by an expert in risk management, and each year our volunteers are often left wondering, “How can I prevent something like that from happening at my chapter?”  This year, following Saturday’s lunch, alumni and volunteers can explore that question and take a deep dive into risk management with our facilitators and experts in the field. 

Capstone Presentations: Alumni and volunteers often learn the best from other alumni and volunteers.  CLA provides plenty of informal opportunities to make these connections. In addition, some of our most experienced volunteers will present on a range of projects and initiatives they have successfully implemented in the areas of undergraduate mentoring and alumni cultivation.