Alcohol education insurance discount

Sigma Phi Epsilon is committed to educating our membership about responsible alcohol use and good risk management practices to ensure your fraternity experience is a safe one.

A chapter where ninety percent of its chapter membership attends a risk management substance abuse education seminar is eligible to receive a five percent discount/rebate on its liability insurance bill. It must be completed during the academic year.

You can set up an educational program for your chapter in just a few short steps.

Step 1.  Contact your campus or community health educators, substance abuse counselors, Headquarters staff, alumni volunteers, attorneys, local police, etc. On many campuses, student wellness centers or student health services departments provide health education seminars for student organizations. These departments can provide education on a range of topics such as STDs, depression, and alcohol and other drugs.  You can find one of these professionals to facilitate a program for your chapter.

Step 2.  Discuss guidelines with the presenter.
The chapter should discuss the outline with the presenter. The following are the presentation guidelines for an approved substance abuse education seminar:

• Discuss how alcohol affects the body and the effects of alcohol on a user’s behavior (such as lowered inhibitions, and poor coordination). Also discuss the secondary effects of alcohol (such as disturbances to a roommate, property damage or assaulting another person).
• Discuss the effects of illegal drugs, such as marijuana and ecstasy, to the user. Discuss the health risks associated with illegal substances. Note, as each campus may have different substance related issues on campus, the presenter should discuss the most significant problem on campus.
• Discuss what should be done if someone has passed out, is unconscious, or hurt as a result of alcohol or other drugs.
• Discuss what can be done to ensure alcohol is used properly, what to do if a person is suspected or knowingly has a substance abuse problem, and where to get help with dealing with a substance abuse related issue.
• Facilitator should tie this in with the importance of practicing good risk management.
• In addition to substance abuse programs, the chapter can plan a presentation focused on hazing, sexual assault, physical assault or bystander behavior.

Step 3. Take attendance at the presentation and have the presenter sign the sheet.
The chapter should have each member print and sign his name on a sign-in sheet as he enters the presentation room. Please submit the original sign-in sheet as well as a typed sign in sheet listing the full names of all attendees. Do not use nicknames.

Step 4. Write a summary. Outline what the chapter learned, what the information means, and what the members are going to do with this information.

Step 5. Mail the attendance sheet and letter to Headquarters. Upon review, chapters successfully completing an educational program will receive a five percent discount/rebate on their spring liability insurance bill. Please submit documentation within 30 days of the program. You may only qualify for the discount/rebate once per academic year.

Send your risk management education materials to Kathy Johnston, Director of Risk Management. You may contact Kathy at 804-612-1402 or by email at Kathy.johnston@sigep.net. In order to receive the five percent discount/rebate, a chapter must be in good standing. Chapters that have an outstanding chapter account balance with headquarters will have the five percent rebate applied to their chapter account.

Other ways to provide a safe environment
Each chapter should make every effort to provide a safe environment at chapter functions for friends and guests. To learn how your chapter can create a safe environment for members and guests, please review the Sigma Phi Epsilon Risk Management Guide.