Hammond will lead a commission that will evaluate alcohol use. The other two commissions will examine hazing and sexual violence.
The NIC represents 74 international and national men’s fraternities in North America.
Over the next 18 months, each of the commissions will conduct in-depth, issue-specific research to identify innovative opportunities for the NIC and its member fraternities to tackle these issues.
“Fraternities have a vital role to play in creating safer student experiences and environments. These commissions are a bold step in identifying the best opportunities for impact,” said NIC President and CEO Pete Smithhisler. “We are extremely grateful to the commissioners who have volunteered their time and expertise to this initiative, and we look forward to a robust process built on a diverse body of research and knowledge.”
Each commission will include 10 to 12 subject matter experts, policy makers, researchers, higher education leaders and practitioners with content area expertise. Their work will culminate in a comprehensive, action-oriented report that will be delivered to the NIC president by April 1, 2016.
The NIC named the following higher education and fraternity industry experts as commission leaders:
· Commission on Alcohol Use within Fraternity Culture — Dr. Hammond.
· Commission on Hazing Awareness and Prevention — Dr. Walter Kimbrough, president, Dillard University.
· Commission on Sexual Violence and Abuse Prevention — Allen Groves, dean of students, University of Virginia.
“It is an honor and a privilege to be asked to provide leadership for this important national initiative,” Dr. Hammond said of his appointment. “I look forward to working with experts in the field and the higher education leadership to develop recommendations for improvement in this important area of collegiate life.”
The NIC Presidential Commissions are part of the conference’s ongoing commitment to create environments that foster the success of member fraternities while providing leadership to address the environmental and behavioral challenges that affect fraternity members and undergraduate students throughout North America.
“We must find new ways to help address these challenges for the broader campus community and to preserve all that is good about fraternities,” said Smithhisler. “When fraternity is done right, there is no better experience to promote the development of men into committed, ethical leaders who, in turn, have positive influence on their communities.”
For more information, contact Jen Kilian, director of member services for NIC, at jen@nicindy.org or call 317-872-1112.