Nineteen brothers of the Theta Eta chapter at Texas State University arrived at Highland Lakes Camp & Conference Center in Spicewood, Texas, on October 16. The group spanned every class year: nine sophomores, six seniors, two juniors, and a first-year, as well as seven new members. None of the brothers surveyed after the weekend had attended a chapter retreat before. Two days later, they left the Hill Country with a shared definition of leadership, a common framework for practicing it, and a closer bond between the chapter's newest members and the men who will hand the chapter to them.

Theta Eta is the second chapter this fall to complete the retreat on leadership, following Iota Kappa at the University of Utah in September. Delta Sigma Phi’s Membership Experience Chapter Retreats bring the learning of our flagship programs directly to chapters. Inspired by our flagship program Leadership Institute (LI), the retreat on leadership teaches members the 5 Practices of Exemplary Leadership and gives them space to apply each practice to real challenges in their chapter and their lives. The retreats are a growing part of our Pursue Education pillar, and the Delta Sigma Phi Foundation funds the program so members attend at no cost. Andrew Thomas, Indiana University Indianapolis ‘14, director of membership experience, facilitated the retreat with Nathan Stromberg, Northern Colorado ‘21, chapter and alumni communications coordinator.

Members spent Friday afternoon looking at leadership through a growth-mindset lens, building a shared definition of leadership, and teaching the 5 Practices to each other in small groups. That evening, the work turned personal. Each brother identified a leadership challenge from his own chapter, academic, or personal life and brought it to the Hot Seat. His peers could not offer advice. They could only ask coaching questions drawn from the 5 Practices, which pushed him to find his own answer. Every brother who completed the post-retreat survey rated the Hot Seat excellent.

Before the night ended, every member wrote down one commitment to act on in the next two weeks. Many chose personal accountability, from showing up to class to using campus resources, while others focused on their relationships, their careers, and their chapter, including one brother who committed to Enable Others to Act. On Saturday morning, the chapter took on the camp’s Hexapod and zipline, where communication and trust moved from the meeting room to the challenge course.

For a chapter with seniors and new members in the same room, the timing matters. The upperclassmen who spent that weekend in Spicewood are handing Theta Eta to the sophomores and new members beside them, and both now share a common language for what that leadership looks like. Every brother who completed the survey said he would attend another chapter retreat.

Chapters interested in hosting a Membership Experience Chapter Retreat should fill out a retreat request form. These retreats continue to strengthen the Pursue Education pillar and bring Delta Sigma Phi’s leadership education to more chapters across the country.