The health and safety of our members, volunteers and staff is of the utmost importance. As the public health situation around COVID-19 (coronavirus) rapidly evolves, we want you to know we are closely monitoring this issue, garnering information from the appropriate health experts and officials, and working to address the continued impact on Kappa Kappa Gamma.
While we cannot foresee what will happen next, one thing is certain: This pandemic has and will likely continue to disrupt aspects of our traditional membership experience while we wait for a vaccine.
Kappa endeavors to provide a quality and enriching membership experience as we believe sisterhood is a crucial support network now more than ever. In an effort to ensure the health and safety of our members, Kappa is providing the following guidance and resources.
Update on Kappa Events/Gatherings
What You Can Do to Stop the Spread
Alumna Member Experience
Collegiate Member Experience
Kappa Headquarters, Events and Travel
Additional Resources
As information is constantly changing, please continue to check this page for the latest information and guidance.
Spring 2021 Restrictions:
- Events with alcohol are not permitted.
- Chapters should use the In-Person Event Safety Plan Template and work with their Risk Management Specialist to create the safest plan possible.
- Virtual offerings must be planned for members who are considered high risk or who may not feel comfortable attending an in-person function.
- All events must follow state, local, provincial, federal guidelines as well as those from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Public Health Agency of Canada and the university.
Spring 2021 Recommendations:
- Chapters are strongly encouraged to gather in groups of no more than 25 individuals.
- We recommend in-person gatherings be re-evaluated at the chapter level if the local COVID-19 infection rate exceeds 5%.
As a reminder, National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is recommending that both Recruitment and Bid Day be held virtually. For chapters preparing for Recruitment, Kappa expects recruitment workshops, work week/spirit week to be held virtually as well. Please reach out to your Membership Specialist for questions regarding Recruitment and your Programming Specialist for questions regarding Bid Day and the new member experience.
Members are expected to adhere to guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and/or the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), state/provincial/local health department, university officials, the Fraternity, House Board/ Fraternity Housing Corporation, and/or chapter leadership regarding hygiene, social/physical distancing, face coverings/masks, cleaning, limitations on mass gatherings and attendance at events, and/or participation in activities that are not required by my coursework or employment.
We encourage members to continue to educate themselves via the CDC and PHAC, local health authorities, and their college/university.
Alumnae associations are encouraged to continue to engage with their membership as well as review and adjust plans for the fall. We recommend that associations follow all local and state guidelines around COVID-19 and gatherings. The health and safety of our membership is paramount, so virtual gatherings might be the best option. For resources for alumnae associations, log in and navigate to More Resources > General Resources.
Contact the Alumnae Experience Department at Kappa Headquarters for more.
Chapter Operations
Campuses are considering a range of options for the safety of their communities. These options tend to fall along a continuum, from returning to in-person classes to virtual classes. Chapters, advisers, and House Boards are expected to plan accordingly with Kappa’s guidance along with:
- State/provincial or local regulatory agency policies.
- College/university guidelines or policies.
Kappa is monitoring campus return plans and is preparing chapters for three potential scenarios:
- In-person Kappa experience: This is for chapters that will resume classes as usual with no virtual classes. While members are able to gather in person, this experience includes health guidelines regarding physical distancing, cleaning precautions, etc.
- Hybrid Kappa experience: This is for chapters on campuses that are holding a mix of in-person and online courses OR for campuses with health guidelines that prohibit gatherings that are larger than the size of the chapter.
- Virtual Kappa experience: This is for chapters on campuses that are only/predominately holding online classes.
Members who are taking a term or the academic year off, transferring, or needing a change in their membership status due to impacts related to COVID-19 are encouraged to reach out to their chapter President to discuss options.
Contact the Chapter Services Department at Kappa Headquarters for more.
Facilities
The Housing Department and facilities team are providing resources and guidance to house corporations to safely open houses to residents.
For more information on Kappa’s recommendations for housing, log in and navigate to More Resources > General Resources.
Contact the Housing Department at Kappa Headquarters for further assistance.
Kappa Kappa Gamma Headquarters staff members are continuing to work partially remotely. A comprehensive plan, including extensive cleaning protocols, is in place to ensure the health and safety of the staff when in the facility. Additionally, a business continuity plan has been developed in the event staff will be required to work remotely full time in the future. We are working to minimize disruptions for our members and do not expect delays in email, mail, and phone communications. Visitors to our office in Dublin, Ohio, are prohibited until further notice.
We have suspended nearly all travel for the immediate future.
Additionally, until further notice, the following events have been canceled/suspended/postponed out of an abundance of caution for our members, staff and communities.
Kappa Education Trainer visits
We are continuing to monitor and will reevaluate plans at a later date. Please contact Kappa Headquarters with any questions regarding these latest decisions.
Mental Wellness
The outbreak of the coronavirus may be stressful for many members. Remember that Kappa has resources for members who may need support during this time, including Kappa’s mental health screening and the Mental Health and Well-Being Chapter Guide. Refer to A Virtual Kappa Experience for more ideas. These resources can be found by logging in and navigating to More Resources > General Resources. For a helpful general resource, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guide to managing anxiety and stress and the Public Health Agency of Canada’s guide to managing mental and physical health.
Rose McGill Grants | Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation
Rose McGill Grants are available for members experiencing financial challenges due to the pandemic. If you or a Kappa you know are having difficulty paying bills related to the basic necessities of life because of a loss of income or an unexpected financial emergency, the Foundation may be able to help through a Rose McGill Grant. Initiated members, both alumnae and collegians, may apply for a grant.
Applications for disaster relief and other types of grants are available here.
Since 1922, Kappa’s Rose McGill fund has been available for members. Rose McGill embodies the best in our Kappa sisterhood: sisters helping each other through life's challenges. We are here for you.
For additional information, please contact the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation.
For the latest information about the public health situation, please visit:
World Health Organization (WHO)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
For more information about COVID-19’s impact on Greek-letter organizations and membership experiences, please visit:
National Panhellenic Conference
MJ Insurance
Holmes Murphy
To read Kappa's coronavirus-related communications, click here. Please note: You will be asked to log in.