
2024 Academy
The Academy, conducted each year in early January, is designed to give new chapter officers a strong foundation so they can dynamically and courageously lead their chapters. Brothers participating are exposed to the basic elements of chapter operations as well as higher level leadership development, providing them with the knowledge and leadership skills needed for effective chapter management.
The 2024 Academy will be held January 5-7, 2024, in St. Louis, Missouri at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton.
Registration
The registration deadline for undergraduate attendees, Section Leaders and Purple Legionnaires is Friday, December 8. Hotel accommodations cannot be guaranteed for registrations received after this date.
Register Now!
Registration Fees
Undergraduates
Every chapter/provisional chapter is billed for THREE delegates ($475 each for a total of $1,425) to attend the Academy. Additional delegates are encouraged to attend and will be invoiced ($475 each) to the chapter/provisional chapter after the event.
We strongly encourage Presidents, Recruitment Chairmen and Built to Lead Chairmen to attend, as well as new Purple Legionnaires. Educational tracks are also provided for Treasurers, Recording Secretaries, Corresponding Secretaries, Historians and Graduate Volunteers.
- Shared accommodations (up to four undergraduates per double-bedded room from the same chapter) at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel for Friday, January 5, and Saturday, January 6, nights. Brothers will be required to provide a credit card to the hotel for incidental charges.
- The Fraternity will make all hotel room reservations based on Academy registration.
- If you need a room for Thursday, January 4, LET US KNOW. Your chapter will be billed extra room nights (approximate cost: $124/room night).
- Undergraduates may request additional rooms) so that a maximum of two (2) brothers share a hotel room. These are available on a limited (first-come, first-serve) basis, and your chapter will be billed for the additional rooms). LET US KNOW if you would like to request additional rooms.
- All meals beginning with Friday's Opening Dinner and concluding with Saturday's Pig Dinner.
- All conference materials.
- A commemorative Academy gift.
Graduates
Tracks are offered for Section Leaders, Purple Legionnaires and other graduate volunteers/advisors.
Section Leaders and Purple Legionnaires are provided complimentary registration, and other graduates will be charged a $475 fee at registration.
- Shared accommodations (up to two graduates per double-bedded room) at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel for Friday, January 5, and Saturday, January 6, nights. Brothers will be required to provide a credit card to the hotel for incidental charges.
- The Fraternity will make all hotel room reservations based on Academy registration.
- If you need a room for Thursday, January 4, LET US KNOW.
- Graduates may request a single room at their own expense (approximate cost: $62/room night), payable to the Union Station hotel at checkout. You may make this request as a part of the Academy registration.
- All meals beginning with Friday's Opening Dinner and concluding with Saturday's Pig Dinner.
- All conference materials.
- A commemorative Academy gift.
When Do I Need to Be in St. Louis?
Arrivals & Departures
- Arrive: Friday, January 5, 2024. Sessions begin at 2:00 pm CT.
- Depart: Anytime on Sunday, January 7, 2024
Transportation
Attendees are responsible for their own travel to/from the Academy and for all parking costs.
Each chapter receives one reimbursement at a rate of $0.22 per mile for the round-trip mileage from your chapter to St. Louis, Missouri. The reimbursement will be applied to your chapter's account at the International Headquarters following the Academy. To receive your reimbursement, your chapter's delegates must attend.
Brothers flying to the Academy should arrive in St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL), approximately 15 miles from the Union Station hotel.
Getting to the Academy Hotel
The Academy will be held at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel: 1820 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103. Phone: 314-621-5262.
Metrolink: A light rail train system connects both terminals of the airport to the downtown area. From the airport, take the Red Line to the Union Station Metrolink Station. Upon arrival, proceed to 18th Street and right onto Market Street to get to the hotel entrance. Reference these directions.
Total travel time is 27-30 minutes. The trains depart approximately every 20 minutes. Fare from the airport is $4.00.
Please note: As in any setting, be cautious of your surroundings, especially on public transportation.
Taxi/Shared Ride Services: There are taxis available outside of baggage claim at the airport or from the lobby of the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. Cab fare runs approximately $45 each way. Shared ride services such as Uber or Lyft may also be available. Fares generally run between $30-$40 each way.
Visit the hotel's Maps & Directions page for detailed driving directions.
If you drive to the Academy, the Fraternity has negotiated parking rates of $17.50/day for self-parking or $22.50/day for valet. The parking fees are your responsibility.
Because of the timing and location of our Academy, it is important to be prepared for travel delays. If you are delayed, do not worry. Just get to St. Louis and the Union Station hotel as soon as you can. If you are delayed to the point you will not arrive on your scheduled day, contact Todd Rotgers to adjust your hotel reservation.
Schedule
Pursuing Excellence
This year, the Pursuing Excellence sessions showcase the Built to Lead Menu Experience programming. These sessions are available for undergraduate brothers on Friday, January 5, 2024, beginning at 2:00 pm CT. Brothers must rank your top three choices on the Academy registration form, and you will be notified of your assigned session before arriving in St. Louis.
Facilitator: Logan McLendon (Alabama Birmingham 2020)
Join Logan McClendon, Grants & Research Analyst at the University of Alabama Birmingham, for a discussion on service, a foundational value of Phi Gamma Delta. Participants will also discuss how the chapter's participation in meaningful civic and philanthropic work can help strengthen their bonds as brothers.
Facilitator: Kirk Walden (Texas Arlington 1972)
Come explore the Five Exemplary Practices of Leadership and learn how to guide a group with different leadership styles. In this session, participants will take the Leadership Practices Inventory to learn the leadership style that is most natural to them. Participants will identify ways the Five Exemplary Practices of Leadership can enhance member engagement, chapter meetings and programming.
Facilitator: Section Leader Jade Metcalf (Washington State 1992)
What sets you apart from the other 1,000 job seekers who are applying for the job you want? Learn how to highlight your Phi Gam leadership experience in a way that gets your application noticed.
Facilitator: Purple Legionnaire Justin Halter (Akron 2021)
Participants will learn how to increase graduate brother involvement in their chapters through meaningful engagement. Walk away with strategies to strengthen relationships with graduate brothers, organize effective events and fully leverage graduate advisory support.
Facilitator: Educational Director Amelious Whyte (Minnesota Faculty)
Participants in this session will explore what it means to be successful in college, identify personal goals for enhancing their success, and learn how to articulate what they have gained during their time in college.
Facilitator: Daylon Weddle (DePauw 2017)
Join Daylon Weddle, the Associate Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life at DePauw University, for a conversation on how to brainstorm engaging brotherhood activities within the Built to Lead framework that will provide unique experiences for all members, enhancing friendships and deepening their brotherhood.
Saturday Afternoon Breakout Session
On Saturday afternoon, January 6, 2024, we are offering a breakout session for undergraduate brothers who are registered for the President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Historian or Built to Lead Chairman tracks. Brothers must rank your top two choices on the Academy registration form, and you will be notified of your assigned session before arriving in St. Louis.
Facilitator: Bonny Shade
Courageous Mentality educates students about sexual violence, healthy relationships and victim/survivor support. It also increases members’ interest in critical thinking about the topic, examining what occurs in their own chapter, and challenging their patterns of behavior to implement key takeaways they learn. Through this session, members will examine multiple levels of sexual violence prevention and data while developing best practices to prevent and respond to sexual violence in their chapter.
Facilitators: Director of DEIB DeVere Kutscher (Davidson 1997), Director of Education Abby McCollom
Join DeVere Kutscher and Abby McCollom to have a conversation of what action in the face of incidents related to diversity, equity, inclusion or belonging takes places within the chapter, locally, or globally. There will also be a brief overview of DEIB resources provided by Phi Gamma Delta.
Facilitator: Director of Chapter Services - East Ben Blacklock (Sam Houston 2015)
An opportunity to review the judicial process used to hold members accountable for their actions. We will discuss how this process can be used to create member sanctions that are appropriate to the violation and provide an opportunity for member growth.
Facilitator: Ross Szabo
This session helps better prepare members for how to lead the Behind Happy Faces Mental Health Curriculum. Participants will discuss the main learning objectives of the curriculum, receive tips on how to personalize facilitating the curriculum, strategies for how to continue the conversation about mental health after the lessons and how leaders can continue to take care of their own mental health needs. Behind Happy Faces has been a strong way to educate about mental health in Phi Gamma Delta. It's important to continue to learn best practices for how to further mental health education in chapters and understand the public health approach that this curriculum uses.
Facilitators: Senior Director of Chapter Services Noah McHale, Field Secretary Jordan Archer (Alabama Birmingham 2021), Field Secretary Sean Moskal (Mississippi State 2021)
Remember that survey you and all your brothers took? Come learn how you can use what your members said about their experience in the chapter to guide your choices as a leader. This session will walk you through how to read your chapter’s report and give space for you to consider how the data from your members can be used to elevate the chapter experience.
Tentative Schedule
All times are in Central Time (CT).