If you are a member of SigEp, you have undoubtedly heard the term “AVC” thrown around a few times but you may not know exactly what the AVC is or the purpose of it. In short, the acronym AVC stands for the Alumni and Volunteer Corporation and is made up of individuals who strive to help and develop the undergraduate chapter that they are associated with. The corporation is typically made up of alumni of the undergraduate chapter; however, the corporation is not exclusive to SigEp alumni. It can also be made up of volunteers who want to help the chapter, parents of SigEp members, or even friends of the chapter.
What exactly are the responsibilities of the AVC?
One of more notable responsibilities of the AVC is that of mentoring and supporting undergraduate operations. This is most obvious through the work of our Mentorship committee. Through our mentorship program, each member of the undergraduate executive board is paired with an AVC mentor who is familiar with their roles and tasks. This is done to help the undergraduates ease into their positions and work on their own skills. This guidance also helps the undergraduates stay on track with their individual goals for their terms and live up to the expectations of the Brothers who held the roles before them. Mentorship is not just exclusive to the executive board though. The Mentorship Committee also provides mentors for other high-importance positions within the undergraduate chapter, as well as career mentors. Members of the AVC often present topics of interest or valuable life skills that are rarely taught in a classroom setting.
Another notable responsibility of the AVC is to act as a liaison between SigEp Headquarters and the undergraduate chapter. SigEp headquarters puts on a lot of different events, like the Carlson Leadership Academy, Ruck Leadership Institute, and the Tragos Quest to Greece, each of which are designed to provide the undergraduate members with priceless life experiences and opportunities to develop themselves. The AVC helps relay this information to undergraduates and helps provide opportunities for them to experience these events, through various scholarships. Every two years, SigEp Headquarters also evaluates each undergraduate chapter and provides feedback for the chapter. Various committees in the AVC, such as the Buchanan Cup committee and the SigEp Learning Community committee, take this information and work with the undergraduates to help implement this feedback.
How can I become involved in the AVC and what can I do?
Becoming involved with the AVC is easy! If interested, feel free to reach out to any members of the AVC Board of Directors Executive Board, who are listed on our website. You can also send an email to withetaavc@gmail.com or withetaavc.vicepresident@gmail.com, and we will get you the information to sign-up. As a member, you are entitled to attend any meetings of the Corporation, including our monthly Board of Directors meetings. The most important meeting is the Bi-Annual Corporation that is held during the Spring Banquet in April and Homecoming in October. During these meetings, the Board of Directors shares the progress of the Chapter and Corporation, and elects new members to the Board of Directors. At these meetings, you can also learn about the 13+ different committees that make up the AVC and become involved in them!