Policies & Position Statements

Information Practices
Security and privacy are important priorities for Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority and users of our websites. Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority is committed to taking all reasonable steps to keep your information secure and confidential. The content provided is the property of the sorority and should only be used in the context provided.

Guidelines for Use of the Members-Only Area
Our website includes a members’ only area as facilitated through Sigma Connect. Access to this area is password protected. Once a member registers, they can use their username and password to access sensitive information regarding recruitment, programming, officer responsibilities, etc. The resources, tools, and services provided on this site are provided without warranty, either express or implied. Under no circumstances will Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority be liable for damages resulting from the use or inability to use this site.

What Information Do We Collect?
You may be asked to provide your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, member number or other information to allow you to make use of portions Sigma Connect. You may refuse to provide your personal information; however, this may lead to your inability to access parts of the site. We may also collect your domain type, browser version, service provider, operating system, IP address and areas of the site visited for the purpose of improving the site.

How Is Your Information Used?
Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority uses personal information only for the limited purposes of: administering the site; distributing newsletters, publishing announcements or promoting events or opportunities that may be of interest to you; providing Internet security; and meeting legal requirements.

We may work with business partners who may perform functions on our behalf, such as providing promotional materials, sending e-mail, managing data or providing customer service. They have access to your personal information only when supplied by the sorority and only to the extent necessary to perform the work for which they have been contracted. They shall not be authorized by Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority to use it for any other purposes. Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority will not sell your personal information.

Privacy of Children
We strictly adhere to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act and will not knowingly register or otherwise collect personally identifiable information from any child under the age of 13 without the prior verifiable consent of that person’s parent or guardian.

Security
We have policies and procedures in place to protect the privacy and confidentiality of any personal information that we collect and maintain. All personal information is stored on our secured servers, behind a firewall at a data center with access to data strictly controlled. Any unauthorized use of the site may result in criminal and/or civil prosecution.

Terms of Use
Use of this site constitutes agreement with all the terms, conditions and privacy policy of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority. Copyrighted, trademarked, and other proprietary information available through this Site may be accessed and used only in accordance with all applicable local and international laws.  Use of content by members or non-members other than for the intended purpose is strictly prohibited. Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority does not accept responsibility for misuse of information obtained from this site.

Links
The site may contain links to other sites on the internet that are owned and operated by third parties. Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority is not responsible for the collection or use of your information via any third-party site.

Member/Chapter Website Development Procedures for Chapters
The following guidelines are established for the protection of Sigma Sigma Sigma, its members, and its chapters. They are intended to assist chapters in developing and maintaining a website that ensures a positive image of Sigma Sigma Sigma, the chapter, and its members. Each chapter will be provided with a chapter website via a technology platform contracted through NHQ. No other chapter websites will be permitted.

Chapter Websites and Social Media Accounts Shall:

• Be used to positively promote Tri Sigma, our values, and the ideals of sisterhood.
• Be linked to Sigma Sigma Sigma’s national website.
• Be monitored occasionally by NHQ for adherence to current rules and procedures. Any chapter website, other than the one provided by NHQ, is prohibited and must be deleted. Chapters will receive one warning along with the request to close other sites. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension of activities until resolved. The national organization can assist if you no longer have access or do not have passwords.
• Adhere to all Sigma Sigma Sigma guidelines and policies regarding publicity and print materials, particularly concerning the use of Sigma Sigma Sigma’s logos and marks.
• Be periodically updated with special attention given to any time-sensitive information.
• Provide login credentials to the Chapter President and Collegiate Communications Manager who will be responsible for maintaining and updating the site in compliance with all rules, regulations, and policies of Sigma Sigma Sigma. They may manually grant other members editing access as needed.
• Adhere to Panhellenic rules, including those regarding the publishing of Recruitment details or schedules. If there is a conflict with Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority rules and procedures, contact NHQ for direction.

Chapter Websites and Social Media Accounts Shall Not:

• Include any copyrighted materials, including photographs, from other sources, or any trademarks owned by third parties without proper authorization.
• Include information concerning he Ritual of Sigma Sigma Sigma or the address/phone number of any member, including advisors and/or staff or housing volunteers.
• Contain content considered to be defamatory, offensive, or harassing, could offend on the basis of race, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, or disability.
• Post of any type of electronic chain letter.
• Be used to put down another member or organization.

It is incumbent on the individual member of Sigma Sigma Sigma to use personal websites and social media channels appropriately with regard to any reference to the sorority or any member’s information. Use caution in linking to other sites and check all of your links periodically.

Violation of any of these guidelines may result in disciplinary action for one or more individuals or for the chapter. Sigma Sigma Sigma reserves the right to revise this policy at any time. Chapter compliance will be expected with appropriate prior notification. Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority also reserves the right to remove inappropriate language or pictures from this website.

Additional Guidelines for National Officers
Sorority business is often of a sensitive and/or confidential nature. The utmost caution must be used in sending this type of information electronically.

Alumnae and collegiate chapter leaders, as well as national volunteers, are expected to check their email regularly. They may not unsubscribe from any mass communications sent to them from the trisigma.org domain. If they do, they may be resubscribed without their permission.

While some emails may not require a response, it is ordinarily expected that a reply be sent within 48 hours. Be sure to copy other department heads and national officers as needed.

Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, or disability. Membership in Tri Sigma is based solely on the membership standards as listed in the Rituals of Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Position on Legacy Members
A potential new member who is a legacy—defined as a sister, mother, daughter, granddaughter, niece, stepdaughter, stepmother, or stepsister of an initiated member—will not receive preferential treatment during the recruitment process. Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority recognizes these special relationships; however, any legacy should be extended the same courtesy given to all recruitment guests.

Position on Gender Identity
A potential new member who self-identifies as a woman shall be treated as a woman regardless of any other circumstance. 

Hazing practices are against the law and shall have no part in a Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority membership program, or any other chapter activities, as it is detrimental to the safety and well-being of members and the membership experience. This includes—but is not limited to—physically abusive and psychologically manipulative behaviors. 

Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created, knowingly, whether on or off sorority premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, ridicule, or an uncomfortable atmosphere. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol; creation of excessive fatigue; physical or psychological shocks; engaging in public stunts or jokes; morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; scavenger hunts or quests that must be completed within a specific amount of time; late work sessions which interfere with regular class attendance or study time; and any other activities which are not consistent with the rules, policies, and regulations of the educational institution or the ritual, policies, and procedures of the national organization.

Any member found accountable for hazing will be immediately terminated from membership. Chapters and members must also adhere to relevant state and local laws and campus hazing policies.

Alcohol
Tri Sigma prohibits the storage, use, or serving of alcohol in a sorority housing facility; purchasing alcohol with chapter funds; receiving alcohol as a sponsorship or partnership agreement; and giving alcohol as gifts as a part of any sorority-sponsored activity where collegiate members are present.

Members must abide by applicable federal, state, or local laws, and campus policies at chapter functions and registered events. Serving alcohol at events where collegiate members are present is prohibited except at closed social events which comply with the procedures for events with alcohol.  This alcohol policy is the personal responsibility of every collegiate and alumnae member and guest attending a collegiate event with alcohol.

Controlled Substances
The term, “Controlled Substance,” refers to any drug or chemical that is illegal under the applicable state or local law to manufacture, sell, possess, or use outside the dispensation of a properly-licensed physician’s prescription.  

Members, new members, and guests may not possess, use, provide, distribute, sell and/or manufacture controlled substances while in Tri Sigma facilities or at any activity or event sponsored or endorsed by the chapter. Any collegiate member or new member found to have violated this policy through the collegiate accountability processes may be terminated immediately from membership.

When acting on behalf of the national organization, collegiate, alumnae, volunteers and employees must not use electronic communications and/or social media to post, transmit, store, retrieve, display, distribute, share or download content that is defamatory, violent or contains sexually explicit material; discriminatory language; and/or threats of violence; personal attacks based upon race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability status; or promotion of illegal activities. It must be verified that the content being posted does not contain proprietary third-party material without proper authorization or compliance with copyright, trademark, or other applicable laws.

When not acting on behalf of the national organization, the same individuals referenced above must never disclose confidential proprietary information learned in the course of their employment or involvement as a member or volunteer. Presenting personal views in written or visual form on any electronic or social media in a manner that could be construed as representing the views of Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority is prohibited.