Associates have a voice and are able to vote and pass motions in all chapter meetings. They do not meet exclusively like a pledge class. Requirements of Associates are not based on different standards than are applied to Initiated Members. Associated and Initiated members have the same rights and priveleges. Associates receive mentors in the form of a big brother to assist them through the Fraternity as well as academics.
Associate membership is on a trail basis.
If at any time you decide Lambda Chi Alpha isn't for you, from when you sign your bid to initiation, you can disassociate without any obligation. Rather than having to sit in a class and be tested over fraternity history and policies, each associate is assigned a Big Brother to be his guide, not just for the time between Association and Initiation, but for as long as a guide is needed. Not only that, but we want a ritual so impressive that we shall remember it in after life, at times when we shall stand in need of it. Things like that take time and hard thought. Every initiated Lambda Chi can attest to this.