This past term, University fraternities and sororities received the highest grades in the recorded history of the Greek Life Office, with the all-greek grade point average reaching 3.1. The number matched the University undergraduate average for the first time in more than 20 years, according to a Greek Life Office press release.
Many of the University’s fraternity and sorority members have made headway since the administration implemented its endorsement policies in fall 2002, which include GPA and alcohol-free standards. Still, some houses continue to struggle with the tougher requirements.
Greek-affiliated students say they have been striving for a new image by placing a stronger emphasis on academics since the endorsement policies hit the greek system.
“I think that as greeks, we’re trying to move into an entirely new direction,” said Kara Merrill, Greek Life’s vice president of panhellenic scholarship.
Merrill’s sorority, Pi Beta Phi, accumulated a 3.41 GPA, the highest of all the greek houses. Kappa Delta came in second out of the sororities with a 3.28 and Chi Omega came in third with a 3.21, according to the release. The highest fraternity GPA was Delta Sigma Phi’s 3.16. Beta Theta Pi achieved a 3.12 and Sigma Chi earned a 3.09 average.
Six of the 12 fraternities exceeded the University undergraduate all-men’s average, which was 2.98, according to the release. Three of the nine sororities met or exceeded the all-women’s average, which was 3.16.
The houses are required to meet or make progress toward the University’s undergraduate all-men’s or all-women’s GPA to maintain affiliation, Director of Student Activities Gregg Lobisser said.
Greek Life Coordinator Shelley Sutherland said greek-affiliated students have focused on improving their scholarship for the past few years, and since the implementation of the dry-house regulation for fraternities, GPA averages have risen.
“They’ve been able to focus more on their grades,” she said. “Generally, the
attitude and atmosphere is better now.”
Delta Sigma Phi Public Relations Chairman James Runge said he understands people could draw the conclusion that the dry-house rule is cause for the grade improvements, but he said it depends on each house and each member as to whether that makes a difference.
“That comes down to a house-by-house basis,” he said.
Delta Sigma Phi has made academics its top priority, he said, with a strong support system for struggling students. He said a scholarship chair was created in the fall, and members meet to study in the library two to three times a week.
“We try to make sure every brother in our house is a well-balanced guy,” he said.
Pi Beta Phi Vice President of Mental Advancement Marissa Neitling attributes the improvements to a new system of goal-setting implemented in her house last term. In the system, members decide on academic goals and are rewarded for achieving them. She said she doesn’t know if there’s a correlation between dry houses and better grades, but said the greek system is pushing for general improvement.
“We’re working to hold ourselves to higher standards,” she said.
Despite this widespread effort, two fraternities continue to struggle with the endorsement requirements and face disaffiliation from the University, Lobisser said.
Although Beta Theta Pi received the second-highest fraternity GPA last term, it failed to meet the University’s dry-house standards last fall, which led to its national organization calling for the house to be restructured, chapter President Dan Occhipinti said.
“Since that time, our chapter has made significant advancements in every aspect of greek life,” he said in an e-mailed statement.
The house recently appealed to the University and awaits a hearing to receive an extended probation period, which would give members the chance to prove their chapter is worthy of endorsement, Occhipinti said.
Beta Theta Pi Scholarship Chairman Chris Holman said the restructuring meant members that fell below a 2.75 GPA had to leave the fraternity. He said the remaining 29 members have been able to keep up their averages.
“Right now our house is really strong in academics,” he said.
Holman added the dry-house rule has helped members focus more on schoolwork.
“Alcohol is just one less distraction that you have to worry about,” he said.
The Chi Psi fraternity also faces possible disaffiliation. The fraternity has continually failed to meet the University’s GPA standards for fraternities (meeting or exceeding the University’s undergraduate all-men’s average). Chi Psi’s GPA average for the past three terms has been 2.68.
House Corporation President David Waterfall said the house also has appealed the disaffiliation process, and that the members are striving to get their grades up.
“Their idea is to improve dramatically and get back up to the average,” he said.
Sutherland said the greek system was founded on academic success, leadership and character building, and she is hoping the overall improvements will attract more students seeking such opportunities.
“The greeks are very good at providing those,” she said.