Commission on Fraternities and Sororities

Summary Recommendations for New Policies and Practices to Guide the Greek Community at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

October 14, 1999

Summary of 1989 Commission Recommendations with Revisions

1. Each social fraternity and sorority shall hold membership in one of the three umbrella organizations—Interfraternity Council (IFC), National PanHellenic Council (NPHC) and Panhellenic Association (PHA)—in order to become a registered student organization.
   
   
2. Each umbrella organization shall establish, publicize and enforce clearly stated rules and regulations and codes of conduct.
   
   
3. Each umbrella organization and all chapter houses shall sponsor programs and activities to educate their members about issues of enduring concern to the
   community.
   
   
4. Each umbrella organization and each chapter shall develop and enforce standards of organizational behavior regarding the responsible use of alcohol and expand efforts to control alcohol abuse.
   
   
5. [revision] Each umbrella organization, in cooperation with the All Greek Council, shall develop meaningful programs to encourage scholarship.
   
   
6. [revision] Each umbrella organization shall cooperate with and participate in the Greek Judicial Boards which have emerged as the investigating bodies on misconduct and grievances.
   
   
7. [revision] Each chapter house shall have one or more chapter advisors and these advisors shall be listed with the Fraternity & Sorority Advisor in the Student Organization Office.
   
   
8. [revision] Each chapter house shall have a Resident Advisor/House Director and that RA/HD shall be listed with the Fraternity &Sorority Advisor in the Student Organization Office. The Commission must expand efforts at selection, training and effectiveness of Resident Advisor/House Director services.
   
   
9. [revision] Each chapter shall have a functioning house corporation board that establishes and abides by a regular schedule of house inspections and the
   board members shall be listed with the Fraternity & Sorority Advisor in the Student Organization Office.
   
   
10. [revision] The Dean of Students office was provided funding to support two Fraternity-Sorority Advisors in 1989 as recommended by the Commission Report. That number was reduced to one in 1994. The Dean of Students should be provided the resources to reinstate a second advisor, and pay of advisors should be made comparable with pay at other Big Ten institutions.
    
    
11. [revision] The existing All Greek Council, established under this recommendation of the 1989 Commission Report shall continue and expand its programs across the three umbrella groups.
    
    
12. [revision] The recommendation in the 1989 Commission Report to establish a Fraternity Alumni Council was initiated, but the organization did not survive.
    This year, the Commission, through the Fraternity & Sorority Advisor and the Student Organization Office, has reactivated this important organization as the Greek Alumni Council composed of alumni men and women. The Commission shall continue to support the work of the Council.
    
    
13. [revision] The Commission on Fraternities and Sororities shall continue to oversee the relationship between the university and the Greek community, and it shall assume a new, more active role in proposing, advocating for, and implementing creative programs.
    
    
14. [new] The Commission on Fraternities and Sororities shall establish, as needed, standing committees on relevant and critical issues for Greek life to study the issues, develop programs and report to the Commission on findings and recommendations. Committees shall be composed of Commission members, Greek students, academic staff, faculty, alumni and other interested parties.

Summary of New Recommendations

General recommendation: The Commission on Fraternities and Sororities must move beyond simply providing oversight of the Greek system. The university, through the Commission, must assume a more active, collaborative role with fraternity and sorority chapters and their umbrella organizations in proposing, advocating, and implementing creative programs to improve Greek life on this campus.

I. Recommendations for Changing Alcohol Policies and Practices

Alcohol abuse at fraternity and sorority house functions and its dire consequences are the most serious problems presently facing the Greek community and the university. Alcohol abuse at fraternity parties is widespread and dangerous. It is entirely unbecoming and diminishes the ethos of traditional Greek life. We must confront this affliction and find ways to abate it.

1. To begin the change process this year, IFC and PHA sponsored an Alcohol Summit on campus on October 2, 1999. Presentations by national and local leaders were well attended, and discussion groups were actively engaged in commentaries and debates. IFC, PHA and the Commission, in the weeks ahead,
   must strive to reach consensus on a uniform policy for this critical issue and devise an action plan for implementing change.
   
   
2. Some fraternities will be required by their nationals to begin alcohol-free socials next academic year. We must do all in our power to procure university and alumni assistance for this change.
   
   
3. Some fraternities and sororities already are moving inaugurations and other events away from chapter houses to food-and-drink establishments in the city. The Commission must work with the umbrella organizations, the city and the private establishments to develop guidelines for a responsible system of out-of-chapter house events to assure the safety and security of gatherings and comply with the underage no-drinking law.

II. Recommendations for a Survey of Philanthropy and an All Greek Community Service Project

1. To document the extent of philanthropy and community service, we must establish an annual survey of chapter philanthropy and individual member’s community service, and determine ways to encourage additional activities and gain publicity for the work that is being done.
   
   
2. The All Greek Council should plan an All-Greek Community Service Project for the 2000-2001 school year.

III. Recommendations for Expanded Scholarship, Education, Leadership and Communication Programs

1. All Greek Council needs to form a Scholarship Committee to find ways to enhance scholarship in all the chapters, including guidelines for study halls, quiet hours and an academic mentoring program.
   
   
2. The Fraternity & Sorority Advisor collects grade point averages each semester on all members of all chapters. With assistance from the university we need to develop a more efficient, timely and less costly procedure for procuring this important information.
   
   
3. The Commission must find resources to develop a centralized, mandatory new member education program.
   
   
4. The Commission will oversee the implementation of an electronic communication system for Greek chapter members.
   
   
5. The Greek community must initiate a printed newsletter with a minimum of one issue each semester for internal information and external publicity.

IV. Recommendation to Initiate State of the Chapter Reports and Chapters of Excellence Awards

Fraternity and sorority chapters must be held accountable for achieving their primary functions of scholarship, service and fellowship in wholesome quality of life surroundings. The Commission should begin planning for the implementation of State of the Chapter Reports and Chapters of Excellence Awards. These reports and awards can become a major mechanism for setting standards and assessing achievements of chapters, and they will provide a way for positive encouragement and assistance to chapters for betterment.

V. Recommendations for Changing Recruitment Policies and Practices

1. Umbrella organizations and the Commission must establish a Task Force on recruitment to develop a plan for year-round recruitment and special programming with implementation by the year 2002.
   
   
2. Umbrella organizations and the Commission must develop and implement new policies for rush and pledge violations that will insure the elimination of hazing and the evasion of dry rush.

VI. Recommendations for Strengthening the Resident Advisors Program

1. The job title should be changed from Resident Advisor to House Director for all houses and reflect the extended responsibilities that present HDs assume. The Commission must develop a statement of job requirements in a uniform job description.
   
   
2. Training must begin for all new HDs early in the fall semester and as needed second semester.
   
   
3. The Commission must encourage and assist the HDs to establish a House Directors Association to share information, strive for collective problem solving and play a major role in HD training.
   
   
4. The Commission must find ways to fortify HD effectiveness, including (a) a role for the Commission and the Student Organization Office in the selection of HDs, (b) a requirement that mature, experienced personnel be hired and that chapter alumni can serve as HDs only if they have been out of their chapter houses for five years, (c) a minimum pay scale and benefits for HDs to guide house corporations, (d) a University affiliation for HDs that would provide access to university programs and facilities, (e) creation of an HD assessment procedure to be carried out periodically, and (f) assistance to chapter house corporations on hiring and retention of HDs.

VII. Recommendations for Increasing Organizational Competence

1. The Commission must strive to establish a routine of annual meetings of house corporation boards to discuss and develop their roles in (a) fiscal management and accounting of chapter houses, (b) selection and pay of HDs, (c) funding for HD training, (d) implementation of repair and remodeling programs (e) revitalization of and participation in the Greek Alumni Council, (f) establishment of an annual meeting or retreat of house corporation board members to discuss major issues and develop plans of action and (g) communicating with the City Assessor Office to review the real estate tax burden on Greek houses, understand the criteria used, and investigate possibilities for tax relief.
   
   
2. To establish programs and practices recommended in this report will require additional staff and interns. The Commission must seek funds to (a) permanently reinstate the second Greek advisor position, (b) raise the salary of staff positions to be competitive with other Big Ten institutions, (c) finance Fraternity & Sorority graduate and undergraduate internships to supplement the present undergraduate service learning internships.
   
   
3. Chapter houses need help in collecting fees from the small but significant number of members who do not meet their fiscal obligations. The Commission must work with the Registrar’s Office for withholding of course grades and/or graduation from students who are far in arrears on payment of house fees.

VIII. Building National PanHellenic Council and Its Chapters

1. The Commission must assist NPHC and its chapters to recruit and retain members by devising a recruitment strategy to reach African-American students. A closer relationship between NPHC and the Multicultural Student Center has to be built as part of the recruitment effort.
   
   
2. We must find funds to support a part-time advisor who can work closely with NPHC and the Black Greek chapters
   
   
3. NPHC needs office space for its operations, preferably in the new Multicultural Student Center.
   
   
4. NPHC and its chapters should have a close tie to the university’s 2008 Plan to build minority student recruitment and retention. The Commission must work to build this relationship.

IX. Fund-Raising

The Commission must work with the Chancellor, the Provost, The University Foundation and The Wisconsin Alumni Association to raise funds for Greek Community projects. This should include a Greek Alumni Directory across all chapters for fund-raising for all Greek programs, chapter programs and house physical plant maintenance and remodeling.

X. Recommendations for Building the All Greek Community

1. The Greek community needs an annual welcoming celebration for all members early in the school year. We propose the establishment of an All Greek Welcome Celebration in September each year.
   
   
2. The present Greek Week held in April should become Greek Spirit Week, with expanded programming. It should serve as the occasion for Greek identity and pride with wide notice and publicity to the University and Madison communities.
   
   
3. With assistance from University Recreational Sports, the Greek community needs to expand Badger Bowl to become a sports league of Greek games