System encourages Greek self-improvement

Timothy F. Brooks and Noel E. Hart

In an effort to improve the University's Greek system--and to enhance the experience of the students involved in its 11 fraternities and 18 sororities--an evaluation system was implemented at the beginning of the 1996 academic year.

Under the Greek System Five-Star Chapter Evaluation program, each registered organization is evaluated in five areas: academics; financial management; University/community relations and service; campus involvement; and membership intake and/or pledge program.

The new rating system provides a framework through which chapters can document their activities and successes, and it also serves as a tool to measure chapters in a standardized way.

According to Timothy F. Brooks, student life, academic improvement is the number one area or interest.

Before the program began a year ago, he said, many fraternity members were performing at lower academic levels when compared to the overall male student population.

Over the past year, Brooks said, "we have noted dramatic positive changes, and the rate of academic improvement was higher in the Greek system than in the University system as a whole."

There was a 1 percent overall rise in academic improvement in the general male population, and a 3 percent improvement for fraternity members.

Brooks said he finds the results encouraging, especially since they occurred during the first year of the new program's implementation.

UD's program is modeled after one at Utah State University, according to Noel E. Hart, Greek affairs. At UD, each Greek organization must submit a chapter report--annually last year, but semiannually beginning with the current academic year. The 20-page document is divided into the five sections being evaluated, ranging from academics to community service.

Under the program, significant awards are given to the highest-scoring fraternities and sororities. The best five-star fraternity and sorority each receive a scholarship award of $1,000 and the President's Gold Cup Award. This trophy circulates among winning chapters, and the five-star chapters are recognized at the Greek awards banquet in May.

Second-highest-scoring fraternities and sororities each receive the Silver Cup and scholarship awards of $500; and the third-highest chapters, Bronze Cup winners, earn $250 scholarships.

Success is measured on a point system, which is spelled out in the 20-page evaluation form packet. Chapter violations of the University's Code of Conduct are considered serious and can drop a chapter one star level or more.

The loss of 31 points, a very high number, is assessed for an alcohol violation, Brooks said. He explained that the inclusion of stiff penalties complements the University's strong educational effort regarding use and abuse of alcohol.

The five-star evaluation program also is designed to foster fiscal responsibility, organizational and management skills and academic achievement, he said.

"We're hopeful that the participants will pull away from some of the social events that previously have gotten them into trouble and have had negative effects. I think the new process will change the social culture of the Greek organizations and benefit the individual chapters and the University."

The sororities, Hart said, have been very receptive to the new program. "You can see by the number of four- and five-star chapters that they are actively involved in the program. I think they are using the process as a tool to improve their chapters, and they view the recognition they receive as a sign of prestige. I think that is reflected in the excellent results they have had in the first year."

"The fraternities," she added, "are taking a little longer to come around. But, I believe the groups that are initially successful in adopting the purpose and goals of the evaluation will see overall improvement in their chapters."

Hart said UD is in the first wave of schools addressing Greek-related issues, and she has received a number of requests for information on the UD five-star evaluation program.

Roland M. Smith, vice president for student life, suggested establishing the evaluation system when he arrived at the University in 1995.

According to Brooks, Smith recommended that a clear set of standards be established to improve the overall program and benefit the individual chapters and students.

According to Smith, "The model for the program is the accreditation reviews that academic departments periodically undergo. With regard to our Greek system, the guiding principle is to hold each chapter to a set of standards and ideals that they all profess to believe in."

-Ed Okonowicz
Photo by Jack Buxbaum

Greek Five-Star Chapter Evaluation Rankings*

Sororities

Five-star chapters
Delta Gamma, recipient of the 1997 President's Gold Cup Award
Sigma Kappa
Chi Omega

Fraternities

Three-star chapters
Alpha Tau Omega
Kappa Delta Rho
Lambda Chi Alpha
Phi Sigma Kappa
Sigma Alpha Mu
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Tau Epsilon Phi
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Theta Xi
Alpha Epsilon Pi
Alpha Gamma Rho
Kappa Alpha
Phi Kappa Tau
Pi Kappa Alpha
Sigma Nu
Sigma Chi