COLUMBUS -- The Ohio State University is establishing higher academic, recruitment and leadership standards for its Greek community which chapters university-wide will begin implementing over the next year.

Chapter presidents met recently with interim Vice President for Student Affairs William H. Hall to discuss the implementation process for achieving the goals and standards outlined in the newly released Greek Life Task Force Report. The report includes feedback from the Greek community and reflects a shared commitment to a quality Greek experience at Ohio State.

"The task force, with significant input from the Greek leaders, has come up with a clear set of goals," Hall said. "I am encouraged by the willingness of our Greek-affiliated students, their advisers, and national and international organizations to work together with university staff on fulfilling the report's vision."

The Greek Life Task Force was assembled in 1999 by then-Vice President for Student and Urban/Community Affairs David Williams II to outline steps the university and Greek community could take to strengthen campus and Greek ties.

In addition, the university sought to improve the quality of the Greek experience at Ohio State, including fostering safer activities, improved academic performance and more effective chapter advising, said Tracy Stuck, director of Student Activities & Campus Programs, the office which serves as a liaison between the university and the Greek community.

"We all agree on the importance of having a strong Greek community on this campus," Stuck said. "Fraternities have been a part of this university since its founding, and no one wants that to change."

Currently there are 27 fraternities, 18 sororities and eight African-American fraternities and sororities registered at Ohio State. Chapters are represented by the Interfraternity Council, the Women's Panhellenic Association and the Pan-Hellenic Council, respectively.

"The task force believes that a Greek community that is living its goals and values through strong individual chapters and effective inter-Greek programs can greatly enhance the quality of life at Ohio State and the success of student members," Stuck said. "At its best, a Greek community complements the mission of its host institution."

Goals include:

· Academic Achievement: Organizations should support and encourage individuals to achieve their personal academic best while collectively achieving an overall Greek grade point average (GPA) that consistently exceeds the all-undergraduate average.

· Membership and Organizational Growth: Recruitment should be based on quality, while retention should be encouraged through involvement. Chapters should provide leadership learning opportunities that complement and enhance the student experience.

· Chapter Environment: There should be a safe and healthy organizational environment. All individual ideas should be recognized for their value. Each chapter should have a trained, live-in adviser.

· A Connected Community: The community should be strong and connected and view the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Chapters should recognize the importance of connecting to the larger community through service and philanthropic efforts.

Standards of Excellence include:

· Development of a comprehensive plan by each chapter that addresses, at minimum, the following areas of chapter management: academics, chapter size/recruitment, advisers, financial matters/budget, community service, risk management and diversity education. The plan will be reviewed by officials in the Office of Student Activities and Campus Programs. By March 1 of each year, a report will be completed by the chapters outlining the progress of individual goals and standards.

· Availability of leadership classes by Ohio State to enhance chapter development.

· Establishment of new grade point standards. To be a new member (pledge), students will need at least a 2.25 cumulative GPA based on at least 12 earned college or university credit hours. Students already initiated into a national/international organization may immediately affiliate with that group. Exceptions to this rule may only be made by Student Activities & Campus Programs before the chapter selects new members. In addition, the GPA for the chapter must meet or exceed the all-undergraduate average for the Columbus campus during the previous academic year. Up to three quarters will be allotted for chapters to meet or make significant progress toward the standards.

· Establishment of realistic goals by each chapter for the ideal size of its membership by the end of the year.

· Selection by each chapter of at least two advisers, one of whom must be a university faculty or staff member.

· Sponsorship of at least one community service event per year that involves at least 75 percent of chapter membership.

· Signing of the new member card by all new members indicating that they have been advised about hazing and other pertinent issues.

· Registration of social functions of any kind with Student Activities & Campus Programs.

· Education of members about issues related to diverse populations identified by ethnicity, race, religious preference, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Seventy-five percent of each chapter must participate in one diversity-oriented program each year.

· Establishment of the Greek Progress Review Board, which will review problems or inconsistencies between chapters' goal statements and members' actual behavior. The board will have nine members, including presidents of all three Greek Councils and an elected representative of the multicultural fraternities and sororities, two Greek alumni, one faculty/staff member and the assistant director of Student Activities & Campus Programs.

A complete copy of the Greek Life Task Force report is available by calling Karissa L. Shivley at 292-8295 or at www.osu.edu/student-activities

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