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Fraternity & Sorority Plan for Academic Success
When a fraternity or sorority at UNC-Chapel Hill requests or requires assistance with a
comprehensive academic plan, staff in OFSL-CI will utilize the following discussion points to
both assess the current status of the organization relative to academic support and help
chapters design new structures, policies, processes, and programming to address the specific
needs of the group.
1. Organizational structures and philosophy
a. Scholarship Position- Is position voted onto exec council or appointed?
i. Recommendation would be exec position with authority
1. upperclass student well-respected and trusted by peers
2. not necessary that student be the best/highest GPA in chaptersometimes a student with a 4.0 lacks the patience or
understanding to help someone who is struggling academically
3. peer mentoring and advising training is available
b. One person or a committee?
i. Recommend an elected chair lead a committee
c. Is academics an espoused value or an enacted value? How would someone know
that your chapter values academics? Is there a budget?
i. Chapters need to be able to articulate the value of academics and show it
in how they allocate time, resources ($), priorities, etc.
d. Goal setting- where are you now, where do you want to be? One semester, 3
semesters?
i. Goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and
timely)
2. Recruitment/Intake
a. 1st year, 1st semester students- how do you infuse the value and expectation of
academic success when you don’t know their in-college academic potential?
i. Academic success should be one of the primary messages shared during
recruitment
ii. Important to discuss what the academic expectations of new member
period and membership will be
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b. Upperclass students- what are the minimum GPA expectations since they have
college grades?
i. Consider aligning minimum GPA’s with chapter standards
c. Current Members involved in recruitment/intake process- how is the chapter
supporting/holding accountable the academic success of the current members
while they take part in recruitment/intake activities
3. New Member Education
a. Program structure- meetings, events, “quiet time”; how much should the chapter
ask from them in order to maintain academics as the priority?
i. In general, a one size fits all approach (like study tables/halls) do little to
support individualized needs
ii. Scholarship chairs and New Member Educators should meet with every
new member right after bid/offer to intake to discuss an individualized
academic success plan
iii. Consider the value of structuring new member education time for one
night a week for a few hours (Wednesdays from 7-10) vs. only giving 2
hours a night (7-9) for “quiet time”
b. Expectations of new members- class attendance, prioritizing obligations, grades
c. Individualized academic plans- class schedule, syllabi, busy points in semester,
success/support aids (tutoring, coaching, etc.)
d. Monitoring- how will you know if new members are executing their plan and
staying on top of their priorities? Mid-semester reports, turn in tests/papers, etc.
e. Anti-hazing policies & procedures- everything else your chapter does to support
new member academic success is negated if health & wellness is being
compromised via physical, emotional, or mental abuse
f. Communication with Parents- give them what the chapter expects and provide
them with contact information if they have any concerns
4. Membership Development & Accountability
a. Expectations of Membership and Accountability Policies/Procedures
i. What is the minimum chapter GPA? What happens if someone does not
meet it? For one semester? For multiple semesters?
ii. What does it mean to go “inactive”? Does your national organization
allow it? How do you define it? Do you have requirements for someone to
go inactive but remain in good standing?
b. Resources and support for those who need help
c. Chapter-wide programming: study skills, tutoring, time management, note
taking, etc.
d. Accountability teams, mentor/mentee, big brother/big sister- groups that can
help support one another and encourage success
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5. Reward & Recognition
a. Ongoing opportunities- games, prizes, activities at weekly meetings; recognition
boards at houses or on web pages
b. End of Year/Semester- banquet, dinner; scholarships, dues reductions; plaques
and certificates; ads in the DTH
c. Top performers- Dean’s List, 4.0
d. Most Improved
e. Encourage/financially support application to Order of Omega/Gamma Sigma
Alpha
f. Nominate for campus and Chapter Excellence Awards awards
6. Role of Advisors
a. Alumni/Chapter Advisor
b. Faculty/staff
c. Board of Alumni Advisors
d. Review of grade reports- meetings with students who are below standards
e. Regularity of meetings- when and where do advising meetings happen
f. Influence on decision making- can the advisor step in and make change
7. Support from Campus/Nationals/Regionals
a. Existing policies/standards/expectations
b. Existing programs/resources- i.e., Center for Student Success and Academic
Counseling (http://cssac.unc.edu/ )
i. http://learningcenter.unc.edu/
ii. http://writingcenter.unc.edu/
iii. http://www.unc.edu/asp/
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Plan Timeline:
__ distribution of grade reports (~6-8 weeks after end of previous term)
__ formal notification to meet for groups w/ semester & cumulative GPA below 2.7 or AllUniversity avg. (if recruiting 1st year, 1st semester students)
__ schedule meeting with Chapter President, Scholarship Chair (or person responsible for plan
implementation), at least one advisor (pref faculty & chapter), and communicate
meeting to national/regional offices, to develop academic plan
- Plan must include how the chapter will address, through structures, policies,
processes, and programming, each step of the comprehensive academic plan
- Some questions to ask:
o How will this plan help to support the academic success of new members in
our organization?
o How will this plan help to support the academic success of members
following initiation?
o How will this plan hold our members accountable for our minimum chapter
standards?
o How will this plan incorporate our advisors, our nationals/regionals, OFSLCI, other UNC resources?
__ schedule follow up meeting approximately 1 month from initial meeting to assess plan
implementation
Resources:
Chapter Assessment Worksheet- this should be completed by the chapter president prior to the
academic plan meeting with OFSL-CI
Academic Recovery Strategy & Commitment- this is a contract that can be used by chapter
with members who have been identified as being in need of academic assistance
Chapter Scholarship Plans- these are scholarship plans that chapters can adopt and edit as
needed
Duties for Scholarship Chairperson- these are examples of things a scholarship chairperson
can/should be doing