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Evaluate your Greek Advisor!
A quick and dirty way to judge the overall performance of a Greek Advisor in relation to your Greek System is to go back to the date they arrived and ask the following questions:
1. Are the organizations significantly bigger than they were when she started? (A clear sign of Growing Greek Life) 2. Are there more organizations on campus? (Again a clear sign of more Greek interest and good planning) 3. Have the intergreek Councils improved in operation? (More functions and less concerned with regulation etc) 4. If the answer was yes to those questions, is it because of programs the Greek Advisor started for that purpose or through their spiritual leadership (Personal influence)? 5. Do you officially hear about more interGreek intercampus conferences etc? Or is the Greek advisor setting up such conferences himself? (A sign that she is giving you more information about how other campuses perform and allowing you to network with those Greeks) 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? (a clear sign of some sophisticated leadership knowledge and an effective presentation. Oh and if you don't leave with a "tool" you can use for your problem it doesn't count) 7. Is your Greek Advisor more concerned with giving incentives than giving out punishment? |
Oh James, is this a present for me? :D She's no longer in the position, but I'll be glad to evaluate our school's old Greek advisor:
1. No 2. No - there were fewer 3. Other than unified hatred of her, no 4. n/a 5. No 6. No 7. Punishment, unless you want to do something for her, if you get my drift. :p |
James,
Where I go to school, LHU, has two advisors. One is for the fraternities. The other is for the sororities. Anyone have something like this? But, anyways, here are the answers about LHU's greek system: 1. Are the organizations significantly bigger than they were when she/he started? (A clear sign of Growing Greek Life) No, most chapters on campus are losing numbers. 2. Are there more organizations on campus? (Again a clear sign of more Greek interest and good planning) Yes, Zeta Phi Beta is trying to install a colony on campus. 3. Have the intergreek Councils improved in operation? (More functions and less concerned with regulation etc) In 2001, we tried merging Panhell and IFC into an All Greek Council. Let's just say in the end, it didn't work. But, for the most part, both councils are trying to work their hardest. 4. If the answer was yes to those questions, is it because of programs the Greek Advisor started for that purpose or through their spiritual leadership (Personal influence)? 5. Do you officially hear about more interGreek intercampus conferences etc? Or is the Greek advisor setting up such conferences himself? (A sign that she is giving you more information about how other campuses perform and allowing you to network with those Greeks) That would be a BIG NO! 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? (a clear sign of some sophisticated leadership knowledge and an effective presentation. Oh and if you don't leave with a "tool" you can use for your problem it doesn't count) No, they haven't. 7. Is your Greek Advisor more concerned with giving incentives than giving out punishment? Only if you can get in touch with either one of them. EagleChick19 |
1. Are the organizations significantly bigger than they were when she started? (A clear sign of Growing Greek Life)
The bigger houses have gotten bigger, the smaller houses have gotten smaller in IFC. PHC and USFC have stayed the same. 2. Are there more organizations on campus? (Again a clear sign of more Greek interest and good planning) USFC have grown, IFC has had more expulsions than introductions, and PHC has stayed the same 3. Have the intergreek Councils improved in operation? (More functions and less concerned with regulation etc) Aside from Ggreek Week, the only Cultural GLO that does stuff with IFC and PHC is because they have a chapter house, giving them more exposure. They go on walkarounds and do sorority philanthropies. It might be they are the only ones who want to branch out. 4. If the answer was yes to those questions, is it because of programs the Greek Advisor started for that purpose or through their spiritual leadership (Personal influence)? Not at all 5. Do you officially hear about more interGreek intercampus conferences etc? Or is the Greek advisor setting up such conferences himself? (A sign that she is giving you more information about how other campuses perform and allowing you to network with those Greeks) There has only been one all greek council conference, and it was a long time ago. And in any case, Dougie didn't set that up. 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? (a clear sign of some sophisticated leadership knowledge and an effective presentation. Oh and if you don't leave with a "tool" you can use for your problem it doesn't count) HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA 7. Is your Greek Advisor more concerned with giving incentives than giving out punishment? I really don't know what Doug wants. He always look for alcohol during rush and parties but pretty much turns his back on hazing unless someone ends up dead or in the hospital. The Greek Scene has declined since the glory days of the 80s and early 90s, and many feel he has somehting to do with it. |
Damn Stan, I give you A Multidude Thumbs UP!
Five as a matter of fact!http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmili.../xyxthumbs.gif You are so right on!:cool: How many "Greek Advisorsers" are there to be true Greek Advisors? Is it just a slot to be filled by ? someone! More true than not!:( |
While I can't answer many specifics, the Greek Advisor at the Univ of Puget Sound is doing an awesome job.
And she's a Gamma Phi................ I do think that the effectiveness of the GA is also a function of the attitude of the University. |
Wow- these are good questions. I really want to forward these to Our greek advisor.
1. Are the organizations significantly bigger than they were when she started? (A clear sign of Growing Greek Life) About the same, but we have lost one Fraternity. 2. Are there more organizations on campus? (Again a clear sign of more Greek interest and good planning) No, we lost one frat. 3. Have the intergreek Councils improved in operation? (More functions and less concerned with regulation etc) We have started to have an All Greek Formal, which was nice, but the idea of Greek Week still hasn't gotten off the ground. 4. If the answer was yes to those questions, is it because of programs the Greek Advisor started for that purpose or through their spiritual leadership (Personal influence)? I have no idea! 5. Do you officially hear about more interGreek intercampus conferences etc? Or is the Greek advisor setting up such conferences himself? (A sign that she is giving you more information about how other campuses perform and allowing you to network with those Greeks) We hear nothing of this. 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? (a clear sign of some sophisticated leadership knowledge and an effective presentation. Oh and if you don't leave with a "tool" you can use for your problem it doesn't count) I feel like there are party planning workshps that didn't used to exist, but they are not very helpful and just inform you of the rules you must follow. Other than that, the chapters are left to themselves 7. Is your Greek Advisor more concerned with giving incentives than giving out punishment? The Judicial board punushes, as well as the Dean of Students, not the advisor. But there hasn't been much to help us from not getting in trouble |
1. Yes, but there are also more residential students on campus.
2. No, three have been kicked off campus since he started (and two still have their national charters, just no school recognition) and one died out, but we have one coming on campus now. 3. I guess so 4. I don't really think so 5. Somewhat...I don't know how many we "officially" heard about to begin with. 6. I think we've had one or two of these. 7. Our Greek advisor is also the judicial affairs officer for the university, so no, he's more concerned with punishment. (Notice, three organizations kicked off campus, yet two still holding their national charter....there have been no "rewards" for those who remain) |
hhmmm
1) GLO's are about the same size now... an' about the same percentage of students are greek... 4% 2)nope... less: we lost Tau Epsilon Phi, and Sigma Pi in the last two years, and Sigma Elpha Epsilon is trying to get on campus but to no avail. 3) improvement marginal 4) ::shrug:: 5) we don't hear about how other places do it, nor do we hear about how other greeks on campus do it, we're kind of all on our own 6) yeah, plenty of leadership conferences, but nobody likes going to them 7) I think anyone in any position is always gung ho about giving out punishments. but hopefully I'm wrong and there are exceptions. |
1. Are the organizations significantly bigger than they were when she started? (A clear sign of Growing Greek Life)
Not really, about the same. Maybe slightly larger. That had nothing to do with the Greek Advisor though. 2. Are there more organizations on campus? (Again a clear sign of more Greek interest and good planning) Nope, but I think we need to add a few. 3. Have the intergreek Councils improved in operation? (More functions and less concerned with regulation etc) Nope but that's primarily because of stagnant leadership. Certain houses promote certain people just so they can say they have a leadership postion. Then the person does nothing -- and he was recently reelected after doing nothing. No one wants to have leadership in IFC because it's a do-nothing organization. 4. If the answer was yes to those questions, is it because of programs the Greek Advisor started for that purpose or through their spiritual leadership (Personal influence)? n/a 5. Do you officially hear about more interGreek intercampus conferences etc? Or is the Greek advisor setting up such conferences himself? (A sign that she is giving you more information about how other campuses perform and allowing you to network with those Greeks) What's an interGreek conference? :D 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? (a clear sign of some sophisticated leadership knowledge and an effective presentation. Oh and if you don't leave with a "tool" you can use for your problem it doesn't count) Never. 7. Is your Greek Advisor more concerned with giving incentives than giving out punishment? Our Greek advisor is VERY hands-off. He was hired by the university upon completion of his bachelors degree. He's a member (and very active alum) of a chapter on campus. He's fair as far as I know. In all his time as Greek Life advisor I've never heard of him doing anything or showing any kind of initiative. He's just taking up space in my opinion. On the other hand, things could be MUCH worse and he could be against us. So we take what we can get. |
1. Are the organizations significantly bigger than they were when she started? (A clear sign of Growing Greek Life)
No, most have shrunk, and one re-colonization attempt failed. 2. Are there more organizations on campus? (Again a clear sign of more Greek interest and good planning) Yes, Sigma Alpha (a professional agricultural group) is colonizing, but that was at the encouragement of Alpha Gamma Rho brothers, not our Greek Advisor. 3. Have the intergreek Councils improved in operation? (More functions and less concerned with regulation etc) This is hard to judge for women because we were Panhellenic when she came (due to the TPA recolonization) but then that dissolved and now we are "Women's Greek Council." 4. If the answer was yes to those questions, is it because of programs the Greek Advisor started for that purpose or through their spiritual leadership (Personal influence)? Definitely not. 5. Do you officially hear about more interGreek intercampus conferences etc? Or is the Greek advisor setting up such conferences himself? (A sign that she is giving you more information about how other campuses perform and allowing you to network with those Greeks) We hear about them, yes, but the people chosen to go haven't necessarily been bringing a lot back...and they're the same conferences we've always gone to. We were going to go to one extra one this year because she wants the school to host it next year "to show off our new student center." 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? (a clear sign of some sophisticated leadership knowledge and an effective presentation. Oh and if you don't leave with a "tool" you can use for your problem it doesn't count) Yes, and they are quite frankly horrible and a waste of our time, so they don't count. ;) Our last one was a dialogue on scholarship with the Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and he did a great job and she then took over, and had to ask not only *what* deferred recruitment was, but also how to spell it. 7. Is your Greek Advisor more concerned with giving incentives than giving out punishment? I would say neither. |
The reason I posted some criteria is that its hard to judge someone's effectiveness without a standard. Often we go by whether we have a positive feeling about them.
But you can have a positive feeling about someone that is a cool person but doesn't do much to help you and conversely you can have a negative feeling about a person that is quite beneficial. That is why its important to have an objective criteria. Quote:
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1. Are the organizations significantly bigger than they were when she started? (A clear sign of Growing Greek Life)
My sorority is larger, but Greek Life in general is not. She has been of NO help to us!!! 2. Are there more organizations on campus? (Again a clear sign of more Greek interest and good planning) No more sororities, but one more fraternity. But fraternities there come and go very quickly b/c of risk management issues. 3. Have the intergreek Councils improved in operation? (More functions and less concerned with regulation etc) No, the NPC pretty much does whatever the Greek Advisor wants, because the Greek Advisor decides that having votes is silly, and that she knows best. 4. If the answer was yes to those questions, is it because of programs the Greek Advisor started for that purpose or through their spiritual leadership (Personal influence)? N/A 5. Do you officially hear about more interGreek intercampus conferences etc? Or is the Greek advisor setting up such conferences himself? (A sign that she is giving you more information about how other campuses perform and allowing you to network with those Greeks) She doesn't provide much information on conferences. Usually our collegiates are informed by us. 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? (a clear sign of some sophisticated leadership knowledge and an effective presentation. Oh and if you don't leave with a "tool" you can use for your problem it doesn't count) No, the workshops set up are for New Members on alcohol, hazing, date rape, sexual harrassment, etc., but no initiated members are required to go. Most new members see it as a break from getting hazed, and honestly, half of them sleep during them. 7. Is your Greek Advisor more concerned with giving incentives than giving out punishment? Our Greek Advisor is more concerned with making friends with women from the largest sorority than in helping any one chapter grow. Delta Phi Epsilon's successes have been ours alone, and our chapter there does an incredible job under much adversity and is commended appropriately whenever it is warranted! |
Also, in defense of Greek advisors, I don't think a lot of them have sophisticated performance goals for themselves that translate into consistant behaviors or "systems" and tie to real world results. Their job doesn't give it to them and its not required. So what they do outside of rule enforcement is up to them.
As a Greek Advisor you are basically a consultant to both individual organizations and a system of organizations. Thats a pretty advanced place to be if you think about it. It also presupposes that you as a Greek Advisor has a large knowledge base of leadership/management "skills" and are able to impart that systematically to your consumers. In this case the Greeks in the "system" you have chosen to coach. If any of those elements are missing, perspective, real world skills, and evaluation. Their perception of, and ability to give real world results will be extemely lacking. Unfortunately this will in effect ob the students of a maximum experience and education. |
Wow, it has been really enlightening to me to read the responses posted here. Does anyone feel positive about their Greek Advisor? I did a self-evaluation (since I am an advisor) and here are the results:
1. A little bigger, but I don't know if I would call it significant. 2. Well, we've pretty much broken even. We lost one chapter for hazing ( I think you've all read that story by now!) but have gained one colony. Our Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and the Director of Student Activities (my boss) have said no to further expansion. I do not agree 3. I can answer yes to this one! Our councils have improved a lot. When I first came here they did nothing, but now they are having programs, well attended meetings, roundtables and more. 4. I would like to think I have had some impact. I work a lot with individual chapters, and we have seen some significant improvement with several of these groups. I have also tried to seek out the students I thought that showed a lot of leadership potential and encouraged them to run for offices in the chapters and the councils. 5. I really try to push attendance at these conferences. We usually send students to MGCA and the Gateway Greek Conference every year. I promote the hell out of the Indiana Greek Leadership Conference since Purdue is only a few hours away, but haven't gotten takers yet. We sent our first delegate to UIFI last year, and he loved it (I'm an alum of UIFI), and I really push chapters to take more than the minimum to their own GLO conferences. 6. Yes, honestly some more effective than others. I would like to bring more speakers and recognized "experts", but the $$$ is a BIG factor. 7. I am totally about this. I am not directly responsible for punishment (our Dean of Students handles this), but I have not forwarded on several minor things, where I am convinced from talking with the chapter that they have learned what they did wrong. Nothing major, but little mistakes that everybody makes. I try to avoid the whole "Our Greek Advisor is out to get us!" thing. I'm here because I benefitted greatly from my fraternity experience and because I believe and want to help others have that experience. For me this isn't just a temporary stopping point on the way to something else. I am going to give these questions to my students and ask them for their feedback on my performance. If I had to grade myself I would probably say C+ ~ B-. I can and will try to do better! Sorry for being so long winded, but there are a few perspectives that I want to throw in regarding Greek Advsiors: 1. On too many campuses they are considered entry-level jobs, and most people who fill them will only stay 1-3 years in the position (and often the profession) before moving on. I know from the conferences I have attended, after only 3 1/2 years as an advsior I am rapidly becoming one of the more "senior" persons in the profession. Professionally there is very limited opportunity to move up in Greek Life and so most Greek Advisors aspire to other types of positions that offer advancement and more $$$. 2. On a lot of campuses Greek Life receives no state funding at all. My salary is the only thing covered with no money budgeted for speakers, resources, etc. To give you an example, on my campus, the Leadership Development Program/Community Service person has a budget of about $25,000, in addition to salary. Greek Life is given $0. 3. Higher ups in the administration call a lot of the shots that Greek Advisors are often stuck having to enforce. A good example on our campus is the expansion one. My bosses are adamant against bringing more IFC/Panhellenic chapters onto our campus until the existing organizations are where they want them to be. I have argued against this, but in the long run, they call the shots, so no expansion despite GLOs that are interested. Don't get me wrong, there are some pretty crappy Greek Advisors out there. However, I also know some really great ones too who struggle with a system that doesn't really value our positions. There are a lot of factors out there and it doesn't always center on just one person. Sorry for the extremely long post. I will be quiet now.:) |
Thank you BSUPhiSig for sharing your insight with us as an advisor!
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As a fraternity and sorority advisor, I would have to agree that there are definately some advisors out there that need to move on. But, I also believe that sometimes we give our greek advisors a bad rap...I know I did sometimes as an undergraduate. I don't know if your really realize as an undergraduate the amount of work, effort, and time put into this position (or should be put into it if you wish to be succesful).
I honestly think that this job (if done well) is one of the most difficult positions to have. You have to find a balance to make a number of consituents happy: alumni, university officials, headquarters, consultants, NIC, NPC, NPHC, NALFO, FLA, undergraduate members, non-members, university faculty and staff, police, and even the city in which the university is located. It is a lot to balance and try to make everyone happy and still be fair and keep your sanity...of course add in a few major crissis a year and working 70-80 hours a week, and if you are lucky you have a day off during the week (for me saturday...that's it), and being on call 24-7-365(being "on call" or duty).......and add on a little attitude, verbal assualts (sometimes physical threats), and extremely low pay (most of the undergraduates after graduation will start at a higher salary than your greek advisor...and a large percentage of them have Master's degrees), little to no personal life (or time for one) and there you have it....the life of a greek advisor...sound fun? The problem comes into play when we have people acting as filler, and they do not have the best interest in the fraternity and sorority community at heart...they give all of the advisors who strive for the best for the community and their undergraduates a bad name. I think a MAJOR question that is missing in this "evaluation" is one (or ones) that deals with the campus climate and acceptance and willingness to move forward and make positive changes. 1) What positive intiatives have the IFC/MGC/PC/NPHC made? 2) What parternships have the greek organizations made with the campus community? The city? 3) How much time do they dedicate to community service? 4) How many times do they publicize the positive things they do (on and individual and chapter basiss)? 5) How many times to they challenge the status quo or just accept it because, it's the way it's always been? 6) How many chapters have been closed do to improver actions or behaviors from members? 7) What affect has the negative publicity from events had on recruitment? 8) What is the ratio of social events to community service hours? Alcohol free social events to "wet" events? 9) How many members of the greek community can go to sleep at night and use their founding principles, creeds, symphony's, etc. as a check list of things they've done/practiced/been/accomplished and check them all off for that day? 10) Are the members living their ritual/philosophy/creed everyday? 11) How often do they point fingers or assign blame to others, and not accept their part in the problem (or solution)? Okay...I'm sure that everyone is tired of reading (and some probably angry) so I will let that be that.... The final thing that I want to say is that it takes PARTNERSHIP to have a succesful community of any type so my final question is....are you a partner or an outsider? We can all make a difference if we tear down our walls, and stop pointing fingers and realize that we can all do better, we can all make a difference and need to be united in order to do so! Please don't automatically assume that your greek advisor is out to get you.....in most cases that is not true. Hopefully your advisor is there because they had a positive expereince and just want to insure that other people have that same positive experience and so that their children will one day be able to wear their own badge and maybe just maybe the advisor will be able to look back and think, "I made a difference." The question for everyone is, "Did you?" Thanks for reading. Great thread. Together Forward! o.p.i.e. |
I have to agree with you Opie. I think the good advisors are called to the job, the bad ones count the days until they can move on. You make a lot of very accurate points about the realities of these positions. During the school year, especially Panhellenic Recruitment, Greek Week, other big event, 70-80 hours a week is not unusual. Never, ever figure out what you earn hourly! It is too depressing.:(
For me the biggest downside is having bosses who just don't get it, and fail to see the improvements in the chapters over the last four years (higher gpa's, fewer risk management problems, more campus involvement, better events, etc) and don't provide me with a budget, a grad assistant, and won't even seriously consider the subject of Greek housing. My immediate supervisor is most interested in my reports and paperwork and tells me I spend too much time with students! Honestly, I love what I do, and I love the impact I have on my students. On a campus like ours, many students view me as the only person in "authority" that they can come and talk to. In this position, (if you make the connection with your students - that makes all the difference) not only are you an advisor on Greek matters, but a personal counselor, career counselor, academic advisor, financial advisor, and I am sometimes called on for Roadside Assistance (Greek advisor who can change a tire and owns jumper cables). It's worth it though for the times when I get invited to events like our Alpha Phi chapter's Parent's Luncheon and they introduce me saying things like "John's more than just an advisor to us, he's kind of like a surrogate dad away from home." (I teared up on that one) Or you get the invitations to weddings and graduation parties, or they bring their parents by to meet you when they come to visit.:) A lot of times the Greek Advisor takes on the role of the "Them" in "Us vs. Them". On many big campuses, most Greeks have never even met the Greek Advisor, so their perceptions of that person are all based on policies and punishment. If you were actually to sit down and talk with your Greek Advisor, your opinion of that person might change (of course it might not either, there are one or two of them out there that I feel the same way about :D) After all, most of them are Greek too! I know, I know, too d@$n wordy again. I'm shutting up now! |
Opie,
Several of us posting are from schools where Greek life is just not valued, and trust me it shows in the school's choice of advisor. As for my specific case, when the first thing our Greek advisor did when she set foot on campus was accuse my chapter of hazing with absolutely no basis in fact (my big came back from spring break on crutches - she fell at home with nary a sister in sight, and somehow was "hazed"), sorry, but that's not someone that deserves any respect. We later found that she had wanted to pledge one of our more prestigious chapters and was denied a bid. It showed in her attitude toward us through the years that she was still very bitter about it. I will add that she is no longer in that capacity thank heaven, but the damage she did to our Greek system is something that will take a long time to recover from. Please accept that there are advisors out there who just plain suck...rather than spouting the ever-popular "you need to make postive change" rhetoric or criticizing us for telling the truth. |
Try this one on for size.....we do not even have a greek advisor.
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Quote:
My message probably got lost in my rambling post. I definately know there are bad greek advisors...I had a HORRIBLE greek advisor at one time as an undergraduate...she wasn't even greek, was the only one who accepted the job, carried on improper relationships with students (and consultants), and at one point flat out told two of our groups (that went alchol free nationally) "That they would never survive, and too bad they wouldn't be here in the future." So believe me I am in no way denying that there are bad greek advisors, I'm just saying that they aren't all bad, and that it can be a difficult position to fill with a qualified and efficient person sometimes. In fact, my bad experince with this advisor as an undergraduate is one of the things that motivated me to go to graduate school and become a greek adivsor. I didn't want someone else having such a bad greek advisor or experience, and hoped that I would be able to make a difference in someway. My post was in no way meant to be critical of anyone for telling the way that they feel...that's everyone's right...I'm just posting my own views and experiences as is anyone else. I hope that might clear things up a little...sorry for any confusion. o.p.i.e. |
Opie,
No prob. ;) Trust me I've thought of going into the field myself for the same reasons...except I would probably not last long before I beaned someone, most likely my boss. And oh, Quote:
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Most advisors suck. It would not bother me if greek advisors were eliminated. We do all the planning, organizing, and put in the work.
The problem is that they don't don't work for the Greeks. They work for the university and their main priority is protecting the interests of the university. |
madmax, you are totally wrong!:eek:
Our Greek Advisor is one who is head of a Department! His son is now his Brother! He attends all functions when he can in his busy schedual. He makes Formal Functions and Mentoring Functions with the Alum and Active Chapter!! We had one who was there for 10 years and became an Ass when he left campus! School advisors can be of great value to the Chapter. If they are not doing their job, then replace them!!!! Hell If I knew that one day there would be an ideal position for someone like me I would be in seventh heaven!! To be in postition to work with Young Greeks would be something I would more than love to be able to do! If you have a problem with advisores, maybe you have a problem with your Org.? :confused: Can a Bad Advisor be BAD, You damn betcha! A good school advisor for your Org. can be of a great benefit for you unless you screw it up! Si? |
All the organizations on this campus would be better off if the Greek Advisor we have now would leave. Panhellenic did a philanthropy called Relay for Life and not only did the Greek Advisor not show up when she promised to, but we were the only ones from Florida Tech that stayed the entire time. She promised to being a tent for those walking, food, and drinks during the 15 hour walk-a-thon. She never showed up and when someone from Panhellenic tried to call her, she didn't answer her phone even though she was home. She has done this repeatedly, say that she'll do something for us then blow us off completely. And it's not just my chapter that is having problems. It's all of the Greeks on campus, but no one will listen to us. And the interest in becoming Greek has gone down since she came on my sophomore year. Several of my sisters are going to write a letter to the President of our school who is Greek explaining the situation and what all has happened. Because it is really making us look bad.
Okay, sorry for venting, but I needed it. |
oceanphi01:
You should definately confront her appropriately. She has a duty to you, the greek community, the university, and the surrouding community. If she is repeatedly not following through and doing her duties then I think you (or someone or serveral someones) has every right to talk to her about it. We tell our students all the time, "sometimes we are going to make decisions that you don't like or you may think that we let you down (and in some cases maybe we have..we are human) but when that happens you have EVERY right to talk to us about it and confront us appropriately about the situation." Afterall, we (greek advisors) confront the chapters when they have done something inappropriately...it should go both ways so that everyone can be there best....and if it doesn't work and she doesn't try to change...then maybe you should go to her supervisor and let them now, and maybe they will have to let her go. So definately confront the situation. I would try talking to her (if you haven't), and if you have then go to her supervisor, and follow the appropriate chain of command. I wouldn't go right to the president (unless that's the supervisor) because often times they will just ask if you have talked to ther person and followed the chain of command...they can be touchy sometimes about the beuracratic-ness of the whole collegiate system Good luck, and if you need anything post and let me know...would be willing to talk to you about it. |
While I am not happy with the way my Greek advisor in undergrad ran things (specifically not comign to our council meetings and never enforcing rules) I definately do not feel that we woudl be better off without them. As I believe MadMax said, "we do all teh planning....etc." I'm sorry but if all of greek life was left up to greeks, it would die in about 2 minutes. we need the suppotr, we need the connection between us and the administration. and while i feel i would have been a better greek advisor than the one i had, i also know he had other responsibilities such as orientation which many other advisors do too. plus i have been given the opportunity to meet and work with some really great greek advisor (West Chester Univ.-best Greek advisor ever!!!, Penn State, the new one at Lehigh in fall, E. Illinois, Wazzou). The good greek advisors are out there. I agree with alot of people who ahve said that we have to colaborate with our advisors. they arent gonna know what we need or how to help us unless we talk to them. so many people at my school would bitch and complain but never went to our advisor. i soon found out that if i went to him, he would try to help us as best he could. Save a few misguided advisors, very few want to see greek life die off.
Being a greek advisor is alot of work and many times the pay and respect from students does not outweigh the stress, long hours and personal investments involved. I hope it will for me. I am starting grad school for higher ed in the fall, to start my journey to becoming a dedicated greek advisor that can help all of you out. |
wow, interesting post! thanks for bringing it up. i agree with the post about GA's usually being straight out of grad school and not too far removed from their chapter. i know there are some that can do a great job, but i don't think it is right to expect someone so young to be able to do so many things to serve a greek community, expecially for the pay. i'm an assistant director for student activities and could make more my FIRST YEAR of teaching than what i do now. and i gave up teaching for this! i really do enjoy it tho!
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OKAY, so I did not read all or understand all of the posts.
Greek Life Advisor at PSU, Ks. Seems to have Her own Agenda, do nothing but work on a MBA. Greeks at PSU have languished for years. No expansion of Sororitys for at least 6-7 years. (We Have Three). Six Fraternitys including LXA but not sure how much longer We will be there. SX, PKA, STG, SPhiE, and PSK. No interaction what so ever, no direction either. In my mind, She is a waste of time and money. Why did they not have things like this when I could have become one.:( Agreed, this could be one of the most influencial seats of the Adm. There is so much more that a Member of a GLO can learn from being a member of a GLO than just Reading Books. |
At long BEach State, they went though 3 greek advisor within the past two years, all of them are bad. I know at WGRC, are greek system was the laughing stock of the greek community, within a year, 3 fraternity have been removed from out campus, for dumb reasons. Our fraternity got kicked of campus because of someone who was removed from a chapter, yet national still kept our charter and we actually have a better chance at rush then the five fraternities that are left. Because of the negative image the greek system has because of a few bad things, they over look all the good things that each organization does. Kappa Sigma, won presidents cup three years in a row, and they got kicked off because someone who did not get in said they were hazing, and had no proof. It sucked because a lot of my friends were in that house. And the whole time all this was happen, the greek advisor did nothing to defead us, he actually helped the school get rid of the three fraternity saying that they are " examples" of bad greeks.
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Well since we have never had a Greek Advisor longer then two years some of these questions are difficult to answer. However, I will base my responses on our last Greek Advisor.
1. Are the organizations significantly bigger than they were when she started? No 2. Are there more organizations on campus? Yes 3. Have the intergreek Councils improved in operation? While she was here I would say there was significant improvement in operation and productivity but unfortunately in her absence there has been a significant backslide. 4. If the answer was yes to those questions, is it because of programs the Greek Advisor started for that purpose or through their spiritual leadership (Personal influence)? Yes 5. Do you officially hear about more interGreek intercampus conferences etc? Or is the Greek advisor setting up such conferences herself? Yes 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? No 7. Is your Greek Advisor more concerned with giving incentives than giving out punishment? She never gave out punishments; she just enforced preexisting rules and the punishments that coincided with them. As far as incentives go it was usually in the form of verbal praise. Well Mindy has been gone for about a half a year now and her absence has been noticeable. I don’t really blame her for leaving I don’t think the University or for that matter the Greek System, does nearly enough to keep our Greek Advisors around. Considering the fact that I've seen three Greek Advisors since I've been an undergrad. What Mindy has been up to since she left us. http://www.uttyler.edu/news/2005/feb21/story6.html http://www.uttyler.edu/news/2005/june6/story5.html |
Re: Evaluate your Greek Advisor!
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So To Do By The Numbers to make it Official: 1. No 2. No 3. No 4. No 5. No 6. No 7. No :eek: To worried about Her own Agenda for getting a Masters. From reading many of these Posts, it seems some either just want jobs or use them as a line on Resume. They dont really care, just being a slot person. |
[QUOTE]Originally posted by shadokat
. . . 6. Has the Greek Advisor set up a series of leadership seminars that deal with "How To" issues that have left you with the ability to do things better? . . . No, the workshops set up are for New Members on alcohol, hazing, date rape, sexual harrassment, etc., but no initiated members are required to go. Most new members see it as a break from getting hazed, and honestly, half of them sleep during them.[QUOTE] "A break from getting hazed" -- oh great. Shadokat, my sympathy to you. It has to be tough for a chapter when the campus climate is like that. Quote:
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The University of Puget Sound (lately) hasn't kept a Greek Advisor for more than a couple of years either.
Is it the job????? |
I don't know about all these greek advisors, but I'm going to grad school so i can be one, not use the position to get another one. hearing all this negative stuff really reenforces my decision to work with greek life. it needs it and someone who isn't in it for a resume booster or to just get a job.
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The majority of colleges and universities treat the position of Greek Advisor strictly as an entry level position. At most schools the pay is bad, the workload is intense, and there is minimal appreciation or recognition. I will have been in my position as a Greek Advisor for 6 years in August, and I know that when I go to conferences, the number of people who are still in the field that were in the field when I started, is dwindling. So, most people, not wanting to have to work 70-80 hours per week for $35,000 or less for the rest their lives, move on. Some of us though, are gluttons for punishment (or masochists, I haven't decided) and stick it out because they enjoy the job and the students.
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I really don't want to judge our greek advisor he's dating our chapter advisor but here it goes:
1) No 2) Yes 3) Yes 4) Yes 5) Yes 6) No 7) No |
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