Academics
 

Hi, lovely Alpha Xi's! I am the academic chair at Nu chapter (in Seattle, WA) and I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for making academics/studying/getting good grades more fun. I have one more quarter left as the academic chair, and I want to make it a great one. Glitter glue can only do so much. :)

Right now I am thinking about recruiting willing alumnae to take collegiates who make the Dean's list (quarter GPA above a 3.5) out to coffee or dessert or something. Also, I am thinking about matching our new members (after formal fall recruitment) up with an older member who is in their prospective major or field of interest so that they'll have a mentor/study buddy. Do these sound like good ideas?? Does anyone have any other ideas that have worked for their chapter? I'd definitely appreciate any help that anyone can provide! Thanks SO much...

A few ideas...
 

There are a lot of fun things that you can do to bring academics into the light - like a Skip Jar where you put money in for every class that was skipped last week, give candy for every "A" that was turned in from the previous week for assignments and tests, or awards each week for the woman with the most library hours. However, we saw the greatest results when we found a real motivator - $$$$ and time.

Obviously you need to find something that will work within your chapter's budget but here's a few ideas...

• 2% reduction in dues for making a 3.0 GPA in the previous semester.... 3% for a 3.5..... 5% for a 4.0
  
  Book scholarship of $100 for the woman with the most improved GPA from the prior semester
  
  $25 towards social expenses (like T-Shirts, glasses, etc) for meeting your GPA goal for the semester
  
  "Hall Pass"... given to members with a 3.5 GPA or higher that allows them to skip a Chapter Meeting - they just need to notify the Recording Secretary before the meeting that they are using their pass
  
  Name engraved on a plaque for highest member and new member GPA - plaque stays at the house and is added to each year
  
  Make the number of Chapter Social Events directly related to how well the chapter did academically last semester... for instance... Chapter GPA is above the All Women's Average = 3 social events, Chapter GPA is above the All Sorority Average = 4 social events, Chapter GPA is below the All Women's Average = 2 social events
  

I'm sure that some others can come up with more ideas but that's a start.