Ideas to Promote Scholarship
 

To my fellow Phi Mu Sisters,

I have recently been asked to hold the position of Scholarhip Chair within my chapter. Our cummulitive chapter G.P.A. is in desperate need of a boost :( It seems like no matter how we tell the girls they just don't seem to get the importance of a good scholastic behavior and that school should be a number one priority.

How can I stress the importance? and what are some rewards I could give out? Do study groups or study partners help?

We tried library hours and no one seemed to keep up with them. Even the girls who are in Bad Standing with the chapter don't seem to care anymore. How do I get the Phi Mu spirit back to my sisters whom I am very concerned about?

If you have any ideas send them my way. Hopefully your ideas will help save my chapter's G.P.A.


Thanks for your time :)

*Ally*

"Phi Mu and lovin' it"

There are lots of things that can be done to help the scholarship in your chapter.

First, I would reinstate mandatory supervised study hours for any girl that has less than a 3.0 GPA. If you have a house this is easier to coordinate. It can be supervised by you or your assistant or another member of the exec. board. If these hours are not signed off, the girls lose social priveleges. I know it sounds harsh, but if you don't have time to study then you don't have time to go to the latest XYZ social either.

I would also have study buddies with the new pledge class and sisters. We used the ladybug more often than the lion so we called them "study bugs". They were assigned during one of the early weeks of the Phi period not only as part of the scholarship initiative, but it also helps with the KROP program. The new girls were paired with girls in a similar major and were given cute Phi Mu school supplies (like pens and notepaper, etc) during the week along with maybe a study snack basket w/healthy snacks, Phi Mu coffee mug, etc. Since you have many sisters who are struggling, you may want to limit your older study buddies to the ones w/good grades, b/c you obviously want to instill good scholarship to your new members.

If you have a study room, you may want to start a file cabinet with study materials from previous classes. Once girls are done w/a class they can donate notes or whatever to this study bank. The notes can be filed by course number or name and can be referenced by future sisters who take the class.

Every week we would put a sign up sheet for girls to list the A and B test/quiz/paper grades they made for the week. We had a cute bulletin board in the study room that highlighted the girls's accompishments. We would list their name and what subject the A or B had been acheived in. We had themes such as "Jump on the A Train" (w/A's making a train all the way around the room), The "B" Hive, and "Mom's Refrigerator" Also at chaper each week we would put the names of the girls who had acheived good grades that past week in the hat and have a drawing for a small prize...such as a free Blockbuster rental or something small from the Greek store.

Additionally, we had a formal scholarship dinner at the beginning of every semester (honoring grades from the previous semester). We gave high honors to those who made the Dean's list, though I'm pretty sure you were allowed to come if you made a 3.0 or better. We decorated the dining room very nicely and had little incidental gifts for all who were in attendance. Our parents association also gave $100 to each girl who made a 4.0, and as you know, Phi Mu gives the Ada Martin Henry Scholarship award/charm to girls making the 4.0 mark as well (you just have to file the paperwork w/EO)

I'm sorry this is long but it's an area I feel very strongly about. I know it's tough to reinforce certain things w/your sisters, but it's so important that you follow your bylaws when it comes to disciplining girls who fall below the necessary GPA.

Please feel free to PM or email me with any questions. I am more than happy to help :)