[adpiucf]

I've been an alum for a while now, but I felt that the following factors contributed to the success of my university's greek system and the individual chapters.

1) Leadership. The Director of Greek Life never misses a Panhellenic or IFC meeting, has special sub groups like the Chapter President's Roundtable, Greek Women's Circle, etc., and ongoing trainings for Greek Leaders and new members. He leads by example and the leaders have opportunites for local, regional and national training events where they bring back ideas to their chapters and the IFC/Panhellenic. Overall, consistency and maintaining a routine and schedule are key. Also, giving people timely information and employing various means of communication (a mix of online, written, phone call and in person meetings) helps them to feel part of the process and willing to support ideas. Being organized and communicating that is key.

2) Scholarship. Greeks place a high emphasis on making good grades by requiring members to maintain a certain GPA and incentivizing good grades in the chapters through weekly awards and events with professors each semester. Greeks also join honor societies and Greek honor societies.

3) Friendship. Relations with the chapters are very open. It isn't uncommon to have best friends in more than one chapter, as oppposed to socializing only with your own GLO members. Each chapter hosts a Greek Sisterhood Supper, Dessert Night, etc.

4) New Members have special all-Greek programming to encourage them to mix and mingle with other chapters, to develop leadership skills (IE: Jr Panhellenic, Greek 101), etc. They are raised with a culture of tolerance, friendship and respect for themselves and others, which extends to responsible decision making and an understanding of what hazing is and that hazing is unacceptable.

5) Participation. Members are encouraged to participate in non-Greek orgs to encourage the individual interests, meet others and promote Greek Life by example. Greek Spirit: Greeks wear letters on Wednesdays, and some chapters have "Dress to Pin" Mondays where they dress in pin attire to attend class.

6) Open Door Policy. Ritual and chapter business are secret to the outside world, but there is an openness within the chapter to discuss personal problems or air differences of opinion. Members may attend executive board meetings and observe goings on.

7) Alumni/Alumnae. Relying on alumnae to help support chapter programming by coming to talk to the chapter for trainings, motivation, and assistance give collegiate members hope and help the chapter function. Advisers support the chapter with their wisdom of life experience and consistency, giving chapter officers the ability to know it is ok and expected to make mistakes, but knowing that there is a guide to help them make it through.

Overall, the campus encouraged collaboration and friendship between Greek groups. I think this made a big difference. The chapters with the biggest internal problems were the ones who socialized the least outside of their own chapters. Socialization and having counterparts in other chapters led to the spread of good ideas.