[Cheerio]

The chapter I worked for 20-30 years ago had the same issue with transfers from both from 4-yr and community colleges.

We pledged women from all four classes (3.0 GPA for pledging) and I'll note most CC transfers had CC degrees but were often required by our 4 yr school to take three years of our classes to graduate.

We tried each year personally giving extra help (and tutor referrals for on-campus help) to women who lacked proper study-training. Journalism majors paired with transfer journalism majors to suggest classes and readings.

We encouraged students to speak in-person to their professors regarding classwork.

Study hours at the house did not work. Why? Women tended to gossip among themselves--the house was noisy--it took 45 minutes wasted time by bus to get to our home--etc.

The atmosphere of studying varies greatly campus to campus. Number, and availability, of libraries vary (some libraries limit perusing to those enrolled in specific majors). These can be factors in a student's failure to adjust.

Because we waited to initiate until grades were in, we added no 'dead-weight' to the chapter GPA rolls. This meant a few women weren't initiated until one year after pledging, but it kept our GPA high enough we were at/near top on campus and won Scholar Awards from our Natl HQ.

I can't say NEVER lower your required pledging GPA, but a small increment helps bring in numbers if you need (we went 3.0 to 2.8 for a year).