Support for Scholastics?

[OPhiAGinger]

I was just wondering what kinds of policies or practices your GLO has in place to support the academics of your college age members...?

[kathykd2005]

As far as for any GLOs? I know that KD has academic bad standing and probation for members that fall below a certain gpa. When someone is on bad standing, they can't speak during meetings or participate in the activities of the chapter.

[OPhiAGinger]

Thanks KathyKD. But what I'm really looking for are proactive ways to help members keep their GPA up, like chapter study hours or national awards given to the chapter with the highest GPA,... things like that. Does anybody have anything like that in place? If so, can you explain how they work?

Thanks in advance!!

[LatinaAlumna]

We have weekly study hours for active members, and academic progress is monitored by the Academic Chair. Typically, the Academic Chair sets up special study sessions, and/or reserves rooms on campus for that purpose. Also, she usually offers incentives throughout the term, and small rewards for those who are doing well and/or improving.

When I was an undergraduate active, we used to reserve big rooms on campus for our studying, and open the session to anyone on campus who wanted a quiet place to work.

[adpiucf]

We maintained a set number of study hours for new members with no college credits (first semester freshmen with no AP or community college credits). They were able to study in the school library, chapter library or on their own. Members had a min. GPA to maintain; officers of the sorority had to maintain a higher GPA to keep their office and set an example as a role model.

On a weekly basis, the scholarship chair would announce scholarship and internship opportunities and share study tips, announce honor society induction opportunities, etc. There were also awards given at each chapter meeting:
* Attended all classes this week
* A+ ADPi's/Wise Pi of the Week/Smarty Pi's (The Wise Pi got to wear a special letter shirt that week)
* A bulletin board where people could post their good grades
* A semesterly professor-student event
* Semesterly sorority honor society induction
* Study Buddy List of sisters in similiar majors/sisters who were willing to tutor in certain subjects

If members didn't make grades, they met with the standards chair and scholarship chair when they received their grades, and had to do study hours the following semester. The scholarship committee would assist them in developing better study habits and making recommendations on how to receive assistance-- like through resources like university testing and counseling, university tutoring services, pairing with a sister in their major, etc. The second consecutive semester they didn't make grades, they received social probation and could not attend social events with the exception of petitioning to attend one date function. The third consecutive semester resulted in a formal meeting where the sister's membership status was evaluated and could result in possible cancellation. The overriding theme was that one was in college to receive an education and that while committment to the sorority is important, so was getting your BA in 4-5 years!

Hope these suggestions help. A committee to support the scholarship chairman plays a big role in spreading out the responsibility and sharing just how important it is in the chapter culture to have a personal focus on academic success. You might even plan a yearly time mangement/study skills workshop for all members, or at least the new members.

[absoluteZChi]

Back in the day, when I was active...I remember my chapter use to do weekly study groups and during each semester we had progress reports given to each professor to give the chapter and member an update on how the member was doing in classes. If the member needed added help with a class, that member got help from the chapter.

If a member was doing really bad, the chapter would not allow the member to attend chapter or social functions...it was better to have a sister focus on her grades than put her full focus on what was going on with the chapter...we all know how easy it is to get so focused on the chapter and let other things slide.

[erica812]

I'm just curious...are study groups mandatory?? That seems rather restrictive and might turn good students away. For instance, my husband quit our college football team because study hours in the library (as a team) were required. He is better at independent work and felt that these hours were a waste of his time. He went on to graduate as valedictorian of his class.

I, personally, do terribly in group study sessions, and my grades would certainly have suffered.

Just wondering...

[LatinaAlumna]

Well, in my sorority group or study buddy sessions are required, but you don't have to sit at the same table with everyone. You could just be in the same location (library, computer lab, etc.) as at least one other sister. Most of us studied many more hours on our own beyond what was required for the chapter, anyway, so that usually took care of anyone who wanted to study alone.

[adpiucf]

Originally Posted by erica812

I'm just curious...are study groups mandatory?? That seems rather restrictive and might turn good students away. For instance, my husband quit our college football team because study hours in the library (as a team) were required. He is better at independent work and felt that these hours were a waste of his time. He went on to graduate as valedictorian of his class.

I, personally, do terribly in group study sessions, and my grades would certainly have suffered.

Just wondering...

We just required study hours of incoming members with no credits or those whose GPA fell below the min. required by our chapter. Members were welcome to study wherever and however they wanted to so long as they turned in their paperwork showing the times and dates where they studied. I think it's a good idea to offer optional study buddies so members in the same majors and classes can rely on one another as a resource, but Greek study groups shouldn't be mandatory. Clearly not everyone studies in the same way and you should do what you need to do in order to do your best in the classroom. A good GLO reviews its bylaws on an annual basis and puts them toward a vote. This is a good time to recommend fair amendments and that sounds like a very good one if a GLO requires group study (not sure how they could require Greek Study Groups seeing as members come from all different majors!).