Getting Involved in Greek Life

[RedRover]

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I may be forced to leave the private sector and will probably seek employment in academia.

I was wondering if it would be possible for me to get involved with Greek Life on a college campus, perhaps in some time of advisor status.

I wasn't a fraternity member in college. Not that I had anything against the fraternity members at my school, I just didn't see too many of them as potential "brothers." In addition, Greek Life wasn't a big thing at my college when I attended. Maybe at another college and/or another time ...

However, I am open to getting involved with fraternity -- and sorority -- members should I get employed at a school with a Greek system. I am curious as to what type of role I could play. Would any of the Greek groups want me to be involved? etc.

Any input would be appreciated. Thank you

[AXO_love]

At my university, we have about 1000 students and approximately 50% are greek. This year, a "Director of Greek Life" was hired on as a seperate position at the school -- he is not a professor, coach, etc., just a greek coordinator. Since it is a new position, it is not very clear what he does, really. All I am aware of him doing is installing some new software on campus computers to make recruitment easier (previously everything was matched by hand) and doing interviews with the campus newspaper about different greek houses. He was in a fraternity in college, though. I'm sure that just about any school you go to would be happy to have some extra help with the greek system, even if you were not in a fraternity during your college years. If there is an existing greek life coordinator, you could work alongside them as an assistant. If not, you could become the greek life coordinator yourself. Think about going to Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council meetings and asking the representatives there what they feel is needed/wanted for greek life at the campus.

[LPIDelta]

If you are speaking about being employed in student affairs, which often oversees Greek life, its not as simple as having an interest. I have worked in higher education for more than 8 years. The field of higher education is changing and many schools require that to work in student affairs you have or be working toward a Master's degree, often in college student personnel services, higher education administration etc. There are exceptions--as I know of many private schools that are ok with bachelor's degrees. It also depends if the school is entirely local groups or if the groups are affiliated with the NPC, IFC, NPHC etc. as there are different expectations when working with those groups.

To be successful (working with NPC sororities in particular) I think having knowledge of Greek life is very important. I know Greek advisors who were Greek in college, but they still have no idea how to help manage recuitment or Panhellenic?Greek Council etc. As a chapter advisor, I have dealt with several GAs who made really weird decisions about things that should be easy, like bid matching, quota, total etc.--and I attribute this to not having experience and vision of the consequences.

I have seen fraternity and sorority members eat inexperienced Greek advisors alive and make their professional lives hell--especially those who didn't know what they were doing and those without backbones. If you have a great deal of confidence, know how to deal with college students, can speak confidently and know when to say you don't know something, are patient, a good listener, have a master's degree or would be willing to pursue one, have vision for the possibilities, and have an ability to balance student needs with university/college policies and desires, then I encourage you to pursue a career as a Greek advisor. If not, then you may want to start elsewhere....

[texas*princess]

You could always AI.

*ducks for cover*

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

You could always AI.

*ducks for cover*

I do not beleive that has to do with the part of the post?

In the other days, there were such things as Greek Advisors.

Now, it seems to have to have a degree or an attempt to do this.

Having a Greek back ground will be of help.

Intro pay could be low?

[REE1993]

I imagine that belonging to a GLO is less of a prerequisite than experience in education. Depending on the school's interpretation and the responsibilities, being Greek may certainly provide some advantages.

I think that every school has a different expectation of what a Greek Life advisor should be/do. In addition to working in Student Affairs, there may be job openings for house advisors, etc. Being Greek would enhance your familiarity with the basics of Greek life, but in my college experience working in Student Government, sorority chapter officer, etc., most of the work is pretty much administrative as opposed to counseling.

[FuzzieAlum]

I think I'm confused. Being a chapter advisor (which sounds to me like what you mean) is an unpaid, part-time, volunteer position. Chapters often have, in addition to alumni advisors, a faculty member who serves as a faculty advisor. (As the names suggest, though, you probably need to be either an alumni or a faculty member.)

If you want to work full-time with students, you should probably check out www.naspa.org and www.myacpa.org. It's not a field you just walk into without any previous experience. Those who start in it straight out of school usually had extensive RA or similar experience; generally you need at least a masters degree in education. Private sector experience is likely not transferrable.

And hey, October is Careers in Student Affairs Month. (Really!)

[tld221]

Originally Posted by FuzzieAlum

I think I'm confused. Being a chapter advisor (which sounds to me like what you mean) is an unpaid, part-time, volunteer position. Chapters often have, in addition to alumni advisors, a faculty member who serves as a faculty advisor. (As the names suggest, though, you probably need to be either an alumni or a faculty member.)

If you want to work full-time with students, you should probably check out www.naspa.org and www.myacpa.org. It's not a field you just walk into without any previous experience. Those who start in it straight out of school usually had extensive RA or similar experience; generally you need at least a masters degree in education. Private sector experience is likely not transferrable.

And hey, October is Careers in Student Affairs Month. (Really!)

i agree on the "private sector experience not being transferrable" thing. one of our RDs was a big exec at a marketing firm and for whatever reasons wanted to be an RD for a freshman hall (maybe it was the inclusive apartment and meal plan? hmm...). he did a great job as an RD but everyone HATED him--from his RAs, to the residents and some of his fellow RDs and Student Affairs colleagues. surprise, surprise, he did not return the following year.

now i know thats just one case, but i feel like the business of working in student affairs is about who likes who, who gets along. a big business of playing nice. i guess my point is this guy figured if he could run the show in the corporate arena, then a residence hall was no biggie. WRONG!

and, to be on topic, i dont know if someone being outside the greek world would be the best greek system advisor (though i know it has been done) id imagine its complex enough even if you were in greek life. also, a chapter advisor is a lot of work, from what the 2 advisors my chapter has told me. also realize that you need to be a member to do that.

my big question is after leaving the private sector, you say you want to pursue academia, but off the top of my head i would think being a professor or a dean... but greek advisor? sounds like you just wanna hang out with the greeks...

[33girl]

You could probably serve on a collegiate chapter's advisory board in some capacity - for example, one of the AB positions in my sorority is for a chapter financial advisor. This requires more knowing how to read a balance sheet than actual sorority experience. You may want to start there.

Depending on the school, the chapters may be required to have a faculty or administration member as an advisor - either primary or secondary. A lot also depends on where you're located - if you're at a big school with very popular Greek life, it's probable that there are active alum chapters nearby and the ABs are filled. However, if you're going to be in BFE where there isn't a big Greek presence, the chapters would probably be thrilled to have someone who's actually positive where Greeks are concerned.

As far as being a school-employed Greek advisor, you would not be suitable for that position.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

You could always AI.

*ducks for cover*

Oh god I wanted to say something like this SO BAD.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by RedRover

Due to circumstances beyond my control, I may be forced to leave the private sector and will probably seek employment in academia.

I was wondering if it would be possible for me to get involved with Greek Life on a college campus, perhaps in some time of advisor status.

I wasn't a fraternity member in college. Not that I had anything against the fraternity members at my school, I just didn't see too many of them as potential "brothers." In addition, Greek Life wasn't a big thing at my college when I attended. Maybe at another college and/or another time ...

However, I am open to getting involved with fraternity -- and sorority -- members should I get employed at a school with a Greek system. I am curious as to what type of role I could play. Would any of the Greek groups want me to be involved? etc.

Any input would be appreciated. Thank you

The Greek advisor at my undergrad wasn't Greek.

You can check out the websites for the institutions you're interested in and see if they have postings or any leads on opportunities. See where you think you might fit in without feeling uncomfortable with your decision.

[Tom Earp]

School Greek Advisers today do not have to be Greeks, they have to have degrees in may cases for the position. Great, they do not know crap about Greeks!

It is becoming a dedicated position on many campi to try to mediate the many problems.

Becomeing an AI is a snide remark and not well thought out. One has to be impartial with the many ins and outs of Greek Life and probably other areas.

I would love to be a Greek Adviser, but with many times, a Masters is needed except start up positions which will pay low.