greek advisor

[Xylochick216]

Originally posted by LexiKD
I know this is an old topic but has anyone heard of any Greek Life positions open?

Side note: The one I have found required a masters(UNCW)...I'm not sure why this is a requirement, any ideas?

Every one I've seen requires it. I'm actually looking at going to school for my masters in college student personnel. I think they like that you've gotten more education as well as taken courses that deal specifically with relating to college students. I haven't seen one yet that doesn't require or highly suggest a masters.

[Munchkin03]

Through being an RA and involved in Greek Life at one school, and being involved with Residential Affairs at another, I've never met anyone among my supervisors that has anything less than a Masters degree. Many I've met have more than one M.S/M.A./M.Ed, or they are using their tuition reimbursement to get a PhD/EdD.

[lauralaylin]

Originally posted by LexiKD
I know this is an old topic but has anyone heard of any Greek Life positions open?

The Greek Advisor at Bentley College just left, so I'm hoping the position is open. It's right outside Boston.

[navane]

Hi folks,

I'm just finishing up my Master of Education - Guidance and Counselling in Education.

I am a Student Affairs Professional.

To those of you who are wondering about why a candidate for Greek Affairs is often required to have a master's degree, I think I can help answer that.

You see, I think the people who participated in a fraternity or sorority sometimes seem to think working as a Greek Life Advisor would be "just" an extension of their time as undergraduate members. However, this is not the case.

Greek Affairs is but one of 30 or so sub-sections of "Student Affairs" also known as "Student Development in Higher Education" (SDHE). According to the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) website, here they are:

http://www.cas.edu/

As of May 2001, CAS had developed 28 sets of functional area standards and guidelines and one set of student affairs master's level preparation standards. Functional areas for which standards have been developed include programs and services concerned with: 1. Academic Advising, 2. Admission, 3. Alcohol and Other Drug Programs, 4. Campus Activities, 5. Campus Information and Visitor Services, 6. Career Services, 7. College Health Services, 8. College Union, 9. Commuter Students, 10. Counseling, 11. Disability, 12. Educational Services for Distance Learners, 13. Financial Aid, 14. Fraternity and Sorority, 15. Housing, 16. International Student, 17. Judicial Affairs, 18. Student Leadership, 19. Learning Assistance, 20. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, 21. Minority Student, 22. Student Orientation, 23. Outcomes Assessment and Program Evaluation, 24. Recreational Sports, 25. Registrar, 26. Religious, 27. TRIO and Other Educational Opportunity, and 28. Women Student.

All areas of student affairs are concerned with the development of students....including Greeks. Look at the list above, would you want "any ol' person" serving as the director of Counseling and Psychology Services? Of the Equal Opportunity Programs? Of Judicial Affairs? No, of course not. That's why a master's degree is almost always required. A student affairs professional must understand the theories behind student development, the goals and concepts behind higher education in America, and how to effectively work with and counsel students so their needs are met.

SDHE Master's programs aren't always easy to get into and the job market for this career field is extremely competitive in where I am here in Southern California (An employee at the Human Resources office told me that about 300 people apply for each 1 student affairs job at UCSD!! ). However, the jobs are very rewarding!

If you are interested in pursuing a career in student affairs, check out http://www.naspa.org and http://www.myacpa.org for more info!

.....Kelly

[LexiKD]

Thank You for all the info. I knew this was the place to get some ideas!

Don't get me wrong I want to go back to school, but I have been running my own business for 5 years and think sometimes I have learned more in the real world than I would ever learn in school. That in no way means I don't think education is important but I do think I have tons of practice working with younger people and that should count for something.

I'm currently looking into online programs since I work full time.

Thanks again and keep me posted if you hear of anything!

[syrinx]

I have a masters degree in Higher Education (college student personnel) and it is the best decision I have ever made. I work as an academic advisor and I love it.

By the way, my bachelor's is in chemical engineering - if I can go into student affairs, anybody can.

[PsychTau]

I just started a job as a Greek Advisor a month ago!! I have a bachelors and a master's in Counseling Psychology, and spent 8 years working in the psych field before I realized that volunteering for AST was a heck of a lot more fun!!! I have been on AST staff for 6 years, so that was my experience (plus the psych experience helped with group interaction, development, and counseling/advising stuff).

I started out at a small private school where it's OK to go into a job like this without the Higher Ed Master's. Larger schools probably would favor someone with a Higher Ed master's degree because there could be less time for one on one, "on the job" training. (I'm not saying that I have no clue as to what I'm doing, but I require a little more guidance on IFC stuff because I'm not a member of an IFC group...)

So far I'm having a blast!! It's really all about finding the right fit for you....I don't know if I'd ever want to work in a huge school like Indiana or Mizzou. I like the smaller schools personally.

PsychTau

[Little E]

Some small schools, like my alma mater, have the Greek Advisor as part of their Hall Director staff. So our Greek Advisor had his dorm duties and then his other duties included dealing with Greeks. The draw back to schools like this is that they tend to have weaker systems. In my four years, we had three advisors, two had never been Greek and one disaffiliated from an IFC and still had issues with them. These jobs without a master's are just that, lower pay and benefits.

[aphibeach]

UNCW has a new greek advisor and we LOVE her......we're so glad she's here!!!!

i know that with UNCW its always been a requirement to have a masters degree. the reason our last advisor left is because he wanted to eventually keep pursuing his degree further and UNCW didnt have what he would like

but now we have our new advisor and we couldnt be happier

[HBADPi]

I just met with the Dean of Students at Cal State Fullerton yesterday. They currently dont have a greek advisory and so the dean of students is filling in. She's not too familiar with the greek system so there have been problems. From what she told me yesterday, they will be interviewing potential candidates in December and hiring hopefully in Jan. Let me know if anyone is interested and I can give you her email.

[UCFStefanie]

Hey All

I am currently finishing up my degree in Higher Education administration and would love to help anyone out. Especially those of you who are looking into gradd school for 05. I will be grad in May 2005 and will be job searching next year.

My bachelors is in Broadcasting production. Higher Education has no prerequsite degree. Do something fun and then go into higher ed.

[aphibeach]

just to let yall know, UNCW's greek advisor is actually an interim.....which means that her position will open back up in June. I think she's going to reapply but it would be nice if others applied as well

ps - you have to have a master's degree to apply

[RioLambdaAlum]

i think on our campus all you have to do to be an advisor is work on campus (not like student labor/work study job, but be a facalty person).
My friend Jana is a ZOX (zeta theta chi) and she got a job on campus last year as like the assistant admissions director or something like that and she is now her girls advisor.

[RhoSigma2003]

Middle Tennessee State University is looking for a new greek life director. Check it out : www.mtsu.edu

Good Luck!

[AGDee]

Eastern Michigan is also looking for a greek advisor:

http://www.emich.edu