advice on a new advisor,,,

SigEp42 · #1 04-16-2003, 01:05 PM

As some of you know earlier this school year our Greek advisor left. We are now about to begin the process of choosing a new advisor. We had an open forum today where little was discussed I have the e-mail address of the person in charge and I said I would e-mail her more ideas. So…
What qualities should a Greek advisor have?
What do you like about yours?
What don’t you like?

Our campus has:
Almost all NPHC Chapters( I know of at least 7 off the top of my head)
10 NPC sororities
17?? I think IFC Fraternities
Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority INC

I couldnt find exact numbers so everythign was from memory. We have off and on campus fraternities due to a shortage of fraternity houses.

All of these groups would fall under this persons jurisdiction.

kddani · #2 04-16-2003, 01:28 PM

11 NPC sororities

you missed one

Good luck, i'm glad they're finally trying to do SOMETHING about getting us a friggin' advisor. Almost the whole school year has passed.

A woman tried to contact panhel several times about her stepdaughter going through rush in the fall, she finally got in touch with me through another KD b/c no one from the office ever responsed.

This needs to be dealt with now. Good luck, i'm sure you guys will do all you can to get us someone good.

33girl · #3 04-16-2003, 02:35 PM

If possible, it would be good to get someone who is Greek but not a member of any of the groups on campus. I think it would be so hard for them - they either get accused of being too nice to "their" group or they lean on them too hard to make up for it.

If you have ideas from your alma mater fine, but "at my school we did so and so" should never come out of your mouth. This isn't your school.

Get someone who understands the campus and while they want to make it better, is accepting of what's already there.

LeslieAGD · #4 04-16-2003, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SigEp42
What qualities should a Greek advisor have?

* Young enough to be fun and enjoy the Greek community atmosphere
* Old enough to be objective and not date GLO members
(yes this did happen, and no it was not good)

fire1977 · #5 04-17-2003, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
If possible, it would be good to get someone who is Greek but not a member of any of the groups on campus. I think it would be so hard for them - they either get accused of being too nice to "their" group or they lean on them too hard to make up for it.

Actually, the last greek advisor was a member (but not from the university) of a group we had on campus. The one before was from pitt and a member, but strangely enough favored a different group over her own.

I would definitely say that they should have experience with around the same number of groups or a larger system. As a sorority advisor - I hope to God that they'll get someone who knows something about NPC recruitment etc. Someone who believes in the Greek community and what it does, you don't want someone who won't stand up and defend you guys. Unfortunately they are going to be paid peanuts, so we probably won't get any of that. Luckily this person won't be stepping into a big mess, except for the greek review. From what I've seen of the sorority chapters and panhel, things went fairly smooth. Someone I know applied for the job, I hope that she gets it - she'd be very fair.

I also think a lot of people get the mentality that if any other school is mentioned that it's crap. There's a lot to be said for different campus' levels of organization. As long as they aren't trying to change everything to the way it was at their school, but are flexible and making a suggestion, then people really shouldn't be offended. I've sat in on advisors meetings where myself or someone else will suggest stuff from other campus' (not just our own) that we've seen work only to be told that it won't work and we have to do things the way they've always been done, despite decling recruitment numbers, no working panhellenic judicial board, hazing, no greek unity, etc.

33girl · #6 04-17-2003, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fire1977
As long as they aren't trying to change everything to the way it was at their school, but are flexible and making a suggestion, then people really shouldn't be offended.

yeah, that's more what I'm talking about. It's one thing to say "at Lehigh we did so and so, let's try it" but another to say "we did this at my great alma mater Penn State and Penn State is better than Pitt, therefore our way is best and yours sucks and has to go." My experiences were mostly the latter.

oh, and word on not dating the fraternity/sorority members. yucky.

PSK480 · #7 04-17-2003, 11:49 AM

I agree with 33girl. We have an Almuni from our campus who is our greek life advisor. It can create a sticky situation. Probably would be better for the system if you got a greek but not of an org on your campus. Also see if you can get someone who has worked out of one of the national/intenational HQs.

Tom Earp · #8 04-17-2003, 10:57 PM

What has worked for us in the past:

Advisor, a member of the School system. If he proves him/herself worthy, then Initiate them. Helps in working with the Administration. This time WE WERE VERY LUCKY, not only is he a member of the Facality, a New Brother, but The Father Of a Alum Brother. His son is also His Brother! God, I love it when something like this comes together!!!!!!!!

Member from another school who may be going to Grad. school.

Never have one who is a member of the Chapter. This can be done by the Alums working with the Chapter on an over all advisory group..