Monday, April 21, 2014

Greek Awards Ceremony

Greek Awards Ceremony 

Participation: Approximately 450 audience members
Cost:
Date April 16th, 2014 - EMU Student Center Ballroom 

The annual Greek Awards Ceremony will recognize Greek organizations who have excelled in the Greek Standards and Assessment Program. Individual awards are also given to members of the Greek community who have been nominated and chosen by their peers and others who work closely with Greek life. The program also recognized graduating seniors, new members of the academic Greek organization, Gamma Sigma Alpha, and GSAP evaluators. 


Photo Voice Project

Photo Voice Project

Participation: 14 student photographers, 64 attendees
Cost:
Date: April 3rd, 2014

The fifth annual Photo Voice Project gave 14 students the opportunity to use photography to tell their stories. The theme for this year's Photo Voice was "I Am..." The students were given the opportunity to display powerful photographs paired with inspiring narratives in a gallery on April 3rd. EMU Greek life collaborated with Snow Health Center to guide the student through an often emotional and empowering artistic experience. Students hosted both the gallery and a debrief immediately following the gallery. 

Greek Standards and Assessment Program

Greek Standards and Assessment Program 

Participation: 17 chapters, 40 evaluators
Cost: Free
Date: March 3rd-24th

The Greek Standards and Assessment Program (GSAP) was created in 2005 by a group of EMU community leaders, faulty, staff, and alumni. Since 2005, the GSAP process has undergone significant changes, but its core purpose has remained the same. GSAP is an opportunity for chapters to meet with Greek and non-Greek affiliated evaluators to assess the ways in which each chapter incorporates the five values areas of EMU Greek Life (Integration of Purpose, Intellectual Development, Positive Relationship, Civic Engagement, And Leadership Development). After the interviews, the chapters receive scores on a 1-5 scale, along with detailed feedback on how to improve their organizations in the future. This year, 17 chapters and 40 evaluators participated in a total of 144 individual interviews. Eight organizations were recognized as Chapters of Excellence at this year's Greek Awards Ceremony. View more information here

The Process

Chapter Presidents receive a complete packet with all the information regarding the Greek Standards and Assessment Program.

All evaluators* attend an orientation where they will receive a packet of information about what questions to ask during the interview and how to assess chapters and give feedback based on the interview. 

Each chapter will receive a list of names and contact information for the faculty, staff, or alumni that will be evaluating them in each area. Every chapter receives contact information for two evaluators per values area (10 evaluators total). 

Each chapter must contact their evaluators to set up a meeting during the three week period in March. No more than three members from a chapter are encouraged to attend. 

Chapters will then participate in discussions with evaluators for each standard. Evaluators will want to know how chapter incorporate each standard into their operations and behaviors. After the discussion, evaluators will give each chapter a rating on a 1-5 scale with a1 indicating poor and 5 indicating excellent. 

The Coordinator for Greek Life will compile all the ratings and feedback from each chapter and determine who will be recognized as a Chapter of Excellence in each category and overall. 

After the awards ceremony, letter will be sent to each National Headquarters, to notify them of their chapters success and challenges. 

The Standards
Civic Engagement: The chapter will engage members in a process that actively addresses issues on both local and national levels. Through these activities, the chapter will instill a lifelong commitment to citizenship in its members. 

Criteria for Excellence: 
  1. Chapter has a direct community service project monthly
  2. Chapter encourages other to support local non-profits
  3. Members are involved in individual service in addition to chapter services
  4. Chapter co-sponsors a community service project or philanthropy project with another organization 
  5. Chapter has some type of reflection process after philanthropic events
  6. Chapter incorporates advocacy into philanthropic events
  7. Chapter has established a relationship with a local non-profit, and provides ongoing support to that organization. In addition, chapter is an advocate for the organization to engage others in support of their organization or cause

Integration of Purpose: The chapter will understand the purpose and values of their organization and educate its members on how these ideals relate to their daily activities. The chapter will foster and promote environments that are consistent with their purpose. Individuals within the chapter will take ownership for their organizational values and be responsible to them. 

Criteria for Excellence: 
  1. Full understanding of chapter values and ability to engage in legitimate dialogue and stand up for organizational values
  2. Pinpoint activities that defend the values they communicate, internally and externally
  3. Describe chapter programming with examples (new member development, active member development, alumnae development) and documentation
  4. Demonstrate an understand for the need of high level of mediation and education rather than punishments
  5. Chapter utilizes constructive and developmental approach to accountability

Intellectual Development: The chapter will develop and maintain a scholastic program that promotes success, growth, and the importance of academics to members. The chapter will also instill a commitment to life-long learning outside the classroom for its members to increase their awareness in other areas such as arts, culture, and current events. 

Criteria for Excellence: 
  1. Chapter has GPA above all men's or women's averages
  2. Chapter can articulate how it encourages members to actively seek knowledge outside of the classroom
  3. Chapter engages members in meaningful educational experiences outside the classroom on a regular basis
  4. Chapter incorporates a study program that emphasizes a solid foundation for excellence in education. The program should include incentives, measurable goals, plans for continual follow up and mechanism whereby members must show continual improvement
  5. Members create an academic plan with goals
  6. Chapter follows up with members to help them with advising, registration, and financial Aid. 
  7. Chapter will be will educated about the resources available to them on campus 

Leadership Development: The chapter will foster an environment that encourages supports, and promotes leadership in its member. this will include leadership experiences both inside and outside of the organization. Leadership is defined by the following basic assumptions based on the article Leadership Reconsidered: Engaging High Education in Social Change
  • Leadership is concerned with fostering growth
  • Leadership is inherently value-based
  • Chapter provides opportunity for all people to be potential leaders
  • Leadership is a group process
Criteria for Excellence
  1. Encouragement from chapter and supporting the individual's participation in other organizations (i.e. NSOA, Senator, Student Coordinator)
  2. Supporting leadership both outside and inside the community (i.e. church participation, internships, non-profits)
  3. Chapter participates in campus and national leadership development programs
  4. Chapter fosters positive leadership board transition
  5. Chapter is involved on campus and in the surrounding community
  6. Chapter sends representatives to campus-wide and governing board sponsored programs
  7. Chapter has been a leading voice in issues facing the community
  8. Chapter incorporates alumnae, staff, and faculty in educational programming
  9. Chapter discusses and evaluates programs/events in which they were participant

Positive Relationships: The chapter will create a safe and healthy environment which fosters brotherhood and sisterhood within their respective chapter and promotes collaboration throughout the Greek and EMU communities. These relationships will be rooted int he purpose and values of the organization. In addition, chapter will respect the dignity of all people while embracing the free exchange of ideas and beliefs and promoting healthy lifestyles. 

Criteria for Excellence:
  1. Chapter values alumni and actively engages them in chapter and EMU happenings
  2. Chapter promotes and encourages positive interactions amongst all Greek Chapters
  3. Chapter can communicate how they contribute positively to the EMU and Ypsilanti Community
  4. Chapter can communicate how they develop and define their brotherhood/sisterhood
  5. Chapter continually educates members on Risk Management and Health and Wellness issues
  6. Chapter advocates for cross-cultural experiences
  7. Chapter promotes, encourages, and contributes to a safe and healthy social environment 

Monday, April 14, 2014

New Member Institute

New Member Institute

Participation: Fall 2013 - 135; Winter 2014 - 37
Cost: 
Dates: November 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and March 11th, 12th, 13th

New Member Institute is an educational program for new fraternity and sorority members. The curriculum is focused on educating new members about community values and expectations. It also provides its participants with support and campus resources. Multiple sessions are held so new members can choose a session that fits into their schedule. Each session facilitated by current members in the Greek Community. New Member Institute sessions are held once per semester. While NMI is voluntary, all new members are encouraged to attend. 




Feedback:

Pre NMI Responses

Post NMI Responses








FastForward

FASTforWARD (Fraternities And Sororities Together FOR Wellness And Responsible Decisionmaking), originally created as a peer education initiative a few years ago, had stagnated and lost its peer component in the last few years. This year the GLO pod worked to resurrect the program; breathing new life and new facets of wellness into FASTforWARD. FASTforWARD functions as a wellness education broker, linking organizations with the programs and presenters they wish to hear from and to arrange a date and time for the two to connect. The pod reached out to other offices and departments on campus to add their programs to the menu. Officer Candace Dorsey from EMUPD, the Office of Nutrition Services, Ellen Collier from the Women's Resource Center, as well as exciting new in house created programing have been added to FASTforWARD this year.



Topics in FASTforWARD

  • Nutrition
  • Personal Safety
  • Academic Wellness
  • Financial Wellness
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • Critical thinking
  • Alcohol Safety 
  • Bystander Training


Sunday, April 13, 2014

Average Chapter Size

Average Chapter Size

The charts below show the average chapter size for each Greek council from Fall 2007 to Winter 2014. The College Panhellenic Council average chapter size ranges from the mid-30s to the mid-40s. The Interfraternity Council average chapter size ranges from the mid-20s to the mid-30s. The National Pan-Hellenic Council average chapter size ranges from 5 to 10 members.