SASC REPORT CONTINUED: A formal recruitment/initiation schedule will be created and distributed by the Office of Greek Life to the Dickinson College community in the Fall semester. NOTE: 2001-2002 will be a transition year. To accommodate those sophomores who would normally be able to become participate in recruitment and initiation during the Fall semester, there will be a fall rush process. In addition, there will be the first Spring semester rush for freshmen. After 2001-2002 there will only be a Spring semester rush/initiation process. III. Creating an annual assessment system that supports the purpose of Greek Life. The SASC recommends the creation of an annual assessment tool. This will create regular oppurtunities for the College to communicate to each chapter the College's expectations, individual chapter's areas of achievement, and areas that require improvement. The idea is to create an environment of conversation, trust, and support between the chapters and the College so that Greek chapters can operate successfully at Dickinson. A. Annual Review Process: The SASC recommends that the Office of Greek Life implement an assessment tool similar to the "Five Star" programs of other schools. The Office of Greek Life, in conjunction with feedback from the SASC, will develop and implement the program. Benchmarking will begin Spring 2001, with full implementation in Fall 2001. The Dickinson College "Five Star" Program will be available for review by April 2001. Beginning in Fall 2001, a review board will be established to evaluate individual chapter performance in the "Five Star" System. This board will be appointed on an annual basis by the President of Dickinson College and will include: presidents of IFC, and Panhel, two non-Greek students, two faculty members, two administrators, and the Director of Greek Life, who will serve as chairperson. No current advisor to any Dickinson College fraternity/sorority chapter may serve on the board. IV. Creating adequate support systems for Greek chapters. The SASC encourages the College to maintain their administrative support for fraternities and sororities. We understand, however, that additional support structures need to be created by the Office of Greek Life, as well as by individual chapters to maintain accountability and establish a strong system of advisement and leadership. A. Chapter Alumni/ae Advisory Boards/Chapter Advisors/Greek Advisors' Council: The SASC recommends that these boards be required for every Greek chapter and that they be part of the "Five Star" Plan. B. Peer Standards Board: If and/or when Dickinson College decides to establish peer judicial boards for all students, the SASC supports the establishment of similar boards for fraternities and sororities. C. All-College Greek Review Board: The SASC supports the establishment of an All-College Greek Review Board as part of the "Five Star" plan. D. Role of National Organizations: National organizations should play an active role in the life of Greek chapters. We recommend that each chapter have a national representative visit the chapter and the Office of Greek Life once each year. Greek national offices should be informed of all changes that may affect their chapters. V. Creating a housing system that supports the purpose of Greek life at Dickinson. A. Stability in Housing: The SASC understands that all students are deserving of the oppurtunity to apply for special interest housing, whether Greek or SDLC, and recognizes the need for stability in housing for all groups. The SASC strongly recommends strengthening the stability of Greek housing through several means. This includes an examination of contractual agreements between the chapters and the College (as based on such agreements at other institutions). In addition, Greek housing will be evaluated annually under the "Five Star" Plan. 1. No group, Greek or non-Greek, will be eligible for housing unless they have operated as an organization for two consecutive academic years, immediately prior to applying for housing. VI. Further Recommendations: Other areas of the administration of Greek Life that have not been discussed above are examined in this section including: Disciplinary System, Honor Societies, "Select 2000", Public Relations, Event Checks, and Student Senate Funding. A. Disciplinary System: We support a system that is consistent for all student organizations. The current discipline process maintains group and individual accountability while remaining consistent. The new Student Code of Conduct, implemented in Fall 2000, has addressed the concerns from the original GLAR. B. Greek Honor Society: The SASC recommends the establishment of at least two Greek honor societies, one for fraternities and one for sororities. Currently the Office of Greek Life is exploring the chartering of Rho Lambda (Sorority) and Order of Omega (fraternities and sororities) chapters at Dickinson College. C. Implementation of "Select 2000": The SASC recommends that Dickinson College work with those fraternities affected by "Select 2000" national office mandates to assist chapters in becoming substance-free and to identify social spaces and options for those chapters immediately affected by these policies. The SASC strongly recommends to IFC to encourage individual chapter houses to "go dry" (The SASC defines a "dry" house as one that does not host registered events with alcohol in their chapter house.) Greek groups are still encouraged to host registered BYOB functions in social spaces on campus. By having all houses "dry" this will put all chapters on the same level in areas of recruiting and evaluation, reduce financial strains on individual chapters by reducing damages, and reduce disciplinary actions taken against individual chapters. D. Public Relations: IFC and Panhel, as well as the Offices of Greek Life and Media Relations, should work with chapters to raise awareness on campus and in the greater community of mission, service, and academic achievement of Greek chapters. NEXT |