UKy IFC sets 3.0 min. GPA (or else)

[greeky]

Fraternities to raise GPA standards

November 22, 2010 by News Staff · 2 Comments

By Kate Carpenter

In an effort to promote scholarship in the Greek system, the organizational GPA of fraternities is being raised to a 3.0.

“We are trying to hold Greek men to a higher standard,” UK Interfraternity Council President Kelsie Willett said. “It will bring more legitimacy to our community, and it is something that has needed to happen for a long time.”

Keith Ellis, assistant director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at UK and a fraternity adviser, said the change was approved on Nov. 8, after a vote.

“From an adviser’s perspective, I am proud of the guys for challenging themselves and setting the expectation for membership to be improved,” Ellis said.

The change to the minimum organizational GPA will be gradual. By the end of fall 2010, fraternities must reach the all-male average GPA, which is currently a 2.88. By the spring of 2011, fraternities must have a 2.9 GPA. By the fall of 2011, fraternities must have a 2.95. And then by the spring of 2012, all fraternities must have an organizational GPA of a 3.0. In addition to those requirements, a man preparing to join a fraternity must have a high school GPA of a 2.7 before rushing.

“However, for chapters that make continuous improvement, we will give you more time,” Willett said.

Dave Lowe, the Interfraternity Council vice president and member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, proposed the change. Lowe said the first semester a fraternity does not fulfill the requirement, it must meet with Ellis and the national fraternity adviser. The second semester, the fraternity loses its Interfraternity vote and is under social probation. The third semester, the fraternity is excluded from intramural participation and the fourth semester, the fraternity would lose the right to recruit freshmen in the fall.

“The Greek community at UK is in a state of change,” Lowe said. “We want to make sure we are being a valuable member of the community and giving back. When people join Greek organizations, you make a promise to hold yourself accountable. We want to take that commitment seriously.”

In addition to the GPA requirement changes, edits were also made to the benefits associated with high achieving chapters. If an organization reaches a GPA of 3.2, it will receive a $75 reduction in IFC dues, up from what used to be a $50 reduction. If the GPA is 3.3, it will receive a $125 reduction, up from $100. If the GPA is 3.4, it will receive a $275 reduction, up from $250.

“Anything we can do to help guys become more focused is a good thing,” Willett said.

“This is the right direction. We want to hold fraternities to a higher standard.”

kykernel.com/2010/11/22/fraternities-to-raise-gpa-standards/

[Tom Earp]

::)Sounds so fine?

It really upsets me when someone tries to do this!

GLOs always strive to have and usually do have a higher GPA than school average.
But what seems to be forgotten is what else GLO's do such as, higher GPA, involved with student government, sports, and charity events that no one else does.
I wonder if this is not another way to limit GLOs somehow?

Why is there a need to set a bar so high?

[petehsiung]

After reading what is happening on that campus, ( which btw that prof DeSantis teaches there and uses that campus as a example of GU), I think that is a great idea. We are all in college for a reason, which is to learn, get a good education and prepare ourselves for the real world. Although greek life does have significance on campus, what students and even their parents should be aware that after college, they will need to grow up and mature as life isn't always a fraternity nor is it a greek party. I agree that greek life and fraternities and sororities do give them some form of training and support. Yet at the same time as more and more people have college degrees, their "GPA" is more important. From what experience tells students in the hiring process, a lot of employers in firms, even internships and graduate schools and law schools that students apply to do not accept GPA's below a 3.0 ( whether it is cumulative, major or such).

Plus after all, achieving a 3.0 or above isn't that hard to do. It only takes them some discipline and keeping up with work.

THough no offense, I would think enforcing "deferred rush" would be a great addition to also help acheive that goal. That way they could reduce the influence as well as problems and encourage students to open their minds more and explore and get acclimated to the campus In that case students would be able to add to the chapter their experience and what they could offer as well as be more mature so they would be able to handle the commitment.

What do you think of adding that additional standards? AFter all I think its possible to have a strong greek system ( though some like don't care if its strong or marginal) with deferred rush, its how they work around it.

[petehsiung]

Also why stop there with just raising the standards for the chapters? I also believe that the school should raise their admission standards so they would not only attract high acheiving students however students who are also serious about "college" first and can contribute to the academic and opportunities and social environment. Especially that will also help the greek community even further so it does not create trouble and they don't attract slackers and even ppl who despite being best friends with, are also potential deadwood on campus and even society. After all college is where people learn and contribute, not just be fed and not develop themselves.

Given that current admission standard: www.uky.edu/Admission/files/selectivead.pdf, if I was in charge of admission, then instead of basically admitting students of all kinds- be it grades, ACT/SAT and such, I would wipe out that formula or that minimum GPA requirement or something set and make it as competitive or similar to the admission standards that some of the selective schools : such as U of Georgia, University of illinois, University of Florida, and even some schools that have as tough of a admission as U of Michigan, U of Wisconsin, Penn state university where they do not have a set formula. Instead like the other admission officers there, I would have them write based on a application essay topic to assess their readiness and critical thinking and reason why they want to come to college, set the admission standard high where they do "number cutoff" where depending on how many apply for that limited quota, I may cut them off like at a certain GPA and ACT/SAT, which with that kind of cutoff, usually the GPA and test score standards are higher as well as have them list their "extracurriculars", honors and awards. Same with the transfer admission.

Though critics may complain that it would reduce enrollment and interest among students, it would also help curb the drop out, increase retention rates and graduation. Especially its also possible to have a strong greek system yet be very selective in admission. If you look at university of illinois, that school is very tough to be admitted into even for transfers yet they also have a healthy greek system of 30%. That also gives professors and faculty the incentive to challenge the future incoming students by tightening standards and make their major and curriculum more challenging. THis also helps create more opportunities from the students while the people above facilitate them and such. By all means I am not against the greek system but rather I believe in having a well established and educated leaders in the future, it should start from the gatekeeper ( the admissions office).

What do you think of that additional standard that is imposed?

[greeky]

Deferred rush - even for only a month - always hurts fraternities. When I was a freshman, I arrived a week early for marching band practice, and started classes with a bunch of new friends from the band. That was an advantage. Similarly, I think if a freshman can get involved with a fraternity, he'll start campus life with friends, pledge bros, and members - and a sorority pledge or member too. The ideal time for rush is spring quarter/semester. Invite the incoming freshmen (HS seniors) to come live in the house for a weekend. Give the best ones a pledge pin before they leave. Keep rushing during the summer, and you can open fall term with a full house.

[Tom Earp]

Spoken like a true Greek Member and rightly so!

When a newbie comes to campus, he will find his first contact possibly his roomate who could be a unknowing just like him knowing nada.

Joining a GLO from the get go gives him/her a group of people who they can assimilate with and learn the ropes with those who have been their.

Kids who come from small towns or major cities still came from a one building school, now all of a sudden whoops, there are a lot of buildings and classes all over campus. They are lost at first. Heck, I do not care that they go to meetings to learn about the campus, it is overwhelming at first.

Now would be the time for GLOs to step in and show them the ropes if they do not get to stupid and show the dark side.

greeky, your point is well taken!

Fall recruitment is prime for GLOs. Spring is usually not used by GLOs when it should be, correct?

[petehsiung]

I agree with that. In my experience with living in a dorm and even a apartment, I myself personally find it lame, if not lameo as I have agreed with some people before. Especially in a dorm, they are pretty limited and there aren't too many options. Not only that it is transient. Talking about dorms and even a apt, what are your thoughts about dorms ( even like scholarship housing) vs. chapters?

[petehsiung]

Speaking about the Uky, this is also the school where Dr. Alan DeSantis is a professor at. Not to mention a greek academic ;D