Greek grade report released

Fraternities and sororities employ a variety of methods to keep grades up.

By Anna Koeppel

Published Oct. 12, 2007

A grade report released by the Office of Greek Life revealed the highs and lows of fraternity and sorority chapters on campus.

The Beta Theta Pi fraternity had the highest overall grade- point average for the 2007 winter semester with a 3.128.

Six sororities — Kappa Alpha Theta, Alpha Delta Pi, Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi — had a 2007 winter semester average GPA of 3.207 or higher according to the report. Kappa Alpha Theta, the highest, had an overall chapter GPA of 3.414.

Beta Theta Pi Recruitment chairman Kyle Steele said the chapter has an academic program for new members, which includes a mentor program in which younger members work with an older member of a similar major.

The older member helps the younger member with coursework and scheduling classes.

Members must achieve a 2.5 GPA to be initiated into the chapter.

Members whose GPA falls below 2.5 spend a semester on academic probation.

Members who don't raise their GPA after that are supposed to move out of the house and be put on alumni status.

Steele said nothing is required of older members except the minimum 2.5 GPA.

"That's really just motivation enough," Steele said.

Steele said each incoming freshman in Beta Theta Pi has a desk in his room, which he said helped him when he was a new member.

"It doesn't seem like that big of a deal, but we're trying to express the importance of grades," Steele said. "It's easier to maintain good study habits rather than develop them later on."

The chapter has a scholarship chairman to track members' grades.

"As far as older guys, everyone's pretty much on their own. In general, we have quite a few people who like to do well and try hard," said Dan Taylor, a former Beta Theta Pi scholarship chairman.

Mentors are volunteer upperclassmen interested in promoting academic success, Taylor said.

He said older members are proactive about approaching younger members, and the chapter has a culture of academic success.

"I think it just comes down to that the people we recruit are people interested in doing well in school and are ambitious people. Really all there is to it. They're interested in doing well, and continue to do well once they're here," Taylor said.

Kappa Alpha Psi, Kappa Sigma, Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternities had overall GPAs below 2.5 for the 2007 winter semester.

Alpha Phi Alpha members are required to attend a two-hour study hall, held weekly.

"It's tough for us to get together at the same time because of different schedules of classes and work," President Branden Gregory said.

The chapter has an education chairman who is responsible for organizing and coordinating study halls.

This semester, the chapter is implementing a new program for members.

The member with the highest GPA will receive $300 and the member whose GPA improves the most will receive $100.

FarmHouse fraternity's average GPA has risen for the past four semesters.

"We've been stressing grades more among older members, not just new members," President Collin Hayward said.

The chapter's GPA for the 2007 winter semester fell between 3.0 and 3.116.

Alpha Gamma Sigma, Delta Upsilon, Phi Kappa Theta and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternities' Winter 2007 GPAs are also in that range.

Alpha Gamma Rho's new members are required to attend study hours for two hours each night from Sunday through Thursday, President Andrew Howard said.

"That kind of helps them get in the transition from high school to college," Howard said.

Howard said the study hours helped him when he was a new member.

"It forced me to sit down and study," he said.

Alpha Gamma Rho members are required to maintain a 2.4 GPA.

Members whose GPA falls below 2.4 are required to attend study hours and are put on social probation for the next semester.

If, after a semester, a member's grades have not improved beyond a 2.4, they are moved for expulsion from the chapter.

"Accountability is pretty high on making grades at our house," Howard said.

He added that younger members who are struggling with classes are matched with an older member of the same major.

Howard said older members take turns watching over members and helping them with coursework during study halls.

Howard said a lot of the chapter's success comes from members having the same major because older members have experience with the same classes and instructors.