Low GPAs hurt small sororities

By Anna Koeppel

Published Sept. 7, 2007

Members of smaller sororities have a larger stake in how their grades affect their sorority's academic standing.

That's the problem Sigma Lambda Gamma faced this year.

Leaders of Sigma Lambda Gamma, a Latina-based multicultural sorority under the Multicultural Greek Council, cited the chapter's small size as a reason for having a low Winter 2007 grade-point average, after a grade report released by the Office of Greek Life revealed that the chapter's GPA, along with Zeta Phi Beta sorority's, fell into the lowest bracket.

"It's always a constant struggle for smaller chapters," Sigma Lambda Gamma President Monica Blackstock said.

Sigma Lambda Gamma has six active members at MU, and with six members, each member's GPA has a bigger impact on the chapter's average than a member of a larger chapter would.

"We have such a low number in comparison to (Panhellenic Council) sororities and (National Pan-Hellenic Council) sororities that we don't have as many people to round us out," said Alyson Fleming, Sigma Lambda Gamma vice president of Academics.

Sigma Lambda Gamma ranks in the lowest bracket for both new members and all-chapter average GPA for Winter 2007. Overall, the chapter falls between 2.673 and 2.792, while the new-member average is below 2.0.

The Sigma Lambda Gamma national organization requires members have a minimum 2.5 GPA, and chapters must have a minimum 2.75 GPA. Fleming said the chapter's average is above the required 2.75, but she did not know the exact number.

Sigma Lambda Gamma implemented a Start Right program this semester to help members achieve academically, Blackstock said.

Blackstock said Fleming oversees the program and receives all members' transcripts and turns them into Blackstock. Sigma Lambda Gamma had only one new member during Winter 2007.

Fleming said all members are required to complete study halls, but only members with GPAs below the minimum are required to complete study hours as part of the Start Right program. She said she would like to add programs that teach study skills to members.

"We require that sisters do a certain amount of study halls," Blackstock said.

Blackstock said some members might have to meet with professors if their GPAs are too low.

Juliana Hoyos, a Sigma Lambda Gamma alumna, said all six active members of the sorority hold a chapter officer position.

"The strain of running a whole sorority with six active members is a challenge," Hoyos said.

Zeta Phi Beta, a historically black sorority under NPHC, also has a undergraduate chapter GPA between 2.673 and 2.792, and no new member GPA is listed. Graduate chapter President Khandicia Randolph said the chapter does not have an official minimum GPA for members.

"The undergraduate chapter is not socially involved on campus," Randolph said. Randolph said the undergraduate chapter and graduate chapter of Zeta Phi Beta are separate.

LeAnn Stroupe, adviser to Zeta Phi Beta undergraduate chapter, said the undergraduate chapter is "working to re-solidify its base on campus."

At the top of the list is Kappa Alpha Theta, a larger sorority under PHA, with a GPA of 3.414 for the 2007 Winter semester. The chapter has consistently had the highest GPA of any sorority since Fall 2003, the first term for which information is available. Information is unavailable for the Fall 2006 term.

Kappa Alpha Theta President Cara McLaughlin said both the MU chapter and international organization are committed to a strong scholarship program.

"Here at MU, we have a long-standing tradition of scholarship excellence, and we work very hard to maintain that year to year," McLaughlin said in an e-mail.

McLaughlin said when a member is having academic problems, the chapter adviser and scholarship chairwoman work closely with the member so she can improve.

McLaughlin said the chapter plans to have an event to celebrate its academic success, but no specific plans have been made.

Chi Omega and Kappa Kappa Gamma are also at the top of the list, with a chapter GPA falling between 3.263 and 3.309.

Representatives for Kappa Kappa Gamma could not be reached for comment.

Underclassmen Chi Omega members and older members who are not meeting grade requirements are required to attend study hours set by the chapter, Chi Omega President Kristin Lamvik said. Chi Omega's national organization requires members to have a GPA above the all-women's average and the all-Greek average at their college or university.

Older members proctor the study time and offer help to those struggling with their grades. The chapter has a spreadsheet of each member's class schedule in order to identify groups of members who are taking the same class and might help one another.

"Scholarship is very important to our house," Lamvik said.

Lamvik named high grades and career development as part of the foundation of Chi Omega.

"Our members in general are responsible," she said. "They aren't forced to do study hours, they just get it done. It's part of the foundation of our chapter."

Lamvik said the chapter doesn't "punish" members for poor academic performance.

"We just try to help fix the problem," Lamvik said.

Lamvik said Chi Omega offers an unofficial in-house tutoring program for members who want help with their schoolwork. She said that a majority of members use the academic services the chapter offers.