Greek Life hires Npower for reform recommendations

Npower has worked with greek life at other universities in the past.

By Travis Cornejo

Published Nov. 3, 2009

The Office of Greek Life has hired Npower, a consultancy group, to visit MU this month and submit recommendations for reform in the organization.

"It's just a contract," Student Life Director Mark Lucas said.

Greek Life Director Janna Basler said she chose Npower because it specializes in higher education, including fraternities and sororities.

Basler said Npower has also worked for the University of Iowa, along with other universities. According to its Web site, Npower has partnered with 85 colleges and universities and 73 international and national fraternal, social and professional organizations and conferences.

According to the Web site, Npower provides strategic planning initiatives. The purpose behind evaluating Greek Life communities is to strengthen and transform the community through true unbiased evaluation to identify critical issues. Npower will provide a custom-designed follow-up plan for success.

"There's never been one strategic plan for the whole community," Basler said.

Lucas said Npower would be coming to MU in early November. It has plans to meet with students throughout the campus.

"They come and they conduct three days of focus groups," Basler said.

Basler said prior to its visit, Npower has requested statistical and cultural information.

Basler said Npower would facilitate focus groups of stakeholders on campus. Some stakeholders include new Greek Life members, chapter presidents, chapter advisors and students who are not a part of Greek Life.

"They're meeting with a lot of different groups," Basler said.

Basler said after they hear back from Npower, Greek Life would meet after the holidays to develop a strategic plan.

"It's one thing to identify the issues," Basler said. "You have to develop the plan of action."

Basler said she is not expecting to hear back about any specific kinds of recommendations from Npower.

"I'm going into it with an open mind," Basler said.

Basler said MU has a great Greek community but it could be better.

The CEO of Npower is Karyn Nishimura Sneath. In nine years, she has custom designed 427 training programs for various organizations.