Ball State's fraternities will have to readjust next semester to meet a long list of approved recommendations designed to create a stronger community.
These recommendations will force fraternities to meet a specific grade point average, address members not paying rent and develop a stronger recruitment program.
Since September 2003, the Fraternity Advisory Committee has been working on ways to improve the quality of men in the greek community.
Members of the committee were chosen by Douglas McConkey, vice president for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, in order to represent faculty, students and parents.
Kay Bales, associate vice president for Student Life and a member of the Fraternity Advisory Committee, said the committee researched trends from the last 10 years to address issues on alcohol, recruitment, scholarship, finances and alumni/adviser support in the greek community. The committee also looked at other universities' programs to see whether Ball State could mirror what they were doing.
"The committee designed a report that will help us turn the corner and improve the fraternity system," McConkey said.
In 1993 there were 928 fraternity members. In the spring of 2003 that number had dropped to 575.
Bales attributes part of the decline in membership to Ball State losing six fraternities in the last 10 years.
Addressing this issue, one of the approved recommendations calls for an outside consultant to be brought in to reinvent the fraternity recruitment process.
"It all goes back to what the community is selling," Bales said.
Bales said a lot of freshmen come into a fraternity thinking it is just one big party. Later they find out the fraternity has specific requirements that must be met, such as community service and a specific GPA.
The recommendations also require that each chapter meet a 2.6 GPA. Fraternities were once required to meet Ball State's all-male average, but Rob Turning, assistant director of student organizations and activities, said this was difficult because it was a moving target.
The GPA for the entire fraternity community has only dropped below a 2.6 once since the Fall 1997 semester.
McConkey said this goal is reasonable and very achievable.
For fraternities not reaching the required GPA, a list of consequences has been established. If a fraternity does not meet the GPA four semesters in a row, or four out of five semesters, the chapter will no longer be recognized by the Interfraternity Council or the Student Organizations and Activities office.
Addressing financial issues, which have been the cause of three fraternities losing their house, the Fraternity Advisory Committee has established an encumbrance policy. Fraternity members who do not pay rent or parlor fees, which are paid by members living outside the house, will have a hold placed on all their records until payments are made.
"Hopefully these guidelines will give guys a little more authority to hold members accountable," Turning said.
The Fraternity Advisory Committee has also formed a way for fraternity men to break their Premium Plan contracts. If a fraternity cannot fill its house but is meeting a list of requirements including having all members living in the house, the contract can be broken without a fee.
"This probably would have saved Delta Chi," Turning said.
The premium plan has made it difficult for fraternities to meet their living capacity, according to the Fraternity Advisory Committee report. In many cases, it has been hard to even reach the break-even point.
"The university, administration and fraternities will work together to implement these recommendations," McConkey said. "We will do whatever we can to support the fraternities."
The full list of recommendations can be found online at www.bsu.edu/ifc.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
