[ GREEK LIFE ]

Services to support Greek Life

A strong infrastructure is central to the success of positive and vibrant fraternities and sororities.  Through Creating Chapters of Excellence, fraternities and sororities work closely with Cornell’s professional student services staff to build dynamic communities.

Services include:

Creating Chapter Compacts:

A staff member meets with chapter executive officers and alumni advisors three times annually to develop chapter goals, assess progress and conduct year-end reviews.

Consulting and Coaching:

Staff members are available to guide and advise chapter officers, alumni advisors, and chapter members. Specific areas include, but are not limited to:

Community Development

  • Building brotherhood and sisterhood
  • Maintaining meaningful traditions
  • Keeping seniors active
  • Fostering inclusiveness, diversity and respect
  • Academic development
  • Motivating and engaging chapter members
  • Personal health and wellness
  • Promoting civic engagement and service

Networking

  • Friend raising: how to connect with alumni
  • Alumni boards: developing and utilizing them
  • Working with national organizations

Leadership Development

  • Effective and productive meetings
  • Developing a recruitment plan
  • Positive public relations
  • Team development
  • Developing chapter and/or officer retreats
  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Personality Assessment

Facilities Management and Administration

  • ServeSafe kitchen and sanitation program
  • Respecting chapter property and keeping it clean
  • Budgeting and finance
  • New member program audit
  • Cultural audit on chapter health
  • Developing and utilizing a standards board

Communication:

At roundtable meetings executive officers learn from and support each other, and discuss common problems, solutions, and best practices. Each month, chapter officers and alumni advisors receive written information on upcoming events as well as helpful tips on the habits of excellent chapters.

Enhancing Chapter Environments:

Staff members help chapter officers develop a crisis management plan, promote fire safety and kitchen and facility cleanliness, create a check in/out process for residents, and a system for holding members accountable for any damage to facilities.

Assessment.

Staff members work with chapters to assess current member satisfaction and collect other data to measure chapter health, growth, and provide insight into any arising challenges.

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