Trustees Endorse Working Group Recommendations

At its meeting on Oct. 22, 2011, the Board of Trustees endorsed the administration’s proposal to implement recommendations for strengthening the Greek community that were set forth by the Working Group on Greek Life and Campus Community. In so doing, the Board reaffirms its commitment to providing an outstanding residential experience for all students and believes this presents an opportunity for the Greek system to address the significant challenges that were identified in the Working Group’s report and to achieve success as a model Greek system.

The Working Group submitted its report, including 31 recommendations, to the Board in May, following one of the most substantive assessments of Greek life ever done at the College.

During an 18-month study, the Working Group engaged the Lafayette community in extensive conversations related to fraternities and sororities and investigated best practices for Greek life as recommended by national oversight organizations and used by Lafayette’s peer institutions. The objective was to understand more clearly the benefits of fraternity and sorority membership and develop insight on avenues for enhancing these benefits while mitigating problems the chapters face. The Working Group sought to determine how fraternities and sororities can align their primary purposes and daily operations with academic excellence, diversity and inclusion, student learning outside of the classroom, responsible use of controlled substances, personal integrity, and the development of organizations that both support and challenge their members to grow and develop.

Chaired by Barbara Levy ’77, chair of the Trustee Committee on Student Life, and Ashley Juavinett ’11, the Working Group included two trustees (both Lafayette graduates), one other alumnus, two faculty members, four administrators, and nine students (five of whom were members of Greek organizations). Its recommendations are in these categories: (1) improving relationships between the College and the Greek community, (2) the Greek community as a center for academic excellence and innovation, (3) supporting a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming Greek community, (4) promoting personal integrity, responsibility, and well-being in the Greek community, and (5) and the College’s recognition and assessment of Greek organizations. An Executive Summary of the Working Group report includes the membership and recommendations.

The Working Group reported that it carried out its study “in a manner that would result in recommendations that would not only strengthen the Greek community but all student organizations and social living groups at Lafayette.” It said its recommendations are intended to “transform the Greek community and to improve its relationship with the College.”

The group said most of its recommendations are consistent with recommendations proposed by college presidents, national and international Greek organization leaders, and other higher education leaders – known as the Franklin Square Group – who came together in 2003 to formulate practices and policies to develop a thriving student community grounded in the mission of higher education and to eliminate negative collegiate fraternity and sorority behaviors. The Franklin Square Group’s recommendations, published in an influential report titled A Call to Values Congruence, focus on (1) prioritizing academic engagement, (2) communicating behavioral expectations clearly, (3) using research-based approaches to reduce high-risk alcohol use and improve overall well-being, and (4) systematic evaluation of chapters’ adherence to their own missions and to that of the college.

In 2009, an ad hoc committee of trustees, faculty, administrators, and students conducted a review of Lafayette’s residential life program and proposed 25 recommendations for consideration as the College continues shaping the residential experience for students in the context of the strategic plan. The committee recommended further study of the issue of how fraternities and sororities can most effectively contribute to the College’s mission, and this, along with other considerations, led to the formation of the Working Group on Greek Life and Campus Community.

Other recent extensive studies include reviews of alcohol use in 1998 and 2011, a 1999 review of the intercollegiate athletics program, a campus climate study conducted in 2000, a 2003-04 study of the religious-life program, and a review of student social patterns completed in 2005-06. In addition, a working group examined athletics scholarships during 2005-06. During the time the Working Group on Greek Life and Campus Community was examining the College’s fraternity and sorority programs, a second campus climate study was being conducted, and the College began reviewing its campus safety policies and practices.

This practice of proactive, continuous assessment of all areas of campus life reflects a commitment to creating and maintaining an inclusive College community that values, affirms, and advances the diverse backgrounds, interests, experiences, and aspirations of all its members.

The Board supports the administration’s view that many of the recommendations of the Working Group on Greek Life and Campus Community offer the potential to enhance the quality of fraternities and sororities on the Lafayette campus. (Specifically, these are recommendations Nos. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, and 31.) At its meeting on Oct. 22, the Board directed the administration to continue to work with faculty and others in the Lafayette community to develop an implementation plan that is consistent with the administration’s response to the Working Group’s report and to establish appropriate metrics and assessment procedures to ensure that the objectives listed below are achieved, in addition to strict compliance with the College’s Code of Conduct. This embraces the recommendations of the Faculty Academic Policy Committee.

  • Fraternities and sororities must provide open access and engagement opportunities to all students at Lafayette (non-discriminatory in selection of members).
  • Fraternities and sororities must facilitate demonstrated learning opportunities for students and provide benefits to the College as a whole.
  • The academic performance of students affiliated with fraternities and sororities must be comparable to the student body as a whole.
  • The disciplinary profile of members of fraternities and sororities, as well as the individual organizations, must be comparable to the student body as a whole and other student organizations.

In keeping with recommendations 8 and 29, the College already has filled the new position of Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

The Board has decided that if the above objectives have not been achieved in three years, or if interim benchmarks, to be established, indicating satisfactory progress toward their achievement are not met, the College will consider all options, including the elimination of Greek organizations from the Lafayette campus.

In the next few weeks the College will assemble a working group of faculty, students, staff, alumni, and trustees to oversee the implementation of this plan.

The upcoming three-year period of implementation and evaluation will be focused on addressing the concerns and eliminating the deficiencies identified in the Working Group report. In light of this, the Board concluded that it is not advisable for the College to increase the number of Greek organizations at Lafayette during this period and voted that no additional organizations be approved to join the Greek system at the College during this time.

Following this three-year period, the Board will evaluate whether the objectives have been achieved and will consider the appropriate next steps.