Bloomsburg University conducted a review of its Greek Life program in the fall of 2017. This review sought to determine the impact of sorority and fraternity chapters on the campus community and to identify successes, challenges, limitations in the Greek Life program as well as provide recommendations for improvement.

1. Review of Greek Life
2017 – 2018 ACADEMIC YEAR

2. Background
• Bloomsburg University sought an assessment of the impact of sorority and
fraternity Greek chapters on the university campus community and to
identify successes as well as issues, challenges, and limitations that the
program faces
• The review is in accordance with the overall assessment and Program
Review schedule in Student Affairs
• The review is timely, given the national context of fraternity and
sorority life
• Hired AASCU – Penson Center for Professional Development to conduct
the review

3. Background
• Process began fall semester with data gathering, such as graduation rates,
rosters, etc. Interviews and survey followed.
• Interviewed
• 73 faculty, staff, alumni, community members, etc.
• 45 Greek students
• Online survey
• 276 Greek alumni
• 9 chapter presidents
• 6 alumni advisers (4 national and 2 local)

4. Selected Strengths of Greek Life
• Opportunities for leadership, resume building experiences, and social life
• Community service and philanthropic activities
• Greek alumni advisors
• Sorority chapter organization
• Greek participation in the Big Event
• Positive relationship with the police

5. Selected Weaknesses of Greek Life
• Greek housing
• Lack of accountability and organization for fraternities
• Inconsistent chapter advising
• Lack of data, particularly regarding academic information
• No formal risk management program
• Lack of leadership training programs

6. Recommendations
• Contact NPC Area Advisor for Bloomsburg to further discuss the issues regarding sorority recruitment
membership totals. In addition, Bloomsburg may wish to take advantage of the Consulting Team Visit
option that is offered by NPC to more fully review the sorority recruitment process.
• Develop specific, written guidelines for Fraternity New Member Recruitment.
• Implement a more concerted and intentional effort to track membership rosters for all Greek Life
chapters throughout the academic year.
• Create a data management system that develops and maintains basic data on the efficacy of
participation in Greek life as it relates to student grade point average and graduation rates; it also
should identify improved information gathering processes for tracking community service hours,
philanthropic events and money raised through such events.

7. Recommendations, continued
• Increase collaboration with University Relations and the Advancement division to improve visibility
with the local media for the many positive contributions the Greek community makes to the campus
and the town of Bloomsburg.
• Facilitate reconnecting alumni to the Greek Life program and identifying pathways for them to
contribute to improving the program.
• To more fully realize the value of active advisors, a greater effort must be made to identify incentives
to serve as an advisor, create clear expectations and an orientation to the role and provide ongoing
communication and feedback that will support the time and personal commitment made by the
advisors.
• While the hazing policy is standard and inclusive and not in need of major revision, the policy should
include more specific reference to other individuals who can report violations, including parents and
anyone on and off the campus.

8. Recommendations, continued
• Continue to Review Hazing Policy to assure it meets the needs of a modern Greek Life program.
• Begin a campus-wide discussion about the viability of developing a risk management strategy for the
campus as a whole and for all student organizations in particular.
• Increased and intentional collaboration on the part of a rejuvenated Greek Life Office with offices
throughout campus.
• Actively seek best practices for Greek Life programs throughout Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic
• Find solutions to Greek Housing.
• Create additional efforts and funding to expand SpringFest; create direct involvement from Greek Life
Office and student leaders in Spring Fest rather than Block Party.

9. Next Steps
• Spring Semester 2018
• Create an additional position to address needs in Greek Affairs
• New position will provide leadership for a new vision for Greek Life and be responsible for
creating a short, intermediate and long term strategic plan for a reinvented Greek Life
program
• Position will be advertised with a summer start date
• Position will be in addition to current personnel and will supervise current Assistant
Director of the Student Union for Greek Affairs
• Address membership totals for sorority recruitment
• Create methodology to track membership rosters
• Create leadership development program for Greek student leaders
• Summer 2018 and beyond
• Continue to implement all other recommendations generated in the Review of Greek Life