greek progress

Trustee Greek Committee
October 26, 2007

The Trustee Greek Committee reported on progress at the October Board meeting. During its April meeting the Board endorsed Dr. Bottoms’ approach to non-housing issues including the hiring of new staff to support the Greek system. It approved a new set of health and safety standards that apply to all student housing and a Voluntary Support Program (subject to IRS approval) to help fund the cost.

Since April, good progress has been made.

• Three Greek life coordinators were hired and have been well received as they actively support Greek chapters.
• The Greek Life Advisory Council (GLAC) approved an implementation plan. The newly formed alumni and house corporation group worked with the University over the summer on an implementation plan for the new housing standards. GLAC approved the plan in September and chapters are working to have budgets and plans for all the work in place by January 2008. Work should be complete by the fall of 2008.
• A Private Letter Ruling Request has been filed with the IRS. With the support of Baker, Daniels the University filed its request in May to allow it to provide grants to meet the standards. Progress has not has been as fast as initially hoped, but the process is moving faster than average for such requests. While there are no guarantees, the committee is cautiously optimistic about the University’s prospects and believes that there is a reasonable shot at a ruling by year-end.

New Greek Life Coordinators Hired
May 3, 2007

We are pleased to announce that we have completed the search process for the newly created Greek Life Coordinator positions endorsed by trustees at their January meeting and hired three staff members. The positions attracted a very strong candidate pool and we are delighted with the results.

Aliya Beavers will earn her Masters degree in College Student Personnel this month from Bowling Green State University. While completing her degree, Aliya worked as a Graduate Assistant in the Greek Life Office and has been the House Director for Alpha Chi Omega. Aliya is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Autumn Hansen graduated from the University of Idaho in 2006 and has been working this past year as a Collegiate Leadership Consultant with Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. While at Idaho, Autumn was Student Body President and worked as an intern with the Women's Center and with the Dean of Students' Office. Autumn is a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.

Mike Schmeckebier graduated from Indiana University in 2005 with a Masters degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. He has been working at DePauw as a Residence Life Coordinator. While at DePauw, Mike served as adviser to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and participated on the DePauw University Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity Board of Trustees. Mike is a member of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

We look forward to working with these new staff members and are confident that they will make a positive difference in the lives of our students and the community.

Trustees Approve New Housing Standards and Greek Support
April 20, 2007

New housing standards for all living units at DePauw -- both Greek and University-owned -- were approved today by DePauw’s Board of Trustees. Subject to Internal Revenue Service approval, members also voted to initiate a voluntary program through which the University will invest up to $6 million to help qualifying living units comply with the new regulations. Trustees also unanimously adopted a resolution supporting the vitality of our unique Greek system and its important responsibilities within our University learning community.

"We owe a debt of gratitude to President Robert Bottoms for his outstanding leadership in the process that has rebuilt trust and bridges that will serve us well in the future," says R. Lee Wilson '76, chairman of the Trustee Greek Committee.

Adds Dr. Bottoms, "These standards are important because they apply to all students and will help ensure safety no matter where a student chooses to live."

Key elements of the initiatives approved by the Trustees include:

• New Housing Standards - A new set of standards for Greek and University housing -- outlining high but reasonable levels for health and safety (particularly fire safety) issues -- that will be implemented working closely with the newly formed Greek Life Advisory Council. Projected cost of compliance is $6 million ($5 million Greek units; $1 million DePauw-owned housing).
• Voluntary Greek Support Program – Subject to IRS approval, a new program was created to provide financial support options which can be tailored to the needs of individual Greek chapters that require assistance in meeting the new standards. Possibilities include grants, loans and other options, depending upon chapter needs and desires. It should be stressed that such support is voluntary and chapters must demonstrate financial viability or have at least 80% occupancy (or a plan to achieve that level in a reasonable amount of time) for them to be eligible to participate in grants and loans. DePauw will also accept tax deductible gifts on behalf of Greek houses as they raise funds for upgrades and ongoing maintenance.
• Trustee Greek Support Resolution – Trustees unanimously adopted a support resolution stressing both the valuable role and important responsibilities of the Greek system as members of our University learning community.
• Endorsement of President’s Recommendations – The trustees also heard and endorsed a report about the ongoing efforts designed to improve the vitality of the Greek system including the hiring of three new staff members; the timing of rush and recruitment; making the recruitment process less formal; and work with the Coalition to curb high-risk drinking.

The Trustees’ votes are the latest steps in a process that began at last spring’s Board meeting, when a Greek Fact-Finding Commission was created. That panel – which consisted of DePauw alumni, students, faculty members and administrator -- delivered a report to Dr. Bottoms in the fall. The president initiated a series of campus conversations about the Greek system, and in October, a special committee of Trustees was formed to review the Fact-Finding document and make recommendations. There was further discussion at the Board’s January retreat culminating in the initiatives referenced above.

Trustees Approve New Support for DePauw’s Greek System
January 20-21, 2007

The Board of Trustees spent two days considering five issues from the Greek Fact Finding Commission report. (Housing, Rush, Student Accountability, University Support and Alcohol Abuse) Trustees heard directly from key faculty members, representatives selected by House Corporations and students selected by IFC, Panhel and NPHC. In addition, the Executive Board of the Alumni Association attended the Retreat to share their valuable insights. The purpose was to ensure that trustees were able to discuss and debate these issues directly with all vital constituencies.

Strengthening the Greek system and our support for it is a shared objective. DePauw is first and foremost a learning community. Within that community the Greek system provides housing, leadership opportunities, social activities and alumni engagement which can support our learning mission. The trustees recognize that a healthy Greek system is important to the success of our community and that University staff support needs to be improved. They endorsed Administration plans to hire the necessary staff immediately.

Dr. Bottoms discussed the goals and process for the issues of Rush, Student Accountability and Alcohol Abuse and received complete support for continuing the recent dialogue among students, House Corporations and the Administration. He commented on all the positive participation from House Corporations, Alumni Advisors, individual Greek Chapters, faculty and students. Work and discussions will continue and formal recommendations will come to the Board of Trustees at their April meeting.

Much of the meeting was devoted to a thorough review and discussion of the state of Greek housing. Trustees endorsed the principle that all DePauw students should expect reasonable housing standards and at the top of this list is health and safety. The presentation of findings from a comprehensive review of all Greek housing made it clear that some chapter houses will have little difficulty meeting these standards while others may need significant capital improvements.

The Board has chosen to pursue a housing policy based on University / Greek cooperation. High, but reasonable housing standards will be combined with a range of voluntary financial support packages to help chapters successfully meet them. The continuum of choices will be flexible, recognizing that there is no single solution that will help all chapters. Participation will be voluntary, allowing chapters to meet the standards independently or to select the support that best meets their needs. Implementation will be as practical and fair as possible to all parties.

The Trustee Greek Committee will develop specific program recommendations for the April Board meeting:

• It will work cooperatively with all key constituencies to identify appropriate standards, timeframes and remedies if they are not met.
• It will develop a series of voluntary financial support packages that chapters can use if they desire help to meet the standards.

The Board appreciates the valuable involvement of alumni which is crucial to the health and vitality of the Greek system. The trustees thanked the House Corporations and Chapter Advisors for their cooperative and productive work with the Board and Administration and noted that continuing to rebuild trust among all constituents will be an ongoing priority.

Send comments to: communityconversations@depauw.edu

Student Conversation Update
November 14, 2006

President Bottoms and Lisa Hollander met with 175 students to begin a dialog about challenges that emerged from the GFFC Report. There were also a few chapter advisers and house corporation members present at the meeting. Lisa opened with an overview of key points contained in the Report and responded briefly to questions.

Dr. Bottoms thanked the students for attending and welcomed their participation in the process of talking through key issues. He acknowledged that any time there is discussion about the Greek system there are lots of rumors and concerns about what may happen. He looks forward to ongoing conversations with all of the stakeholders because there are many opportunities for misunderstanding and misinterpretation.

Dr. Bottoms identified five key areas that he and the trustee committee are addressing.

1. Alcohol Abuse
This is the broadest issue to come out of the GFFC Report and is a general concern, not a Greek problem. At DePauw we have been very close to having a student tragedy around drinking and our students, like most young people, can’t envision anything bad happening to them or their friends. There is a sense of entitlement among our students that they should be able to drink when they want, where they want and as much as they want. In an effort to offer healthy alternatives to drinking there is discussion about enhancing the Lilly Center and the Nature Park.

2. Student Accountability
How can the University enhance student accountability through the judicial system? What should be the purpose of the judicial system? Enforcing the law? Changing behavior? Safety? Education? Punishment? Discussions about modifying DePauw’s judicial system will focus upon making it more transparent: clear, fair and timely.

3. Academic Life
The Greek houses have a public relations problem with faculty members who are irritated by rush/recruitment. Faculty members would like to see rush moved out of the academic calendar, and don’t like Greek obligations that conflict with their classes and out-of-class enhancements they recommend to their students. Dr. Bottoms and the trustee committee will consider possible scheduling changes.

4. Housing
Protecting the health and safety of our students are fundamental requirements for all campus housing. Information is being gathered via house walk-throughs to determine how much money would be required to bring all Greek housing to a quality standard. Only eight of 18 houses have fire-safety sprinkler systems and house corporations may not have the resources to finance upgrades. The continued use of cold dorms and their impact on safety and health will also be examined.

Dr. Bottoms indicated that the trustee committee is discussing the possibility that the Board of Trustees may be willing to invest money to improve Greek houses. Many of our stakeholders wonder exactly what this will mean and “what-ifs” have provided fertile ground for rumors. It is reasonable to expect that, if the trustees provide funding for fraternity and sorority upgrades, they will seek means to protect the University’s investment. There are no decisions made and no preconceived notions about University investments in the houses and house ownership. The trustee committee will consider every conceivable option and welcomes ideas from all interested parties.

For example, the University could do nothing to help upgrade Greek houses. Or, the University might purchase some houses if the houses wish to sell. Or, DePauw could own all of the houses and lease them back to the Greek chapters. Dr. Bottoms was clear that he and the trustee committee will consider all possible means to support safety and enhanced living conditions in the Greek houses. No option has been selected or eliminated at this point.

5. Staff Support for Greek Houses
Many schools have more staff members to support fraternity and sorority life than we do at DePauw. Dr. Bottoms hopes that adding staff to provide more training and mentoring will not be a controversial recommendation to come out of the Report.

In summary, Dr. Bottoms reminded students that these issues are interrelated and complex. Dr. Bottoms and the trustee committee are looking at many alternatives, and he was very clear that there is no secret plan, no preconceived notions and no plans already put in place. He reiterated that we are at the beginning of our conversations and asked for ideas and feedback via the communityconversations@depauw.edu email address. Change is not inherently bad, and working together we may be able to identify new models of excellence.

 

Trustee Committee Update
November 2, 2006

The trustee committee is making progress gathering information related to issues raised in the GFFC Report. Ongoing conversations with important stakeholders continue, and the committee is in the early stages of identifying key opportunities.

Progress to date includes:

Successful House Corporation Meeting - Greek House Corporation members, Chapter Advisers and University staff had a positive and productive discussion last month where all parties agreed to work together. The first task will be house visits to identify potential capital projects that could improve safety and enhance the attractiveness of Greek housing. Read notes from the meeting.

Professional Support Engaged - The trustee committee has retained Dan Moriarty from CSO Schenkel Schultz and Tom Dixon, former DePauw VP for Finance to support its work with the House Corporations and students. Walk throughs with House Corporations and students will be used to identify opportunities for capital projects to improve the safety and attractiveness of Greek housing. Visits will begin as soon as possible and continue through December to ensure House Corporation and student ideas are fully considered.

Planning for an Inclusive Trustee Retreat in January is Underway – The meeting will focus on issues raised by the GFFC Report and provide an update on progress to date. Representatives of all important stakeholders will be invited to attend the retreat to ensure that their voices and perspectives are heard. These include students, faculty members, staff, House Corporation representatives, parents and alumni. Participants at the house corporation and chapter advisers meeting were invited to select representatives to attend the January trustee discussions. Those elected were Chris Johnston, Phi Delta Theta and Melissa Kramer, Delta Zeta.

Greek Fact-Finding Commission Report Update
October 9, 2006

The Report of the Greek Fact-Finding Commission was delivered to President Bottoms on September 22.  Lisa Hollander, Chair of the Commission, presented a report of the key findings to DePauw’s Board of Trustees at their October 5-6 meeting.  A five-member trustee committee was named to work closely with President Bottoms as the work moves into a new phase.  The trustee committee members are:  Lee Wilson ‘76, chair; Jon Coffin ‘06; Allison Frost ‘69; David Hoover ‘67; and James G. Stewart ‘64. 

The trustee committee will address next steps to deal with the implications of the Report.  At the January trustee retreat, the committee will make an interim report to the Board and they may have proposals to present for Board action in April.  This time line is designed to ensure that there is appropriate time for full and open conversations among all DePauw constituents about facts contained in the Greek Fact-Finding Commission Report.  The committee will follow Dr. Bottoms’ community conversations with interest as he meets with campus stakeholders to discuss our challenges.  Recommendations for the future will derive from these discussions and feedback received from alumni and parents.

This process depends upon the active participation of all members of the DePauw community, and we encourage you to stay involved in the conversations.  Our collective goal is to strengthen the Greek system and to make DePauw a better place for all students to live and learn.