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The Greek Experience

LIVING AND LEARNING AT CORNELL'S FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES

IN THE FALL OF 1997, THEN-PRESIDENT Hunter Rawlings outlined his vision for the "living-learning" experience at Cornell. Known as the Residential Initiative, this plan called for housing all freshmen on North Campus, transforming West Campus into a residential house system, and fully implementing the strategic plan for the Greek system.

True to its commitment to self-governance, the fraternity and sorority system had begun to develop its strategic plan in 1995, culminating in an endorsement by the Academic Affairs and Campus Life Committee of the Board of Trustees in January 1997. Four years later, a committee reviewed the plan and updated it in light of the Residential Initiative. In keeping with the goal of bringing greater depth, purpose, and value to the Greek experience, the committee launched a twoyear pilot program known as "Creating Chapters of Excellence."

As outlined in this year's annual report of the Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Council, this program involves nine different organizations from the three Greek governing councils (the Interfraternity Council, the Multicultural Greek Letter Council, and the Panhellenic Association). Each chapter is represented on a programming council co-chaired by Professor David Delchamps from the College of Engineering and Associate Dean Suzy Nelson from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs.Working closely with Assistant Dean Lisa Blockus, the council aims to promote and fund activities consistent with the goals of the pilot program.

Those goals are: (1) to promote professional and leadership opportunities for students; (2) to create events that cultivate diversity and appreciation of the arts and music; (3) to develop activities to connect students with faculty and enhance their intellectual engagement; (4) to foster community among a "neighborhood" of nine chapters; and (5) to guide chapters in better managing their facilities and finances.

With eighteen months of the pilot program behind us, we have learned a great deal and believe we have a model upon which to build.We hope that we can expand the "Creating Chapters of Excellence" program to all Greek organizations over the next few years. By the time the West Campus house system is completed in 2009, we would expect marked improvement in each chapter's performance in the areas of alumni, staff, and faculty mentoring; cultural, educational, and intellectual programming; and maintenance of facilities.

While there is still much to be done to achieve these goals, we are working from a strong base. The Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Council, chaired by Anthony Cashen '57, has been invaluable in its guidance and support and in providing a forum for trustees, faculty, staff, and students to discuss the challenges and opportunities presented by the Greek system. The council has already focused on issues of recruitment and education, hoping to expand membership beyond the 28 percent of undergraduates who now join and finding ways to welcome new members into a safe and productive Greek experience. The council has also focused on strengthening alumni involvement, which is vital to the long-term success of the fraternity and sorority system, and it has been active in securing funds for the Greek system overall and in helping individual chapters to develop their long-term financial plans. Finally, the council has actively championed extending the trustees' mandate for all residences to have sprinklers and fire alarm systems.

Cornell's fraternity system opened its doors on the day when the University welcomed its first students, and the sorority system was not far behind. Today, our system is one of the largest in the country and is recognized for its leadership in many different areas. We remain committed to supporting and guiding undergraduates and alumni in achieving the values upon which the Greek system was founded--that is, to cultivate the intellectual, social, and ethical development of its members in an environment where they practice "freedom with responsibility."

-- Susan Murphy '73, PhD '94
Vice President for Student and Academic Services

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