2009-10 Faculty and Chapter Adviser Listing

Download the Adviser's Manual

Adviser Information

In requiring fraternities and sororities to have chapter advisers, the University expects that advisers will take an active role in the organization. The nature and style of that role is left to the determination of the organization and its adviser. The role of the chapter adviser is to guide, advise, and support the chapter and its officers and monitor their progress. A chapter may choose to have one chapter adviser or a team of advisers fulfill the responsibilities listed below.

The chapter adviser needs to be willing to devote significant time to the chapter, skilled in organizational and leadership development, and proficient in their inter/national organization’s policies and their interpretation. It is through committed alumni/ae support that chapters achieve their greatest success.

The University’s expectations of a chapter adviser/advisory team include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Working with the chapter officers to integrate fraternity mission and goals as well as creating a connection with their inter/national organization through attendance at leadership conferences and utilizing available resources.
• Supervising the chapter’s affairs as they relate to the organization, the campus, and the community. Maintain visibility in the residential community by regularly visiting the chapter, interacting with members and attending chapter programs and meetings.
• Meeting regularly (at least monthly) with the chapter leadership and being available to meet with members upon request. Ensuring an effective and timely officer transition occurs.
• Serving as a resource person for planning events and programs, resolving issues confronting the group and being involved in the education of new members.
• Educating the chapter about inter/national policies, state and local laws, and the chapter code of conduct.
• Working with the scholarship officer to implement a comprehensive scholarship plan and a residential environment that supports academic success.
• Ensuring that individual behavior is addressed through a chapter standards board that empowers members to hold each other accountable for their actions consistent with the values of the organization and University.
• Being involved in any situations that involve allegations of sexual misconduct or other egregious behavior.
• Facilitating the chapter’s progress towards Elon University ’s minimum standards outlined in the Foundations of Excellence Agreement
• Attending meetings of the chapter advisers when requested by the Offices of Greek Life.
• Working in partnership with University staff, University Greek Adviser and inter/national headquarters to foster a positive fraternity experience for the undergraduate members.
• Assisting the chapter officers in developing a membership recruitment and retention plan with the goal of total house occupancy.

Faculty/ Staff Advisers

Overview
Elon University is committed to strengthening scholarship among fraternities and sororities. A good overall scholarship program for a Greek Community includes the extensive use of Faculty/Staff Advisers. To support this aspect of an overall scholarship program, Elon has identified the essential elements of a Faculty/Staff Adviser program and how the Greek Community can provide support.

Below is an outline for the role of a Faculty/Staff Adviser, the Outstanding Faculty/Staff Adviser Award, and how Greeks can support this position. Together they provide tangible support for this vital role.

Faculty/Staff Advisers
Nearly all colleges and universities require all student organizations (including fraternities and sororities) to have a faculty or staff adviser. For most campuses, this is interpreted as someone to sign the annual recognition form, usually a staff member.

As Greek Communities seek ways to maximize student learning, they are re-assessing the role of the Faculty/Staff Adviser and are attempting to involve faculty more in this process. For example, some schools have required that all Faculty Advisers have faculty rank in order to serve in this position.

Elon University chapters can help with this process by working with the Greek Life staff in a dialogue on the role of a Faculty/Staff Adviser and how they can be supported by the Greek Community. Also, chapters are encouraged to have both a Faculty adviser and a Staff adviser in order to have connections with both faculty and administrators.

Faculty/Staff Adviser Role
Below is a general outline of the role of a Faculty/Staff adviser. This vital position works closely with chapters on their overall scholarship program including the following:

1. Assist the chapter in developing an overall scholarship program.
2. Meet with the new members each semester to review their academic progress and plans at the university.
3. Assist with developing any scholarship recognition program for the chapter.
4. Assist the chapter in developing an Academic Incentives program.
5. Attend any scholarship receptions the chapter hosts.
6. Be available to meet with individual members who are in need of academic assistance.
   
   • Attend two (2) chapter meetings/dinners each semester to get to know the members and the members to get to know the Faculty/Staff adviser.
   • Faculty/Staff advisers are fully covered under the university's liability policy while acting in the scope of a Faculty/Staff adviser.
   • Most inter/national fraternities and sororities also provide liability coverage for faculty/staff acting in the scope as Faculty/Staff advisers (it is always a good practice to check with the inter/national organization for the specifics of this coverage).
   • Faculty/Staff advisers serve one-year terms with possible extensions based on a mutual agreement between the fraternity or sorority and the faculty/staff adviser. This ensures that both parties (the Faculty/Staff adviser and the chapter) are constantly assessing the working relationship.
   • Faculty/Staff advisers are not expected to serve as the chapter adviser nor to serve on the alumni board (if they wish to serve in these positions that would be great but it is not expected).
   • Faculty/Staff advisers are not on call nor are they responsible for the social aspects of the chapter.

This outline for a Faculty/Staff adviser is meant to be a starting point for what is expected. Ideally, the Faculty/Staff adviser and the chapter will sit down and work a list of specific duties that both can mutually agree upon.

View the entire Elon University Student Organization adviser Handbook

Outstanding Faculty/Staff Adviser Award
Each spring, a Faculty/Staff adviser may be nominated by the chapter for the Outstading Faculty/Staff adviser Award. A student selection committee will make the decision as to the recipient, and the award will be presented at the spring Greek Awards Ceremony.

Office of Greek Life Support for Faculty/Staff Advisers
In order to have a viable Faculty/Staff adviser program, the Office of Greek Life provide tangible support for their faculty/staff advisers. The following is a list of resources that will be made available:

1. Requiring that each group have a faculty/staff adviser annually.
2. Establishing a Faculty/Staff advisers Listserve for advisers to communicate and share resources and ideas.
3. Provide regular updates to faculty/staff advisers from Greek Life on academic issues.
4. Provide faculty/staff advisers with a list of the chapter member's GPA's each semester (assuming members have signed a grade release form).
5. Provide an Academic Awards program for individuals and chapters.
6. Track each chapter's Academic Incentives they offer to their members and compare to the rest of the Greek Community.
7. Provides an Outstanding Faculty adviser/Staff Award each year.
8. Provides an Academic Honor Society for Greeks called the Order of Omega (jr. or sr. status & GPA above all Greek average).

This list is not exhaustive but meant to show some tangible support for Faculty advisers.

For more information about Faculty/Staff advisers, please contact Shana Plasters, Director of Greek Life at splasters@elon.edu.