Scholarship Policy

For a chapter to succeed academically, it must have an organized, functioning scholarship program. Specific positions are directly responsible for creating and administering the program, but it is the responsibility of every initiated and new member to be involved in the scholarship program. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs expect each chapter to make academic success a high priority.

  1. Scholarship Chair and Assistants:
  2. Alumni/Advisors who work with Scholarship Committee:
    1. Bob Eichert, Chapter Advisor
  3. Chapter Academic Goals for 16/17
    1. The Chapter academic goal GPA for each semester is a 3.3.
    2. Each Active Member will receive a copy of the Scholarship Program.
    3. The University Learning Centers and Career Services will be used to provide programs for all Active Members.
    4. The standard of what is means to be a member of an Honorary Fraternity will be raised throughout the course of the year.
  4. Performance Expectations
    1. GPA to remain in good standing - 2.5 (semester to semester basis)
    2. GPA to be accepted for membership - 2.5 (cumulative)
    3. GPA to be a Big Brother - 2.5 (semester to semester basis)
    4. GPA to hold elected office
      1. President - 2.75 (semester to semester basis)
      2. All other positions - 2.5 (semester to semester basis)
  5. Skill Building/Education Programs
    1. Study Hour Program
      1. Brothers on the Scholarship Committee will hold weekly study hours for 1.5-2 hours a session
      2. Study hours are only required for pledges and Brothers on probation, but they are strongly recommended for all Brothers
      3. A contact sheet with dates/times will be sent out at the beginning of each semester
      4. A sheet with all majors/specialty subjects of each Brother will be sent out at the start of each semester so that all Brothers/pledges know who the best person to go to is
      5. All study hours will be a quiet zone, monitored by the head of the hours
    2. Brothers whose GPA falls below 2.5
      1. Students (if any) are contacted within the first two weeks of classes
      2. A meeting will be required with the Scholarship Chair to determine the activity status of the individual
      3. Mandatory study hours will be required each week
    3. Academic/Education Programs
      1. Chair will contact Career Services and the Learning Centers to have presentations on programs such as: Resume Writing, Study Skills, Organization Skills, Interview Skills, etc.
      2. A presentation will be made at least once per year
        1. If needed, members who host study hours may be asked to aid the Scholarship Chair in the organization of the presentation
    4. Faculty/Staff Assistance
      1. If issues arise that cannot be solved by the Scholarship Chair or President, the advisor listed above will be contacted
      2. There will be a promotion of academia before all other extra-curricular activities.
  6. Accountability Standards
    1. If GPA drops below 2.5:
      1. For one semester: a meeting with the Scholarship chair and mandatory study hours (1.5-2 hours a week) will be required
      2. For two semesters in a row: automatically made inactive
      3. Activity status can be regained when the standards are met
    2. Losing a position
      1. A 2.5 GPA or greater is required in the previous semester for those running for any position (e.g. A person running for office in the spring must have a fall GPA of 2.5+)
      2. If a position is elected in the spring based off of their fall GPA, and it is found over the summer break that the position's spring GPA fell below a 2.5, the position will lose their title and reelections will be held in the first meeting of the fall semester
      3. If a position is elected in the fall based off of their spring GPA, and it is found over the winter break that the position's fall GPA fell below a 2.5, the position will lose their title and reelections will be held in the first meeting of the spring semester
    3. Clarifications
      1. The pledge committee will be held to the same GPA standards as any position
        1. If the committee is picked before grades are released, the New Member Educator must make clear that there is a GPA requirement, and if a committee member's grades end up being too low, their spot on the committee will be revoked.
      2. Summer/Winter sessions are session and do not count as a semester
      3. A position must be a full time student to hold their position
  7. Incentive/Reward Program
    1. Awards for Top Scholars/Improved Scholars
      1. The scholarship chair will be allowed $50 of budget money to designate awards of their choosing at the end of the spring semester (e.g. Highest GPA, Most Improved GPA, etc.)
      2. Dean's List Awards will be given each semester.
    2. Assistance for Members to join Gamma Sigma Alpha
      1. An allotted amount in the budget is set aside to help offset the cost for any who joins.