Caring for our Struggling Community

Jessica NeumannAssistant Director Student Activities & Greek Life

Washburn UniversityJessica.neumann1@washburn.edu

Learning Objectives

Creating a network of support

Building relationships and partnerships

Understanding the importance and implementation of a strategic plan

Measuring success

Meet Someone New

The greatest gift you can give another is the purity of your attention.

- Richard Moss

Once upon a time…

The story of one small mid-western campus.New Residential Living facilities on campus

10 individual chapters

Loss of two chapters

Declining membership

Lack of structure in governing councils

No standards or value-based education

A lot of apathy

Building Relationships

Determine who your allies are on your campus

Faculty & Staff ~ Who are the affiliated members on your campus?AlumniCommunity membersInter/National Headquarters StaffAlumni AssociationsStudents

Determine your Resources

Building partnerships for the success of the fraternity & sorority community.

AcademicLeadership DevelopmentCareer Development

Alumni SupportVolunteeringFinances

Headquarters Staff

Educating your Community

Deliver a consistent messageDevelop opportunities for discussion

Advisors MeetingAdvisory BoardChapter Advisory Board Socials

Influenced networks are formed from careful planning and are necessary for success in

achieving your ideas and goals. (Watkins, 2003)

Standards of Excellence

Remembering our foundationChapter education on Ritual & values

Create a Standards ProgramBased on values

Chapters goals

Continued advancement

Chapter awards developed around chapter standards

Mission and Vision

What are the values of the chapters in your community?

Create a committee of students

Research the community history & values

Research the mission & vision of your peer institutions

Develop your mission and vision

Sorority Recruitment

Use your resourcesHeadquarters Staff ~ Sorority Taskforce

Re-evaluate recruitment structure

Re-evaluate your budget and marketing plan

Bring in the experts

Fraternity Recruitment

Evaluate the history of Fraternity Recruitment

Determine how to bring your chapters together

Bring in the experts

Evaluate the structure and importance of recruitment in your councils

Evaluate your marketing plan

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning determines where an organization is going over the next

year or more, understanding how the organization will get there and how the organization will measure their

success.

Strategic Planning: Step One

Maximizing your relationshipsCreate opportunities for discussion

Advisory Board

Alumni Advisors

Chapter Membership

Faculty & Staff

Document all discussion

Strategic Planning: Step Two

Evaluate the DataCode reports for themes

Create a report to take back to your stakeholders

Determine five community initiatives

Create a committee of students

Strategic Planning: Step Three

Define initiatives

Determine an action plan

Create final documentProvide an opportunity for evaluation

Present the Strategic Plan

Gain support or approval from your councils

Provide a consistent message

Strategic Planning: Step Four

Create markers for measuring success

AcademicsLeadership advancementInvolvementRecruitmentService hoursPhilanthropy dollarsCampus perception

Tools for Success

Environmental ScanWhere are we now?

Where do you want to see the community in five years?

How can we get there?

SWOT AnalysisStrengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats

Tools for Success

Student InvolvementDeveloping the Strategic Document

Developing the Action Plan

Survey new programming

Survey Monkey

Angel, D2R, Blackboard

Where are we now…

Chartering of two chaptersEstablished one new colonyCreation of new mission & visionCreation of strategic planIncrease in Sorority QuotaIncrease of total Formal Recruitment participationIncrease of retentionIncrease of membership by 45%Overall increase of alumni support

Questions & Answers

Thank You!

Resources

Earley, C. (1998). Influencing Ethical Development in Greek Letter Organizations [Electronic Version]. New Directions For Student Services, 81, 39-47.Shertzer, J. E., & Schuh, J., H. (2004) College student perceptions of leadership: Empowering and constraining beliefs. NASPA Journal, 42, 111-131.Strayhorn, T. L., & Colvin, A., J. (2006) Assessing student learning and development in fraternity and sorority affairs. Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity Advisors, 2, 95-107.Watkins, M. (2003). The First 90 Days: Critical Success Strategies for New Leaders at all Levels. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.Whipple, E. G., & Sullivan, E. G. (1998). Greek letter organizations: Communities of learners [Electronic Version]? New Directions For Student Services, 81, 7-17.Witkin, B.R., & Altschuld, J.W., (1995). Planning and conducting needs assessment: A practical guide. California: Sage Publication Inc.AFA: Values CongruenceFraternal Relevance