All-Greek Minimum Standards

Scholarship

Scholarship is the cornerstone of the collegiate experience. Chapters should not only strive to attain high levels of scholarship but should also provide resources to help those members struggling with scholarship.
All chapters must maintain a chapter cumulative GPA of 2.6 per academic year.

Membership education is the element of continuing education within chapter programming in which chapters may continue to develop their new and active members within the Greek organization and encourage personal development.
Chapters must hold one educational program each calendar month of the academic year, so about three programs per semester.
A quorum of members must be present for each educational program – 50 percent plus one of the chapter membership. Programs are not time specified, but they must be thorough and efficient.
Three of the following topics should be covered during educational programming. The remaining suggested topics should also be covered, but only three are required.
- Alcohol and Drug Awareness
- Greek Responsibility
- Hazing Awareness
- Administrative Skills – Chapter Management, Time Management, How to Run Effective Meetings
- Inter-Chapter Programming
- Diversity Programming
- University Relations/Awareness
Chapter officers should participate in all conferences and conventions as required by their national or international code, constitution and bylaws.

New member education, also known as “pledge” education, is the curriculum set in place to educate newly inducted members of Greek organizations on issues related to Greek history, both local and national, university resources and personal development. Most new member education periods last from three to eight weeks and culminate with some type of ritual session.
Chapters must submit one copy of the new member education program to the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life within the first two weeks of classes each semester in which recruitment/intake is held.
Officers responsible for new member education must meet with their respective Greek Life professional to review the submitted new member education program at least two weeks prior to formal recruitment/intake.
New member educational curricula should include the following components:
- Ritual
  - Chapters should perform at least two ritual ceremonies during new member education – induction and initiation.
- Chapter History
  - Local
  - National
- Scholarship
  - Possible topics and actions include study skills, time management skills, campus resources and study halls.
- Risk Management
  - All members sign a social/anti-hazing contract.
  - All chapters implement a risk management educational session.
  - Suggested topics include alcohol education, drug education or fire safety.
- Community Service and Philanthropy
- Personal Development
  - Finances
  - Responsible Choices
  - Ethics

Community service is the act of serving one’s local community, both university and city, through time volunteered. Examples of community service can include, but are not limited to, tutoring, area cleanups, volunteering at local fire departments and visiting a local nursing home.
Chapters must average five hours of community service hours per semester per member.
- This should be completed by at least 80 percent of the chapter membership.
Chapters must complete at least one chapterwide community service event per semester.
- The chapterwide event can include
  - One large event that most of the chapter completes in one day
  - A series of events that emphasize one particular charitable organization and may take place over the span of the semester
Chapters must complete at least two inter-council community service events per academic year (August – May).
- Example: An IFC organization must complete a community service event with a Panhellenic organization and must complete another community service event with an NPHC organization. (The standard can be completed if a community service event is completed with organizations of all three councils combined.)

Philanthropy is the act of donating money and goods to support a charitable cause, usually over a period of time, and in regard to a defined objective.
Chapters must hold at least one philanthropic event per academic year (August – May) and donate funds raised to a charitable organization.
At least 75 percent of the chapter membership must participate in the event for the standard to be met.
- Chapters are encouraged to include inner-council participation in all philanthropic events.

Risk management is the act of structuring an organization in a way in which uncertainty can be avoided and risk is minimized with regard to physical and legal issues. Primary topics regarding risk management include, but are not limited to, alcohol and drug use, fire safety and physical injuries.
To maintain minimum standards, chapters must remain in good standing with University of Mississippi policies as well as national risk management policies.
Chapter elects or appoints a risk management officer who is a member of the chapter’s executive committee.
Chapter holds training sessions on the national and chapter-level risk management policies.
Chapter has risk management policy on file in the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life.
Chapter participates in the “Adopt-a-Cop” program.
Chapter is in compliance with all university fire regulations and holds regular fire drills.

Campus involvement constitutes chapter participation in Greekwide and universitywide programming.
Chapters participate in activities during Homecoming and Greek Week events, respectively.