Chapter Presidents and Partners in Fraternity and Sorority Life:
In the 2022-2023 academic year Lehigh University welcomed our inaugural cohort of Live-In Graduate Assistants in our fraternity and sorority houses with the commitment that we would continue to evaluate the program for need and impact each year. After several years of consideration we have decided to dissolve the Live-In Graduate Assistant program at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 academic year. This decision was informed by feedback indicating students are looking for more peer-led, chapter specific education and programming, as well as data indicating students are comfortable utilizing campus resources. We believe that a shift to providing that education and support through undergraduate leaders will benefit our members and community at large.
We thank the graduate assistants who currently serve in this role, as well as those who previously served, for their commitment to student support and well-being and for their contributions in making fraternity and sorority life at Lehigh a safe and welcoming space for students. Their efforts, coupled with the new educational programs, increased health and safety initiatives, and updated policies instituted in recent years, have led to fewer alcohol related incidents in our fraternities and sororities. Of particular note is the increased comfort and usage of Lehigh’s Medical Amnesty Policy.
To ensure continued support for fraternities and sororities, we are excited to announce that, beginning the 2025-26 academic year, we will be investing in chapter-elected House Managers through increased training and investment in educational and wellbeing programs that take place in fraternity and sorority houses. This includes an expectation that House Managers are adding to the educational environment of our chapter facilities through regular well-being, leadership, and safety programs and through the distribution of passive materials through the chapter facility.
The Office of Student Involvement will provide each House Manager with a budget to complete these programs, one-on-one support and advising. Additionally, in partnership with Housing Services, increased training around facility management, well-being, leadership, and health and safety topics, specific for the House Managers, will be provided. You can find a full description of this updated House Manager role here.
The Office of Student Involvement will also host a Graduate Assistant, who will work in the office 20 hours/week to support this program. Their duties include assisting in the advising of our House Managers and to support health and safety initiatives. You can find the GA position description here.
Occupancy expectations will remain the same for the 2025-26 academic year, but the current GA suites will be made available for undergraduates adding at least one additional bed per house. Please note that the suites will be prioritized for residents who have accommodations through the university. Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year each chapter’s 90% occupancy will be adjusted accordingly to the one bed increase in capacity. . Chapters that are able to do so, may choose to place additional students in that suite. Housing Services will have more in depth conversations with House Managers at the Match and April House Manager meetings.
We are excited to partner with you all on these changes. We recognize that this new program will be an adjustment for our community, and are hopeful that this added layer of support will be well received. You can find a full FAQ below.
Our commitment to a thriving, healthy, and safe fraternity and sorority community is at the forefront of our work in Student Involvement. Please do not hesitate to reach out to Fraternity and Sorority Life staff should you have any questions.
FAQ
Why is the Live-In Graduate Assistant program being dissolved?
The initial intention of the Live-In Graduate Assistant Program was to better connect undergraduate fraternity and sorority members to campus resources, to better educate members on health, safety, and well-being policies, and to remove a barrier that existed for some students in feeling comfortable calling for police or medical assistance should someone need it. Over the last three years our data has shown that students feel comfortable utilizing campus resources, including calling for help within Lehigh’s Medical Amnesty Policy, and that students are looking for more peer-led, chapter specific education and programming. We believe that a shift to providing that education and support through undergraduate leaders will benefit our members and community at large.
My chapter currently has a GA - will this change anything for the rest of the semester?
No, your GA will continue to live in the chapter facility and support your members as normal through May 2025.
Does anything need to change in how my chapter selects our House Manager?
No, your chapter still has the ability to select your own House Manager. This must be a student in Good Standing with Lehigh University who is eligible for leadership roles and is committed to successfully completing the updated expectations of this role.
We will ask that your House Manager serves a year-long term on the academic year calendar (i.e. will serve in that role for the fall 2025 and spring 2026 terms). If this is a shift for your chapter, we ask that you spend some time exploring how you can make this change. Please contact Sara Runyon if you have specific questions or concerns.
What will House Manager training look like?
House Manager training will be a partnership between Housing Service and Fraternity and Sorority Life to take place before classes begin in August. In addition to facility management training, House Managers will develop education plans for their chapters, train in facilitation skills for leading programming, and be introduced to campus and community resources.
What kinds of programs will my House Manager be responsible for?
House Managers will create a year-long education plan to include at least six (6) educational programs for residents on topics such as, safe alcohol consumption, violence prevention, hazing prevention, mental health and well-being and conflict management. House Managers will also be required to host a house meeting to review expectations for residents, share the calendar of events and review relevant Lehigh and organization policies before classes begin each semester.
What kind of support will Lehigh provide for this position?
In addition to support from your chapter’s assigned Assistant Director, House Managers will attend a monthly 1:1 meeting with the Graduate Assistant for Fraternity and Sorority Life and monthly House Manager meeting with staff from Housing Services and Fraternity and Sorority Life.
The Office of Student Involvement will also provide a $1,500 budget per year for House Managers to utilize in their programming. Additional funding may be available upon request at the discretion of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Will 90% occupancy change for my chapter house?
90% occupancy numbers will remain the same for 2025-26 and then be adjusted accordingly for the 2026-2027 academic year. Housing Services will announce the updated capacity and 90% occupancy numbers for the 2026-2027 academic year to house leadership and alumni housing corporations around July 1, 2025.
Will the Graduate Assistant suite in my house be available for undergraduates?
Beginning in the 2025-26 academic year your chapter may utilize the GA suite. The suite will be available during the accommodation housing process. If after that process, it is not needed, the suite will become available for house leadership to assign during the assignment process for all members living in the house. We encourage all chapters to fill their houses based on the occupancy requirement for the full number of available beds.