Lehigh University produces grade reports after every semester. Through these grade reports, Lehigh will categorize groups of people based on differing demographics. One of these demographics being students that are a part of Greek Life. The grade report examines the Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC), the Panhellenic Council, and the Cultural Greek Council (CGC). The Greek community exemplified academic excellence this semester as the Lehigh Panhellenic Council’s average GPA surpassed all Lehigh sororities, all Greek students, all Lehigh women, and all Lehigh students. The average GPA for the Panhellenic Council this Fall 2022 semester was 3.51. The IFC average GPA for this fall semester was 3.25, surpassing the average for all Lehigh men as well as all Lehigh fraternities. The average GPA for CGC sororities was 3.07, with Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc holding the highest GPA average for the CGC at 3.51. The fraternities GPA average within the CGC was 3.07. The IFC and Panhellenic Council compared remarkably against the Lehigh Community as a whole maintaining a higher average than the total average of students at Lehigh.
Monday, January 30, 2023
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Medical Amnesty
As colleges around the country are struggling with their students falling victim to alcohol poisoning and overdoses, Lehigh University is stressing medical amnesty on campus. The medical amnesty policy provides impunity to students who call services for help when in a dangerous situation. Lehigh University does not want any barrier to be the reason that would deter a student from calling for help in any situation.
On Wednesday night the University held 'Sips with Safety' where students could interact with the Lehigh University Police Department. The event was sponsored by Peer Health Advisors, Lehigh University Police Department and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. A large amount of Greek Life attended the event in order to show support and help raise awareness for medical amnesty. Below is the link where you can find further information on the law.
https://studentaffairs.lehigh.edu/content/lehigh-university-medical-amnesty-policy
Monday, October 31, 2022
Alpha Phi and Chi Phi Health Week Events
Thursday, September 22, 2022
National Hazing Prevention Week at Lehigh University
This week is National Hazing Prevention Week and campuses across the nation are holding events to educate their students and raise awareness. National Hazing Prevention Week started in 2007 and was founded by HazingPrevention.org. Every year the website has a new theme and this year's theme is, “Stronger Together”. The website wanted to focus on the importance of mental health issues related to hazing. The Office of Sorority and Fraternity Affairs hosted a lecture given by Michelle Guobadia. Michelle Guobodia is the director of Sorority and Fraternity Affairs at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Guobadia titled her lecture, “Hazing makes you a better greek, and other stupid myths.”
Guobadia, a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. at the University of Delaware, explained how, during her time as an undergraduate at the University of Delaware, she had not only experienced hazing during her pledging period, but she also became a perpetrator (Chierchio). “No one joined my chapter for two years because people were literally afraid of my organization,” Guobadia said. “Hazing doesn’t eliminate the bad apples, it actually keeps the bad apples in,” Guobadia said. “When you pit one class against another, you aren’t unifying them, but you’re creating cliques and cracks in your organization.” Guobadia discussed ten myths about hazing as an attempt to educate students (Chierchio).
Other campuses such as Cornell are also taking action to educate their students. Cornell also hosted speaker Michelle Guobodia. This year’s National Hazing Prevention Week at Cornell was in honor of Antonio Tsialas, who died during an unofficial rush event for Phi Kappa Psi in 2019. Tsialas was found at the bottom of Fall Creek Gorge with a fractured skull, broken ribs and an alarmingly high blood-alcohol level. (Chierchio) On Wednesday, The three councils, (Panhellenic, Inter Fraternity Council and the Cultural Greek Council) had students take an oath not to haze. They held a table at the flagpole on the front lawn where students painted their hands and left their mark on a poster. The three councils continue to educate students on and around campus this week in hopes of making a difference.Thursday, December 16, 2021
Live-in GA Program Reinstated
From: The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs, Lehigh University
Date: December 16, 2021
RE: Live-in Graduate Assistant Program Reinstated
In March 2020, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority (OFSA) announced that due to the uncertainty of the COVID pandemic, the Live-In Graduate Assistant (GA) program previously scheduled to launch in Fall 2020 would be postponed. Earlier in the Spring 2020 semester, OFSA and Housing Services met with each residential fraternity and sorority’s leadership, advisors and headquarters. During these meetings, we discussed the renovation plans to accommodate a private suite for each Live-in GA within each house. We also discussed the position description, recruitment and selection timeline, and the onboarding process.
We are excited to announce that we have begun taking the appropriate steps towards reinstating the Live-In GA program and are prepared for the program to fully launch in Fall 2022. With that in mind, we are aware that the student leaders we are working with today were very likely not a part of the conversations OFSA was having with student leaders back in Spring 2020; therefore, we have been working with Housing Services to construct a plan to best share the previously discussed implementation of Live-In GAs in each fraternity & sorority residential facility.
The Live-In GA Position Description was crafted in Fall 2019 with assistance from various key stakeholders, including our partners in Housing Services and Residence Life. We are looking forward to starting the recruitment and selection process this month as we begin reaching out to graduate programs at Lehigh and local accredited higher education institutions. We will soon be posting the application and finalized timeline on our website fully dedicated to the Live-In Graduate Assistant Program. To best prepare for this process, we want to be sure you are aware of a few important dates to hold for the recruitment and selection of Live-In GAs.
2022 Recruitment, Selection & Onboarding Timeline
Week of Jan. 10 – Spring 2022 Chapter Coaching Calls, OFSA & Housing Services will meet with each chapter to review renovation and floor plans, changes to occupancy capacity standards, recruitment and selection process, and meal plan options
Feb. 7 – Live-In GA Q&A Resource provided to chapters
March 8 – Priority application deadline
March 10 – OFSA initial candidate screening
March 11 – Eligible candidates will be shared with chapters via a GoogleFolder. Chapters will be provided interview resources, including interview tips & guidelines, interview questions, interview rubric
March 21 – Chapters must submit candidate interview interest list via provided GoogleForm (anticipated: minimum of 6, maximum of 10)
March 22 – Candidates will be notified whether or not they will be interviewed
March 26, 11 am-6 pm – Virtual Interview Day (2-3 officers + alumni advisor and/or HQ staff)
April 1 – Chapters must submit candidate preferences
April 11 – OFSA final placements
April 15 – Offers extended to candidates; chapters notified once accepted
April - June – Contihttps://forms.gle/iWQyAJpEMU513N949nue screening and interview process, as needed
Aug. 1 - 17 – Live-In GA Move-In, Training and Onboarding
Aug. 17 - 19 – House Manager Arrival, Training and Onboarding
Aug. 22 – Fall 2022 First Day of Classes
We look forward to working with each of our chapters on the implementation of the Live-In GA program. If there are any questions between now and the Chapter Coaching Calls or publication of the Q&A resource for chapters, please contact OFSA at infrasor@lehigh.edu.
Sincerely,
The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs
Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Report of Hazing
Dear Students and Lehigh Families,
As President Helble shared in his message last week, being together in a residential learning environment and fostering a strong sense of community are central to the Lehigh academic and co-curricular experience.
It is with deep concern that we must inform you that last week an anonymous report indicating serious hazing violations of our Anti-Hazing Policy within our fraternity and sorority community was brought to our attention and is being investigated by the Lehigh University Police Department and Student Affairs. We want to bring attention to the seriousness of this report and to impress upon all members of the community—both new and returning—the importance of taking action to report such instances so they can be stopped, and most importantly, of not engaging in hazing or any behavior that may harm others.
Hazing can take different forms and can occur in many areas—not just in our fraternity and sorority communities. Hazing can touch athletics teams, clubs and organizations, the arts and residential activities—which is why community-wide awareness of hazing prevention is key. Hazing prevention programming and resources are available on Lehigh’s Student Affairs website. Lehigh takes any reports of hazing and their investigation seriously. As this recent allegation specifically references the fraternity and sorority community, this correspondence is also being shared with chapter alumni advisors and national headquarters.
As you may know, the university also reports any hazing-related incidents publicly twice throughout the year in accordance with the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, which was signed into legislation in 2017 following the tragic death of a Penn State University student due to hazing. Under this law, organizations and their leaders and members involved in hazing can face criminal penalties for hazing that occurs in their organization. In addition to criminal charges, organizations and their leaders and members can also face civil liability for physical and psychological injuries resulting from hazing.
The true purpose of the fraternity and sorority experience is centered on the values of leadership, service, scholarship, integrity, and friendship, which foster a positive, safe and uplifting environment for members as well as the whole Lehigh community. Just last week, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA) hosted National Hazing Prevention Week programming, which included the Panhellenic Council’s anti-hazing event, “These Hands Don’t Haze,” on the Clayton University Center’s front lawn. Hazing awareness is an important component of ending the behavior within our teams, clubs, and organizations.
Lastly, with our return to in-person instruction and activities has come an elevated interest in club and organization membership. Based on Greek Pre-Recruitment Education Program (PREP) 5x10 attendance, we anticipate a robust spring fraternity and sorority recruitment. However, any behavior by individual members and/or organizations that is unsafe, harmful, or related to hazing would necessitate the interruption or even cancellation of formal recruitment activities for some or all fraternity and sorority organizations. We sincerely hope that taking such action is not required, but will not hesitate to do so if needed in the interest of student health and safety.
Ricardo Hall
Vice President for Student Affairs
Katherine W. Lavinder
Dean of Students
Chloe Abshire
Assistant Dean/Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
Congratulations to the 2020-2021 Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Award Recipients!
The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Affairs is proud to recognize individuals and organizations on their outstanding accomplishments during the 2020-2021 academic year. Though the past year has certainly posed unexpected obstacles and challenges, our community has shown true leadership and demonstrated what it means to be members of Greek letter organizations.
Though we could not celebrate in person, OFSA moved forward with Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Awards in our second virtual celebration! We are proud to recognize the following individual and organizational award recipients.
Individual Awards
Greek Leader of the Year
This award recognizes individuals for their achievements and contributions to the fraternity and sorority community and larger campus community. Leadership is not limited to those holding positions, therefore consideration will be given to individuals who exemplify many, if not all, of the values of brotherhood or sisterhood, strong character, leadership, scholarship, and service in their daily lives.
Outstanding IFC/Panhellenic/CGC President of the Year
Awarded to the chapter president who has demonstrated superior leadership and service to his/her chapter, as well as to the fraternity and sorority community. This leader is one who consistently represents their organizational values, communicates a clear vision for success, and leaves their organization in a better place than when they took office.
Emerging Leader of the Year
Awarded to a newer member of the fraternity and sorority community who has shown leadership characteristics within their peer group, fraternity and sorority community, and greater Lehigh community. These members are enthusiastic about their experience as new members and are eager to pursue leadership opportunities and bring about positive change to the fraternity and sorority community.
Advisor of the Year
This award recognizes the extraordinary efforts of an advisor who has helped to positively shape the experiences of fraternity/sorority members. Advisors willingly, often without receiving anything in return, give of themselves to contribute to overall chapter excellence, daily operations, university and headquarters relations, and role modeling through leadership, and thus we encourage nominations for any advisor whom you feel is worthy of this distinction. Nominators should indicate whether the nominee advisor is an alumni or faculty/staff advisor, so that we can recognize and thank the advisors for their contributions from these distinct roles.
Tradition of Excellence
This award is presented to one or more individuals who consistently exceed expectations in one or more of the following focus areas for college students and active fraternity/sorority members. This award is intended to affirm the efforts an individual can make in one area that was deserving of significant focus, or in several areas that showcase their ability to impact a community in several ways. Nominators should identify the appropriate focus areas for which they believe the nominee should be recognized (listing is appropriate), and provide examples for each area of, to ensure recognition is given for all selected areas:
Living the Ritual; Inclusive Leadership; Empowering Others; Inspiring Change
Organization Awards
Fraternity/Sorority Chapter of the Year
This award is given to a chapter that excels in all of the following areas: Leadership and Member Development, Organizational Operations, Community Service and Engagement, and Academic and Intellectual Advancement. In addition, this chapter has positively contributed to both fraternity and sorority life as well as the Lehigh community. This chapter served as role models for their fellow members and led by example.
Outstanding Philanthropic Effort
This award is given to an organization that has gone above and beyond in supporting a cause, effort, or agency in a sustainable and meaningful way. This is typically represented by groups who recognize the nature of philanthropy as efforts to raise both awareness and support (e.g. financial, goods, time, and energy), while collaborating with others for a shared purpose. Efforts that are distinguished in this category can be either ongoing or one-time programs.
Commitment to Service
This award recognizes meaningful service efforts and action where participants gain exposure, develop an understanding, and respond to the needs of the community voice. This typically includes building and developing positive relationships, developing active citizens, and incorporating reflection. These criteria, when established and achieved, are indicative of dedicated efforts to create and inspire sustainable change. Efforts that are distinguished in this category can be either ongoing or one-time programs.
Program of Distinction
This award is given to an organization that is proud of a particularly successful event, program, or effort they executed in the past academic year. Consideration will be given to those efforts that incorporated collaboration, innovation, and/or education components as well as addressed a problem and/or met a need.
Most Improved
This award is given in recognition of the efforts an organization has taken to address a substantial challenge or issues they were/are facing. Change can be hard and waiting for the effects can feel slow, so this award was established with that in mind; this award is meant to affirm the actions an organization has taken and remind them that all the hard work is worth it. Nominations for this award should include identification of the particular need to be addressed, examples of action taken to create change, and reflection on the improvement that has been observed.
Tradition of Excellence
This award is presented to an organization that excels in one or more of the foundation areas of success for fraternities and sororities. This award is intended to affirm the efforts an organization can make in one area that is deserving of significant focus, or in several areas that showcase their ability to multitask, delegate, and impact a community in a significant way. Nominators should identify the appropriate focus areas for which they believe the nominee organization(s) should be recognized (listing is appropriate), and provide examples for each area of, to ensure recognition is given for all selected areas:
Living the Ritual; Inclusive Leadership; Empowering Others; Inspiring Change
We would also like to recognize and thank the numerous staff, alumni, and students that served on the Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Awards Selection Committee - this is possible because of you!