Greek Life Enriches College Experience

By Matt Caires, assistant dean of students
Members of the Greek system at the University of Wyoming claim their Greek involvement enriches their overall college experience.

They have the opportunity to achieve their leadership potential through chapter offices and enjoy the support to participate in other campus activities and organizations. Many student leaders in ASUW, campus honoraries, and student clubs and organizations are members of the UW Greek system.

Fraternities and sororities have a tradition of academic achievement, incorporating study tables, tutoring, and other forms of academic assistance and support as a part of each chapter's programs. Furthermore, fraternity and sorority grade point averages frequently meet or exceed the all campus men's or women's grade point averages.

At the University of Wyoming, the Greek community is going through a significant transition. The University has a new vision for the fraternity experience based upon leadership, scholarship and service. To further that vision, a new Greek Life Relationship Statement (GRS) was created and approved this past year. The GRS outlines expectations and standards between the Greek community and the University of Wyoming.

"The GRS articulates all shared standards and expectations among UW Greek students, Greek alumni, international Greek organizations, and the university," says Leellen Brigman, vice president for student affairs, who led the project. The UW trustees in May, 2003, requested President Philip Dubois and his staff to develop the project. This GRS includes standards for UW fraternities and sororities regarding academic success, leadership and campus involvement, campus and community service, fiscal responsibility, house mentors, physical plant and parking, membership development, respect and human dignity, risk management and alumni involvement.

New expectations for the university detailed in the GRS include employing a full time Greek life coordinator, an appropriate institutional budget for Greek affairs, access to new UW students for Greek recruitment during summer orientation, office space for IFC and Panhellenic officers, guidance and resources to promote fund raising for the Greek community, and annual meeting of Greek student leaders and alumni with the UW president.

Dolores Cardona, then interim dean of students, and David Walrath, professor in the College of Engineering, served as co chairs of a work group that reviewed Greek relationship statements from other universities, national best practices for institutional support for fraternities and sororities, and common university expectations for Greek letter organizations and their students. Work group membership included members of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic councils, Associated Students of UW government; Greek students, alumni advisers and house corporation members; and UW faculty, staff and administrators.

The document can be read on the Web at www.uwyo.edu/osl
There has never been a better time to join the Greek community at UW than today. Our students, alumni advisers, and university administration are committed to refocusing our Greek community on traditional fraternal values, which include leadership, scholarship, and service.

For more information about the fraternity and sorority experience at UW, and for information on how to join a chapter, please call the Dean of Students office at 766 3296, e mail at gogreek@uwyo.edu or visit the Web site at www.uwyo.edu/greeklife.

Posted on Wednesday, July 13, 2005