• Student Activities
• Greek Life
  • Fraternities
    • Beta Theta Pi
    • Delta Tau Delta Colony
    • Phi Delta Theta
    • Sigma Alpha Epsilon
    • Sigma Chi
  • Sororities
    • Alpha Chi Omega
    • Delta Gamma
    • Pi Beta Phi
  • Recruitment
  • About Greek Life
    • Chapter Checklist
    • Greek Relationship Statement
  • Interfraternity Council
  • Panhellenic Council
  • Advisors
    • Advisor Expectations [PDF]
    • University Greek Advisor Job Description [PDF]
  • Resource Guide [PDF]
• Student Involvement Offices
  • Campus Recreation
  • Community Service Learning
  • Multicultural Affairs

Chapter Checklist

Willamette University has a rich and proud history; for many years, Greek organizations have shared and contributed to this history. Social clubs and societies began developing as early as the 1850's. Local fraternities and sororities formed in the 1920's. Following World War II, President G. Herbert Smith invited national fraternities and sororities to affiliate with the local Greek organizations at Willamette. Currently, Willamette University hosts three nationally affiliated sororities (Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, and Pi Beta Phi), and five nationally affiliated fraternities (Beta Theta Pi, Kappa Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Sigma Chi). Willamette University is committed to fostering an excellent Greek community. Membership in a fraternity or sorority should be a rewarding experience, both educationally and personally, for students. The University, in partnership with the national organizations, alumni/alumnae, and undergraduate members, wishes to improve all aspects of the Greek experience. In order to better communicate with all stakeholders, Willamette University offers the following checklist that articulates minimum expectations for Greek organizations to maintain recognition.

Chapter Operations

• Respond to all University and national headquarters' requests for paperwork, meetings, etc. within 7 days or by the given deadline
• Secure involved, alumni/alumnae advisory support with a minimum of one chapter advisor who adheres to the Chapter Advisor Job Expectations
• Identify one University faculty or staff member to serve as a University Advisor
• Serve year-long chapter president positions
• Attend chapter presidents' meetings as scheduled
• Participate in chapter president's retreat
• Comply with event planning guidelines (registered functions) and national risk management policy
• Ensure that Initiation Week and the Ceremony of Initiation do not occur in the final three weeks of a semester

Member Behavior

• Follow all University policies, including the Standards of Conduct and policies concerning publicity, fundraising, and academics (found in the Selected Policies Manual and the Student Handbook)
• Work in partnership with University and national headquarters staff on behavioral issues within the chapter
• Achieve chapter GPA above all-women's average (sororities) or all-men's average (fraternities)
• Attend leadership training each semester sponsored by the Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council

Service to the Greek/University/Greater Community

• Serve as participating members of Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils, attending all meetings and encouraging members to assume leadership positions within the respective council
• Perform community service and utilize the Office of Community Service Learning/Lilly Outreach Grant
• File re-registration form and submit risk management policy with the Office of Student Activities each spring

Implementation of the Checklist

Beginning in January 2004, Willamette University will provide the national organization, the chapter president, and the chapter advisor/advisory board the finalized checklist for the year. At the end of the spring semester, each organization will receive a midpoint evaluation of its progress towards the successful completion of the checklist. The chapter will receive a preliminary year-end report at the beginning of December. While the reports will contain expectations listed above, it will have a different appearance. A form will indicate if the expectation has or has not been met, the University representative who made the decision, the University representative's contact information, and space provided for that individual's comments. For example, the IFC/PHC president and advisor will determine if the chapter has been involved in the governing councils, while University judicial officers will address if the chapter violated University policies and code of conduct. If a chapter has made progress towards accomplishing and expectation but has yet to do so, that will also be noted.

Before a final report is produced, the chapter leadership will have an opportunity to follow up on discrepancies or concerns. After these have been addressed, a final report will be produced and provided to the chapter, the chapter advisor/advisory board, and the national organization. The fraternities and sororities at Willamette already meet many of the expectations. The University would not prefer to take a punitive approach when a chapter does not meet an expectation. Instead, University administrators would like to work with the chapter leadership, chapter advisor/advisory board, and the national headquarters to help the chapter achieve the expectation in the future. We encourage members to utilize the resources of both the University and their national organization to constantly improve their chapter. However, the University may take punitive action against a chapter that consistently fails to make progress on the checklist or chooses to disregard it. It is important to remember that each chapter exists at Willamette because the University - in addition to the national headquarters - recognizes its given charter; like every student, academic program, and co-curricular activity, Willamette has high expectations of its Greek organizations.

Pillars of Excellence: A Chapter Reward Program

As Willamette begins to clearly articulate its expectations of its fraternities and sororities, the University will also begin a reward program for organizations that meet or exceed those expectations. "Pillars of Excellence" will recognize chapters that meet all of the expectations in any of the categories, chapter operations, member behavior, and service to the Greek/University/greater community.