Sorority and Fraternity Community Standards Agreement

2024 Community Standards Agreement

An agreement between Greek Chapters and Members, Councils, Advisors, and Ohio University Sorority and Fraternity Life Staff. 

Mission Statement: The Sorority Fraternity Life Community Standards Agreement recognizes the need for peer-to-peer accountability, respect within/between peers and staff, and establishing a mutual standard that opens opportunity to community-wide support, respect, and representation.

Community Values: friendship, respect, engagement, inclusivity, support, integrity, philanthropy & service, collaboration, and scholarship. 

1. Expectations for Greek chapters and their members
   1. Chapter Expectations
      1. Follow through with proper program planning and execution of events using the mediums required for communication.
      2. Learn, live, teach and expect to have a positive image of fraternity and sorority life.
      3. Provide opportunities for members to achieve a Grade Point Average (GPA) above the all undergraduate GPA. 
         1. Each chapter will host relevant academic programming events.
         2. Each chapter will designate a Scholarship Chair to plan regular academic programming. 
      4. Each chapter must complete all PawPrint forms required by SFL by the end of each calendar year. 
         1. Mid-term completion is encouraged.
      5. Each chapter will pay all council dues by their respective due date unless otherwise agreed to in a payment plan. 
      6. Each chapter will hold regular executive board and chapter meetings. 
      7. Each chapter will host relevant risk management programming, both in accordance with [Inter]National Headquarters and/or SFL.
      8. Each chapter will host siblinghood events on a regular basis. 
      9. Each chapter will maintain an updated roster with SFL and their [Inter] National Headquarters.
      10. Chapters will not engage in programming or fraternizing with social greek letter organizations that are NOT currently recognized by a Council, SFL, or the University.
      11. Each chapter will seek, maintain, collaborate, support and nourish relationships within the Greek Community, campus partners, and relevant stakeholders.
      12. Leadership of all chapters should establish a relationship and have open communications with other chapter leaders within the council and outside of the council.
          1. Chapter leadership is expected to autonomously resolve chapter issues within organizations in a civil and respectful manner. 
      13. Each chapter is expected to follow and interact with all other OHIO SFL Chapter & Council social media accounts.
          1. Reposting other chapters events on your chapters page.
          2. Being proactive about sharing chapter accomplishments.
      14. Chapter leaders are expected to bring overall community concerns to their respective Council leaders or SFL Staff members.
      15. Alcohol should not be the primary form of reference for fraternities and sororities.
   2. Member Expectations
      1. Challenge one another in a positive manner and engage in healthy competition.
      2. Respect each other’s human dignity as interfraternal brothers, sisters, and siblings.
      3. Chapter Leadership is expected to uphold our community values and their respective chapter values in order to lead by example.
      4. Follow all University and SFL guidelines. 
      5. Complete the State of Ohio’s anti-hazing policies:
         1. Understand what constitutes hazing per the State of Ohio and OHIO University
         2. Complete all educational modules required by [Inter]National HQ
         3. Complete all Hazing Prevention Training by OHIO University.
         4. Attend all educational programs coordinated by SFL to combat hazing. 
      6. Hold our members to a higher standard and be good stewards of SFL culture.
      7. Uphold your individual organization’s espoused Fraternal Values.
      8. New and old members should be engaged with community and chapter programming.
      9. Attend Council and SFL Educational Programs that have your personal and professional development at the core of their purpose.
      10. Members will be held accountable for their actions if they do not live up to this standards agreement through their individual chapter judicial board.
   3. Leadership expectations
      1. Have representation of your chapter at all SFL sponsored leadership retreats.
      2. The president/appointed delegate will attend the monthly all presidents meetings.
      3. Council delegates must go to all council delegate meetings.
      4. Chapter leaders must attend roundtable meetings for respective positions.
      5. Communicate recruitment/intake dates with the respective council and/or SFL office.
      6. Must follow through on all necessary paperwork forms required by nationals, councils, etc.
      7. Chapters must follow the new member education period established by SFL/[Inter]National HQ (ex: max 8 week period). 
      8. Each chapter must submit their new member education plan at least 1 week before the program begins. 
      9. Educate new members on the Community Standards Agreement and expectations set forth by their councils and governing documents. 
   4. Nondiscrimination/hazing
      1. Chapter will abide by university policy on hazing prevention. 
      2. No chapter will haze any member of the SFL community regardless of active, new, or potential status. 
      3. Each chapter will foster an environment for learning and protect the safety, rights, and dignity of every new and active member. 
      4. Each chapter should promote inclusivity within its membership and across the Greek community. 
   5. Conduct/Judicial
      1. Each chapter will follow their headquarters policies on alcohol and drug use.
      2. Must follow federal, state, local, school laws on alcohol and drugs.
      3. Must follow the student code of conduct. 
      4. Must have a working judicial/standards/accountability board. Including having the following in writing as part of the chapter constitution and/or bylaws:
         1. Procedures and process
         2. Board selection
         3. Sanctions
2. Expectations for Councils
   1. Have all recognized councils always support each other. 
   2. All council officers check in with their respective chapter exec members (ex: Council President and Chapter Presidents Roundtable, Recruitment Roundtables, etc.) to ensure proper delegation and execution of tasks.
   3. Clear and constant communication across councils. 
   4. Provide financial transparency with Member Chapters. 
3. Expectations for Chapter Advisors
   1. Act as a liaison between headquarters and their respective chapter, and university. 
   2. Properly communicate the needs of the chapter to university staff and other council advisors. 
   3. Should be properly trained, whether by headquarters or SFL staff, to provide proper guidance. 
   4. Ensure chapters follow local and national policy. 
   5. [Inter]National Headquarters should recommend or provide a pool of advisors on a timely basis. 
   6. Actively engage in the week-to-week operations of chapters. 
   7. Provide healthy guidance to chapter leadership. 
   8. Provide relevant and realistic advice for chapter decisions (ex: recruitment roundtables). 
   9. Build relationships with current respective chapter members. 
   10. Allow executive boards to learn from their mistakes and give them room to grow. 
   11. Advisors must complete training made available by SFL/University.
   12. Attend advisor meetings and offer constructive feedback to SFL Staff.
4. Expectations for Ohio University Sorority and Fraternity Life Staff
   1. Maintain a transparent communication approach, always. 
   2. Be conduits of leadership development for all chapter execs.
   3. Be equitable in addressing the needs of chapters. 
   4. Provide good and timely communication. 
   5. Maintain chapter accountability through an assessment process –PAWPRINT– and by having effective communication about issues with chapter leadership. 
   6. Be willing to compromise. 
   7. Provide opportunities for community building. 
   8. Promote and encourage new ideas for chapter/council leadership. 
   9. Help boost morale between fraternity and sorority members and OHIO University. 
   10. Encourage non-SFL OHIO University staff to come to SFL events.
   11. Be willing and able to provide continuous education workshops and training if needed for chapters.
   12. Provide new member education on OHIO University Fraternity and Sorority Life for all councils. 
   13. Provide annual training on updated policies and community expectations. 
   14. Plan and execute annual Greek Leadership Retreat and other leadership development opportunities for chapter presidents and respective exec board members. 
   15. Monthly president meetings. 
   16. Provide academic/conduct standings on the website.
   17. Provide all supplemental paperwork necessary to ensure proper chapter operations in a timely manner.
   18. Provide a community grade report within one week of it being sent from the Registrar’s office.
5. Expectations of Ohio University 
   1. Always encourage interaction with upper-level administration with the SFL Community to support SFL community members, in addition to behavioral accountability.
   2. Take into consideration and invite SFL Council and Chapter leaders to community wide conversations and discussions.
   3. Suggest ways that the SFL community can contribute to the campus community through service and volunteerism.
   4. Find ways for us to be ambassadors for OHIO University.
   5. Encourage and support University Communications and Marketing to feature fraternity and sorority organizations in marketing material, and campus visibility.
   6. Acknowledge and celebrate SFL Community wins to all University stakeholders. 

As chapter and council presidents of the 2024 Sorority and Fraternity Community at OHIO University, we will share, educate, and whole-heartedly work to uphold these community standards within reason by our chapters and councils.