Community Standards Program

Program Overview

Sorority and Fraternity Life (SFL) created the Community Standards Program to clearly communicate expectations as well as provide a platform for organizations to track their events and achievements throughout the year. This program was designed after benchmarking similar Sorority and Fraternity Life community's expectations, surveying National Organizations requirements, and analyzing existing Good Standing and Minimum Standards programs at various institutions. The SFL Community Standards Program status is separate from any university conduct process and outcome for individuals or organizations.

SFL Community Standards Program

The SFL Community Standards Program places our organizations in one (1) of three (3) categories based on the percentage they receive upon completion of our standards requirements at the end of every semester: Not Meeting Community Standards, Satisfactory, or Excellent.

Benefits of Meeting Community Standards

• A copy of the current good standing letter mailed to your organization's national office
• Recognition in the Sorority and Fraternity Life Information Guide
• Eligibility for the Sorority and Fraternity Life Funding Program
• Recognition on the Sorority and Fraternity Life website
• Eligibility for Sorority and Fraternity Life Awards
• A physical address to receive mail on campus (this does not include packages)
• Eligible to apply for departmental sponsorship for programmatic activities

Elements of Good Standing – Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

• Academics
  • Chapter will achieve a minimum average GPA of 2.5
• Verification and Participation
  • Submit a completed roster to Sorority and Fraternity Life each semester: Beginning and End of Semester.
  • Register with Student Activities at the end of the Spring semester and remain registered for the Fall semester. Non-completion of this element would put a chapter automatically in Not Good Standing with the University.
  • HornsLink Form Submission: Complete or update the Chapter Leadership, Advisor, Facility and Dues information form on Hornslink each semester.
  • Complete New Member Paperwork and Forms each semester (if applicable)
  • Complete the Office of the Dean of Student's Safety Education training (Fall). Non-completion of this element would put a chapter automatically in Not Good Standing with the University.
• Leadership, Service Philanthropy
  • New Members attend New Member Orientation each semester.
  • Executive board attends the Risk Management Summit (Spring)
  • One officer that oversees new member education completes the New Member Educator Training series (Fall)
  • HornsLink Form Submission: Sponsor/Co-sponsor one of the following each semester: 1 community service event) OR 1 philanthropic fundraising event
  • HornsLink Form Submission: Sponsor/Co-sponsor 1 educational event or workshop each semester
  • One chapter member attends the Emerging Leaders Institute (Fall)
  • Chapter President attends the Chapter President Event (Spring and Fall)
  • Chapter President attends chapter coaching meetings with SFL staff each semester
• Council or Affiliate Leadership Circle Involvement
  • Maintain good standing with your council or affiliate group each semester (i.e. current on payment of council dues, attendance at meetings, engagement in events if applicable)

Accountability

If an organization does not meet the requirements of Good Standing the following accountability measures will be put into place:

• Notification of Not Meeting Community Standards sent to chapter leadership, advisors, and respective National/International organizations
• Listing on SFL Website and publications with current standing
• Will be required to work in conjunction with an SFL staff person to create a Performance Improvement Plan
• Council membership will be placed under review

See a list of all chapters most recent Community Standards Program Status.

Achieved Excellence

In addition to the minimum expectations to achieve Good Standing, chapters can achieve excellence through deeper engagement in SFL and university programs. Chapters can achieve excellence in four different badges, or areas of focus. Chapter that earn badge(s) of Achieved Excellence will be recognized at the end of each semester.

Program Details

• The Achieved Excellence badges are: Leadership Development, Risk Management and Safety, and Service, Philanthropy, and Community Impact.
• Each badge has 3-5 opportunities for achievement- such as hosting a chapter event or participating in a university program. Chapters can complete any three of the opportunities to earn the Achieved Excellence badge in that area.

To learn more about this recognition opportunity, please visit our SFL Awards and Recognition page.

Tracking the Requirements

The Chapter President will be added to a Canvas class designed to record each SFL Community Standards Program requirement.

• Canvas is a platform students already check daily
• Canvas allows the chapter and SFL office to access progress at any time
• Canvas allows the SFL office to easily communicate with Chapter officers

Sorority and Fraternity Life staff will record and report each requirement for the SFL Community Standards Program in the grading section of the Canvas site allowing the chapter president to track their progress throughout the semester.