Good Standing and Achieved Excellence

Program Overview

Sorority and Fraternity Life created the Good Standing and Achieved Excellence 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 Sorority and Fraternity Life Good Standing program status is separate from any university conduct process and outcome for individuals or organizations.

The Achieved Excellence program complements and elevates the Good Standing program by encouraging and recognizing the excellent work of our community. In addition to the minimum expectations to achieve Good Standing, chapters now have the opportunity to be recognized for deeper engagement in Sorority and Fraternity Life and university programs. Chapters can achieve excellence in four different badges, or areas of focus. Chapters that earn badge(s) of Achieved Excellence will be recognized at the end of each semester.

Good Standing

Benefits of Good Standing

• 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 2022 and Spring 2023

• Academics
  • Chapter will achieve a minimum average GPA of 2.5
• Verification and Participation
  • 75% of chapter members complete The Fraternity and Sorority Experience survey.
  • Submit a completed roster to Sorority and Fraternity Life each 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.
  • 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)
  • Sponsor/Co-sponsor one of the following each semester: 1 community service event) OR 1 philanthropic fundraising event
  • Sponsor/Co-sponsor 1 educational event or workshop each semester
  • One chapter member attends the Emerging Leaders Institute (Fall)
  • Chapter President attends the Elevate UT retreat (Spring)
  • Chapter President attends chapter coaching meetings with SFL staff each semester
  • Chapter President representative attends two out of three Continuing Education Meetings each semester
• Council or Affiliate 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 In Good Standing 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 Good Standing Status here.

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: Commitment to Cultural Consciousness, 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.
• Details for each opportunity, including detailed directions, applicable files, and submission instructions, can be found on the assignments section of the Good Standing and Achieved Excellence Canvas page.

Achieved Excellence Badges - Fall 2022 and Spring 2023

Further details for each opportunity, including detailed directions, applicable files, and submission instructions, can be found on the assignments section of the Good Standing and Achieved Excellence Canvas page.

Commitment to Cultural Consciousness (Complete 2 of 3 for Recognition)

• Members complete SFL Cultural Consciousness Canvas module
• Virtual Racial Geography Tour of Campus or "The Eyes of Texas" History Reflection
• Host an event related to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Leadership Development (Complete 3 of 5 for Recognition)

• Leadership across campus narrative
• Host a Texas Leadership Education and Development workshop
• Officer transition program narrative
• Participation in the SFL Awards Program
• Participation in the SFL Leadership Issues class (Spring)

Risk Management and Safety (Complete 3 of 4 for Recognition)

• Member participation in hazing prevention video and reflection
• Host an event or program related to member health and wellness
• Part 2 of the Safety Education Program
• Participation in National Hazing Prevention Week programming (Fall)
• Participation in Horns Against Hazing programming (Spring)

Service, Philanthropy, and Community Impact (Complete 3 of 3 for Recognition)

• Service, Philanthropy, and Community Impact Narrative
• Host a service, philanthropic or community impact event.
• Host an event or program with an organization outside of your council of outside the Sorority & Fraternity Life community.

Tracking the Requirements

The Chapter President will be added to a Canvas class designed to record each Good Standing requirement and Achieved Excellence opportunity.

• 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 Good Standing in the grading section of the Canvas site allowing the chapter president to track their progress throughout the semester.