Membership
________________________________________
Document Number: GREEK--104
Revision #: 2.0
Document Owner: VP of Academic Affairs
Date Last Updated: 04/23/2018
Primary Author: Director of Residence Life and Greek Affairs Status: Approved
Date Originally Created: 11/10/2011
________________________________________
General Description
Description: Policy on membership in Greek organizations
Purpose: Delineation of policy
Scope: Greek advisor, Students
Responsibility: Greek advisor
Executive VP
Dean of Students
________________________________________
Requirements
Relevant Knowledge: In order to comply with this policy you should know:
National Greek policies
Terms and Definitions: Additional training
Corrective Action
Loss of privilege, general
Suspension
Termination
Staff members who knowingly and blatantly violate this policy may be terminated.
________________________________________
Policy Provisions
1. Membership
Greek membership serves many purposes in that it contributes to the intellectual, social, and personal development of the student. Historically, membership in these organizations has worked to refine the whole person, both academically and socially. The purpose of recruitment efforts should be to include as many students as is reasonably possible who desire Greek affiliation. Without demanding that every student who enters the recruitment process be guaranteed an invitation of membership, the University has set forth these regulations and standards. These regulations are stated in the effort that all recruitment policies and programs are inclusive rather than exclusive in attitude. All GPA requirements are as of August 27, 2012.
1.1 Recruitment
Recruitment will be held once per semester at a time stated by the Director of Greek Affairs and will be announced at least one semester in advance. The University may approve a deviance from this requirement upon request made by the Director of Greek Affairs to the Director of Student Life for good cause. Other recruitment functions may be held outside of the recruitment period with the written consent of the Greek Advisor. No alcohol is permitted at any recruitment function. The Director of Greek Affairs must approve all recruitment activities. All recruitment activities will follow these stipulations:
•Persons should be considered for membership without regard to race, ethnic origin/nationality, religion or sexual orientation.
•Each fraternity/sorority is encouraged to develop programs to enable students whose financial condition might preclude membership to receive assistance.
•Programs of pledge/new member education should not promote divisiveness and hostility among fraternity/sororities, but rather promote the entire Greek System and the campus community.
•Members of Greek organizations should, at a minimum, meet the same standards of responsible behavior and accountability in accordance with the Cumberland Creed.
•All recruitment regulations set forth by the Greek Council or Panhellenic Council are expected to be followed before, during, and after the formal recruitment period.
1.2 Bidding
All bids for potential pledges/new members must be submitted to the Director of Greek Affairs by the date announced for certification of eligibility. After the potential new member’s University academic status has been evaluated, approved, and signed by the Greek Advisor, the potential new member may receive the bid and be eligible for pledging.
1.3 Requirements for Pledging
The potential member must be enrolled in at least twelve (12) semester hours and must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.50 to be eligible for pledging into any fraternity or sorority; however, nothing herein prohibits the fraternity or is intended to restrict fraternities and sororities from setting a higher standard. The female organizations belonging to National Panhellenic require a minimum of 2.5 GPA for membership. First-semester transfer students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 in his/her hours accepted by the University to be eligible for pledging. Students who are enrolled at Cumberland University at least two semesters must have a 2.50 GPA during semester prior to pledging. If a pledge does not earn a 2.50 GPA during the pledge semester, the pledge will be categorized as a “holdover” pledge or a “drop” pledge.
•Holdover pledge: A pledge may be held over if the pledge earns at least a 2.00 GPA during the pledge semester. Furthermore, the pledge is entitled to initiation if the cumulative GPA is brought up to at least 2.50 during the holdover semester. However, if the pledge does not bring up the GPA to the minimum 2.50 the pledge must be dropped from pledging and will not be allowed to re-pledge until a cumulative GPA of 2.50 is attained.
•Drop pledge: A pledge must be dropped from pledging if at least a 2.00 GPA is not earned, so that the pledge may focus more on his/her academic endeavors at the University.
1.4 New Member Programs
Cumberland University recognizes that each Greek organization has their own Pledge/New Member education program, but the University also wishes to ensure the safety and well-being of its students, therefore the following regulations have been set forth by the University. Cumberland University absolutely forbids hazing in any form. Each fraternity/sorority is expected to make its members familiar with the University Hazing policy, set forth in this Handbook, and its consequences. Each fraternity/sorority shall:
•Conduct recruitment activities in such a fashion as to assist the student to make considered and responsible decisions about affiliation.
•Conduct each formal recruitment function in accordance with all local, state and federal laws, and within the expectations of the international or national Greek organizations.
•Review the University’s Hazing policy with the Greek Advisor. The chapter president must attest to the Director of Greek Affairs that the review has occurred.
•Require that all New Members participate in educational programming on the following issues:
•Alcohol and drug use and abuse
•Hazing
•Risk Management/legal liability
•Sexual assault/harassment or gender issues
All programming can and should involve the participation of members of the faculty, staff and administration. The Director of Greek Affairs will serve as a resource for such programming if needed.
1.5 Requirements for Officers
Cumberland University recognizes that each Greek organization has its own stipulations with regard to officer positions within each fraternity/sorority; however the University has set the guidelines below as a minimum standard. To be eligible to serve as an officer for a fraternity or sorority, the member must be in good academic standing with the respective fraternity/sorority’s international or national standards. Furthermore, to serve as an officer, the member must meet the following guidelines imposed by Cumberland:
1. The student must be enrolled at CU full-time (enrolled in twelve or more credit hours) during the semester of tenure of office, excluding May and Summer terms.
2. The student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50 during the semester of tenure of office.
________________________________________
Subject Experts
The following may be consulted for additional information.
Director of Residence Life and Greek Affairs
VP of Academic Affairs