Communicating the Benefits of Greek Life
Greek Connections Team
The Greek Connections Recruitment team has been created and members have been recruited. The team is being trained to provide presentations in the spring in an effort to get more people interested in joining fraternities and sororities.
Goal 6, Objective A: A recruitment team for the entire fraternity and sorority community will be created. The purpose will be to coordinate all-Greek recruitment events and presentations and to ensure a consistent message is communicated to the campus.
Expanding the IFC Fraternity Community
New Chapters Colonize
The IFC fraternity community has been aggressive in their expansion efforts. Office of Student Life staff and fraternity leaders have worked in cooperation with Delta Sigma Phi and Lambda Chi Alpha staff over the last year to bring these organizations to campus. Delta Sigma Phi colonized in spring 2007 and is striving to complete chartering requirements this semester. Lambda Chi Alpha arrived on campus this fall and has been successful in their re-colonization efforts to recruit high quality men. Their goal is to re-charter the fraternity in spring 2008.
Goal 6, Objective C: The fraternity expansion committee will be re-convened to examine the success of new chapters and re-evaluate timeline for future expansions/re-colonizations.
Market Research
Market research was conducted in the fall of 2007 to determine why students are not joining fraternities and sororities. The information was used to identify Greek perceptions on campus and revised the current marketing plan to focus more on personal selling and sales promotion and less on advertising. The market research will be conducted again in 2008 to evaluate perceptions and trends towards the Greek community.
Goal 6, Objective A: Market research will be conducted on why students are not joining fraternities and sororities and evaluate the current recruitment efforts. This information will be utilized to implement values based marketing efforts targeting specific student populations.
Intentional Recruiting
Strengthening Recruitment Skills
The Office of Student Life partnered with staff from several national organizations to provide educational recruitment workshops for the fraternity and sorority community. These workshops covered a wide range of topics including motivating members, developing conversations skills and marketing Greek organizations. Representatives from nearly all Panhellenic and IFC chapters were in attendance.
Goal 6, Objective B: A comprehensive recruitment strategy will be developed and periodically updated to reflect changes in the campus climate.
Strengthen Partnerships with Orientation, Admissions, Housing, Late Night
A new program was forged between Greek organizations and Ball State Late Nite. Greek organizations co-sponsor Late Nite programs and compete for a $1000 prize annually. The prize is awarded to the Greek organization with the highest percentage of participation in Late Nite programs. Greek specific training programs were held with Orientation student leaders, Admissions staff and Housing and Residence Life hall staff during the last year.
Goal 6, Objective A: A consistent plan will be developed that outlines opportunities for interaction between non-Greeks and Greeks through programs such as Late Night and athletic events.
Examine the Recruitment Structure
NPHC Intake Policy
The NPHC intake policy was finalized and introduced in January 2008. The policy outlines guidelines for membership intake.
Goal 6, Objective D: NPHC fraternity and sorority chapters will follow a standardized communication process when conducting membership intake.
Panhellenic Recruitment Changes
Panhellenic sororities switched from the fully structured recruitment style to partially structured recruitment for fall 2008. The new structure allowed chapter members and potential new members to have conversations in settings where they could learn more about each other and the personalities of each sorority. Because of the relaxed setting chapter members felt more comfortable talking with potential new members and selling the benefits of sorority life. The changes this year helped the Panhellenic community have a successful formal recruitment.
Goal 6, Objective D: PHC sorority formal recruitment will be revised with specific focus on location, timing and content.