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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Advisory Council for Fraternities & Sororities

Mission

The Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Council (FSAC) reports to the Vice President for Student and Campus Life (SCL), the Assistant Vice President of SCL, and the Director of Sorority & Fraternity Life on broad matters of policy and planning for recognized fraternities and sororities at Cornell University.

Bylaws of the Fraternity Sorority Advisory Council of Cornell University

Purpose

These Bylaws shall provide the operating principles and selection process for the FSAC.

Objective

(Refer to the FSAC Charter for more information)

The Fraternity Sorority Advisory Council's sole purpose is to advise and report to the Vice President of Student and Campus Life and staff on broad matters of policy, planning and administration relating to fraternities and sororities recognized by Cornell University. In addition the FSAC shall assist with communications between the University and the active members and alumni of the recognized fraternities and sororities. The FSAC serves at the pleasure of the Vice President of Student and Campus Life.

Membership

The membership of the FSAC will consist of at least 22 members, but no more than 35, all appointed by the VP of SCL. Members have no voting rights. There will be representation from the following university constituencies

Trustees (current or emeriti) — up to 6 members

Presidents — 3 members

  • Alumni Interfraternity Council
  • Alumni Panhellenic Advisory Council
  • Alumni Multicultural Greek Letter Advisory Council

Presidents and Executive Vice-Presidents — up to 6 members

  • Panhellenic Council
  • Interfraternity Council
  • Multicultural Greek Fraternal Council

Alumni of the Cornell Greek system — up to 12 members

Administration — 4 members

  • VP for Student and Campus Life
  • Assistant VP for SCL
  • Director for OSFL
  • Director of External Affairs for SCL

Faculty — up to 4 members

Officers

There will be one officer, the Chair of the FSAC, appointed by the VP of Student and Campus Life. The Chair of the FSAC shall work with the Director of OSFL to organize the agendas for the FSAC and schedule FSAC meetings. The Chair of the FSAC will manage the communication of the business of the FSAC to the membership. The Chair will also meet as appropriate with specific individuals as needed and also various undergraduate and graduate Greek groups, councils, and Boards as appropriate in support of the Cornell Greek community.

Appointment of Members and Officers

Nominations for membership may be submitted by current FSAC members and university administrators to the VP of SCL for consideration. Nominees will be reviewed by the VP of SCL and the Steering Committee. The final decision on new members is the sole decision of the VP of SCL.

New members are invited to join the FSAC by a letter from the VP of SCL. A member’s term may be terminated at any time for any reason by the VP of SCL.

The Chair of the FSAC is appointed by the VP of SCL. Nominations may be solicited by the VP of SCL from the current members of the FSAC. The Chair of the FSAC must be an alumna/us of Cornell and have been an active member of a Cornell University recognized sorority or fraternity when a student.

Terms and Term Limits

The Chair of the FSAC will be appointed by the VP of SCL for one four (4) year term. They may be asked to serve a second consecutive four (4) year term.

Members will be appointed for terms and term limits as follows:

Trustees – may serve as long as they are a Trustee of the university

Alumni Council Presidents – serve as long as they hold the office for their council.

Alumni – may serve 3 consecutive four-year terms. Must take a minimum of one-year hiatus before they are eligible to be considered for reappointment to the FSAC.

Greek Council Presidents and Exec. VP’s – serve as long as they are in office

Faculty – serve three-year terms. May be reappointed for consecutive terms.

SCL Administrative staff – serve as long as in the position.

Steering Committee

A Steering Committee, appointed by the VP of SCL, will work with the Chair of the FSAC and key staff to

  • Create meeting agendas
  • Establish priorities for the work of the council, and assist as needed

Committees

Committees will be created, as the business of the FSAC requires focused participation of a small group on a particular topic. Any committee created by the FSAC shall have a clear charge and time line of activity, including a “sunset” date unless otherwise determined by the VP of SCL or key staff.

The only “standing committee” is the Steering Committee.

Distinguished Directors Emeritus–

Long serving trustee emeriti who are no longer active with the FSAC may be considered for the honorary title of FSAC Emeritus.

FSAC members who have actively served the FSAC for 3 consecutive terms or a total of 12 years, may be considered for the honorary title of FSAC Emeritus.

FSAC Emeriti will receive the minutes of all meetings, FSAC sponsored communications and they will be invited to all regularly scheduled FSAC meetings.

Meetings

The FSAC will meet at least two times a year on the Ithaca campus. Meeting dates will be set six (6) months in advance. Minutes will be recorded and distributed to all FSAC members.

Definitions

  • FSAC – Fraternity Sorority Advisory Council
  • SCL – Student and Campus Life
  • OSFL-Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life

Charter of the Fraternity Sorority Advisory Council

The Fraternity Sorority Advisory Council (FSAC) is an advisory body serving solely at the pleasure of the Vice-President of Student and Campus Life and key staff members. The purpose of the FSAC is to be available to the VP of SCL and key staff for consultation on a wide variety of issues pertaining to Greek Life at Cornell University. The advice and thinking of the FSAC members may be solicited as a body or individually by the VP of SCL, Assistant Vice President of SCL, or the Director of Sorority & Fraternity Life on a wide variety of issues related to the Cornell Greek Community.

FSAC members are selected for one or more of the following characteristics

  • Familiarity with the Cornell Greek system
  • Familiarity with university operations
  • Involvement in university leadership roles
  • Advocate for Greek life at Cornell
  • Advocate for Student and Campus Life at Cornell
  • Ambassadors for Greek life at Cornell
  • Familiarity with the strengths and challenges facing the Greek system

FSAC members may be asked to

  • Engage in out-reach to Cornell Greek chapters
  • Engage in out-reach to Cornell Greek alumni
  • Participate in special projects for the FSAC
  • Report to the FSAC on the activities of their constituents
  • Report as needed to their constituents on matters discussed by the FSAC
  • Mentor Greek leaders on campus
  • Solicit input from their constituents on matters pertaining to Greek Life
  • Advise on Strategic Direction for the Cornell Greek System
  • Participate and/or aid in composing reports as needed for the FSAC

FSAC members are expected to

  • Attend FSAC meetings
  • Be advocates for the Cornell Greek system
  • Act as Ambassadors for the Cornell Greek system
  • Represent all that is good in the Cornell Greek system
  • Represent Cornell University in the most positive way

Membership Roster

Trustees: 
Eileen Walker '76 MBA '78 (Sigma Delta Tau)

Trustee Emeriti: 
John S. Dyson '65 (Alpha Delta Phi)
Michael Zak '75 (Alpha Delta Phi)

Alumni: 
Anthony B. Cashen '57, MBA '58, (Delta Upsilon)
Nancy W. Clark '62, M.Ed. '64 (Kappa Kappa Gamma)
Iris M. Delgado '09 (Lambda Theta Alpha)
Alison Ewing '10 (Kappa Delta)
John H. Foote '74 (Sigma Chi)
Bob Forness '87 Chair (Pi Kappa Alpha)
Yrensila Lopez '07 (Lambda Theta Alpha)
Greg Mezey '09 (Sigma Phi Epsilon)
Chinomnso Nnodum '10 (Delta Sigma Theta)
Matthew Rubins '90 (Zeta Beta Tau)
Katherine Stifel '87 (Delta Delta Delta)
Daisy Torres '05 (Sigma Lambda Upsilon)
Alfred F. Van Ranst Jr. '74, MBA '76 (Phi Gamma Delta)

Alumni Interfraternity Council President: 
John Yerger '82 (Delta Kappa Epsilon)

Multicultural Greek Letter Council Alumni Representative: 
Frank B. Wilkinson ’84 (Alpha Phi Alpha)

Alumnae Panhellenic Advisory Council President: 
Donna Barsotti (Kappa Delta)

Faculty: 
William Sonnenstuhl (ILR, Director of Graduate Studies)

Multicultural Greek Letter Council 
President: Amy Escalante '24 (Sigma Lambda Upsilon)
Vice President: Darrel Dartey '24 (Phi Beta Sigma)

Panhellenic Association 
President: Jennifer Huang '24 (Kappa Delta)
Vice President:  Aisling Mannion '24 (Delta Delta Delta)

Interfraternity Council 
President: Rocco Delorenzo '24 (Chi Psi)
Vice President: Andy Zhang '24 (Pi Kappa Alpha)

Ex-Officio members

Assistant Vice President for Student and Campus Life 
Jenny Loeffelman (Delta Gamma)

Director of Greek Life: 
Kara Miller McCarty (Sigma Sigma Sigma)

Vice President for Student and Campus Life: 
Dr. Ryan Lombardi

Student & Campus Life Internal Member

Assistant Director, Student and Campus Life Development: 
Vacant