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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Vision & Mission for Sororities & Fraternities

Mission

Sorority & Fraternity Life (SFL) supports student leaders, as well as their chapters and the entire community, to cultivate an inclusive, meaningful, and developmental co-curricular sorority and fraternity experience.

Vision

With a focus on individual and community health and well-being, through advocacy and innovation, Sorority & Fraternity Life collaborates with, empowers, and supports student leaders to build a flourishing sorority and fraternity community at Cornell. Members will engage in this developmental co-curricular experience to create and foster ethical, inclusive, and meaningful communities.

Goals

  • Chapter Development: Individual staff members dedicated to each chapter and council will regularly advise and support chapter leadership and interface with their teams of advisors and inter/national staff members.
  • Communication: Regularly engage with stakeholders such as parents, alumni, and students via social media, website, newsletters, webinars, and regularly scheduled programming.
  • Comprehensive Education & Training: Trainings and educational programs, including in the area of health promotion and prevention efforts, offered by SFL and/or in collaboration with campus partners to provide sorority and fraternity members opportunities to enhance their leadership development and learning.
  • Crucial Partners: While Sorority & Fraternity Life staff is student-centered, we recognize, embrace, and acknowledge the importance of our relationships with alumni, chapter advisors, national organization representatives, and student families. It is our shared work to help our members, chapters, and community flourish. We recognize the important multi-generational relationships that enrich the member experience and aid in its success.

 

 

What We Do

Leadership Development and Educational Programming

  • Plan and implement training and leadership seminars for student officers, new members, and general membership

  • Promote community service within the fraternity and sorority system
  • Plan and implement Delta Series for new members
  • Oversee judicial process for chapter violations

Advisement

  • Assist chapters in integrating the academic and co-curricular aspects of fraternity and sorority life
  • Advise IFC, MGFC, and PA in governing the fraternity and sorority system
  • Advise over 60 chapters, which includes 33% of the student population (~4,800+ students)

Database Management

  • Maintain database and report on chapter grade ranking
  • Maintain rosters and signed anti-hazing contracts for each new member
  • Oversee chapter compliance with liability insurance requirements, certificate of compliance deadlines, and annual occupancy rating
  • Maintain housing contracts and keys for each resident living in a University-owned Greek facility

Event Management

  • Co-coordinate recruitment activities for over 1,000 students annually
  • Register approximately 20 social events weekly
  • Co-coordinate events such as Homecoming, Faculty Reception, Andrew Dickson White Annual Summit for Greeks, Susan H. Murphy ’73 PhD ’94 Fraternity and Sorority Awards Ceremony

External Relations

  • Serve as liaison to chapters’ house corporation boards, alumni advisory boards, and national organizations
  • Serve as liaison to Alumni Interfraternity Council, Alumnae Panhellenic Advisory Council, and Alumni Multicultural Greek & fraternity Council
  • Coordinate Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Council meetings

Facility/Financial

  • Coordinate facility maintenance and fire-safety inspections of University-owned properties
  • Assist student leaders in financial management of University-owned properties
  • Oversee coordination and implementation of major renovations to University-owned properties
  • Facilitate building campaigns for private and University-owned houses

Core Principles

Alignment of Values

Chapters and members will continuously strive to operate in consistent alignment with University and respective organizational founding values, missions, and objectives.

Academic Excellence

Chapters encourage academic excellence for all members and promote an environment supportive of intellectual and personal development.

Respect for New Members and Initiates

Chapters will maintain programs of member education that are designed to enhance individual development, encourage participation in University and Community activities, and provide opportunities for leadership.

Commitment to Service

The Sorority and Fraternity Community will develop and lead out-of-classroom learning opportunities through active community service and philanthropy activities.

Social Responsibility

The Sorority and Fraternity system has contributed to traditions at Cornell University since its founding. Its place in offering an alternative residential experience and hosting social activities must continue as safe, mature settings. Chapters will not condone the harmful use of alcohol or controlled substances by its members or guests and will not tolerate disrespectful treatment of any person.

Promote Citizenship and Inclusion

Chapters, like the University, value diversity and inclusiveness and are committed to remaining relevant.

Self-Governance

The Sorority and Fraternity Community allows Chapters to exercise the privileges of self-governance in a responsible manner at all times.

Leadership Development

Each Chapter acknowledges its responsibility to provide leadership development opportunities to all members of the organization.

Healthy Living-Learning Environments

Chapters agree to create, promote, and maintain a healthy, safe, and responsible residential environment when applicable.

Life-Long Relationships and Affinity

Chapter undergraduates and alumni recognize the importance and value of building and sustaining the life-long, personal and organizational benefits found in fraternal membership.