Update 11:18 p.m. April 25:
The Dean of Students sent an email to the greek life community detailing the terms of the suspension for Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic (PHA) chapters.
In the email, Dean of Students Kathleen McMahon said she met with chapter leaders and representatives to outline the terms and what each chapter must do to regain full status.
Cal Poly is placed on temporary interim suspension (TIS) effective immediately and will remain in effect while the university examines these issues, implements new policies and programs and conducts investigations if applicable.
IFC and PHA chapters are not permitted to hold any events, except for the events listed below. These events are dependent on each chapter’s current probationary/disciplinary status.
- Chapters currently sanctioned by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) may only host:
- Chapter meetings (one per week)
- Meetings for educational purposes (e.g., workshops, discussions, guest speakers)
- One philanthropic event during spring quarter
- Chapters not currently sanctioned by OSRR may host:
- Chapter meetings
- Meetings for educational purposes (e.g., workshops, discussions, guest speakers)
- Two brotherhood/sisterhood events with an alumni and/or university advisor present during spring quarter (e.g., any chapter event without non-chapter participants) Must be registered via Verisky, 4-days in advance
- One philanthropic event during spring quarter
- One parent/supporter event during spring quarter, if previously registered
- One alumni event during spring quarter, if previously registered
IFC, PHA and United Sorority and Fraternity Council (USFC) chapters must “develop and implement a long-term education plan that addresses topics of diversity and inclusion.” The plan must be submitted to Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) staff and must at least include the following items:
- Defined learning outcomes and assessment plan
- Implementation timeline, including an element of permanence for future chapter member participation
- A requirement for participation of all chapter members
- A plan for financial support strategies for prospective/current chapter members to increase access to Greek Life
- Acknowledgement of chapter compliance with all requirements outlined by their respective councils
- Acknowledgement of chapter compliance with requirements issued by the FSL Office
- Chapters are permitted to implement education plans as soon as the chapter executive board and national/international headquarters deem necessary, and the plan has been reviewed by FSL staff and review committee.
All greek life chapters are required to participate in a series of educational workshop requirements. Educational workshop requirements will be based on the needs of IFC, PHA and USFC. At a minimum, a percentage of members must participate (based on facility capacity) in the following workshops:
- A meeting with the Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion for Student Affairs, currently scheduled on April 30, 2018 from 6-8 p.m.
- A workshop hosted by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, currently scheduled on May 3, 2018
- Workshops hosted by FSL, on dates to be determined in spring quarter 2018
According to the email, FSL staff and a review committee comprised of staff, faculty, advisors and a designee from the Office of Diversity and Inclusion will convene regularly to review individual chapter education plans. The review process may begin in June 2018.
Original story:
At 9 p.m. April 24, a member of greek life provided Mustang News with a message from their information from a chapter president regarding a meeting outlining the terms of indefinite suspension for IFC fraternities and PHA sororities.
IFC and PHA presidents were called into a meeting today on short notice to outline the suspension. According to the message, the “social probation” has been named Temporary Interim Suspension. An email will be sent to all greek life members April 25 with the guidelines.
The message was from a PHA sorority that is not sanctioned, therefore these suspension terms are not representative of all sororities and fraternities.
All chapters that are not sanctioned by the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities are allowed to host chapter meetings, meetings for educational purposes, one philanthropic event, Parent’s Weekend, one alumni event and two brotherhood/sisterhood events.
The restriction with all these events is that alcohol is not allowed under any circumstances.
The suspension will last through spring quarter. There will be a review board in June to determine whether the suspension will be lifted for Fall 2018. All chapters must implement a long-term educational plan that addresses topics of diversity and inclusion, the message said.
President Jeffrey Armstrong announced the indefinite suspension of all Panhellenic (PHA) sororities and Interfraternity (IFC) fraternities April 17, however chapters have been operating as usual.
Fraternities and sororities held their regularly scheduled chapter meetings Sunday, April 22 and Monday, April 23. Some sororities were “serenaded” by fraternity members, who sang and danced at their chapter meetings.
Dean of Students administrators scheduled a meeting with IFC and PHA chapter presidents April 23. It was postponed because the suspension conditions have not been finalized, according to university spokesperson Matt Lazier.
“The university is continuing to develop the conditions and will make them available as soon as possible,” Lazier said.
IFC president Colton Marino did not return requests for comment.