This document establishes the criteria and process for how the University
will consider applications of Greek organizations seeking to be housed on
campus and for all housed chapters wishing to maintain their continued occupancy.
It is designed to create and maintain a strong, dynamic and healthy Greek
system that contributes in positive ways to the Stanford community and the
Residential Education program. It is based on the Final Report of the Greek
Housing Committee, which was comprised of housed and unhoused Greek students,
student representatives from the Interfraternity Council and Intersorority
Council, and University administrators.
At Stanford, on-campus undergraduate housing is limited and in high demand.
All undergraduate residences at Stanford, including housed Greek chapters,
are part of the Residential Education program. Residential Education is built
around the University values of knowledge, diversity, excellence, honor,
service and community. Housed Greek chapters are unique within the Residential
Educational program in their commitment to "collective responsibility." Unlike
most voluntary student organizations and all other residences, Greek organizations
have the privilege of choosing their own members. Within this context, housed
Greek organizations must understand that selective group housing for some
students is a privilege within a campus environment that values opportunity
and choice for all students. The Greek Task Force Report recommended that "any
expansion in the number of housed Greek organizations should be rather modest" in
order to maintain the overall balance in the housing options for all students.
Additionally the 2001 Row Task Force recommended preserving the diversity
and balance of residential programs. Therefore, housing will only be allocated
to those Greek organizations who best meet the goals of Residential Education,
with the possibility of size of the housed Greek community at Stanford to
be approximately 25 percent of the Row Houses.
- Expectations and Assumptions
Strong leadership and a "collective memory" characterize successful
housed Greek chapters and ensure that learning and experience will be
shared with future members. These Greek chapters must have a strong membership
base over time that ensures the house can be filled with members at any
given time. House policies and practices meet the needs of the group
while also protecting the rights of individuals. Successful Greek chapters
demonstrate a commitment to the house and thoughtful, responsible conduct
by members who understand the personal accountability that comes with
group membership.
The following expectations and assumptions underlie the implementation
of the criteria set forth in this document:
- All members of a fraternity or sorority should view living in the
chapter house as their highest housing priority and understand that
University Greek housing is a privilege. For the purposes of this document,
members of a chapter will include leadership, pledges and actives and
in some cases, alumni status seniors, all of who must be eligible for
housing in the year for which it is being requested.
- Allocation or removal of a house will be based on a broad examination
of the criteria, taking into account demonstrated patterns (generally
a two to three year period), rather than based on a single criterion.
An egregious violation of a single criterion, however, may result in
the removal of a chapter from a house.
- There will be regular and open communication (e.g. quarterly meetings,
status reports, etc.) between the University and all housed Greek organizations
to assist the housed organizations to stay strong and healthy--dealing
with problems while they are manageable. This communication must be
initiated both by the Greek organizations and by the University administrator
responsible for housed Greek chapters.
- Chapters applying for a house must demonstrate the ability to meet
all of the housing criteria. Chapters should give serious and thoughtful
consideration to housing as part of the future of their organization.
All members, and perhaps some alumni, should be included in the discussion
process.
- Unlike other student residences and most voluntary student organizations,
Greek organizations have the privilege of choosing their own members.
While the University continues to support this concept within certain
limits, it nonetheless expects Greek organizations to comply with the
University's Nondiscriminatory Policy.
- There will be a regular review of the criteria to assess their effectiveness
in supporting the Greek chapters and the University's academic mission
and housing program.
- Application Process
The process for applying for a house begins well before the application
deadline. Chapters should first seriously consider how becoming a housed
chapter would meet and enhance their vision and purpose. It is important
to consider whether or not the chapter has sufficiently strong membership
commitment from all members so that long-term housed chapter success
can be ensured. Housed Greek chapters can certainly provide meaningful
experiences for their members, but housing takes much focus and hard
work. It is not the only way a chapter can be strong and successful at
Stanford.
Once a chapter is certain housing is the right option for its members,
its leadership should meet with University staff early in the planning
process to learn how it can best develop its application and prepare
for housing. People to meet include the fraternity/sorority advisor,
the Associate Director of Residential Education, the Assistant Director
for Student Management and the Undergraduate Housing Assignment Services
Supervisor.
- Proposals will only be accepted from chapters that have at least
35 current members.
- Greek groups seeking an on-campus house must submit four copies of
a complete housing proposal by the second Friday of Autumn Quarter
to the Director of Student Activities. The proposal must include the
following:
- Greek Housing Application cover sheet (enclosed).
- A description of the history of the chapter at Stanford including
housing status history and any other relevant information about
your organization. "Chapter history" refers to the history of
the chapter at Stanford and may date back as far as 1891. "Housing
history" may also date back to 1891 but should, at a minimum,
should include any recent history (past ten years) of being a
housed chapter.
- A statement describing what positive contribution the chapter
could make as a housed group to the Greek community, the Row
community, and Stanford community.
- A clear statement of why the chapter is seeking a house, the
proposed housing program, its objectives, and the plan to maintain
the house.
- Evidence of meeting the criteria outlined below in Part IV.
- Any other information about the positive attributes of the
group which may not have been addressed in other questions.
- A list of all contributors writing this application.
- Proposals will initially be reviewed by the Greek Housing Review
Board comprised of, but not limited to, representatives from the following
administrative offices and student groups: Dean of Students (DOS),
Residential Education, Office of Student Activities (OSA), Student
Housing Services, Housing Assignment Services (HAS), the Interfraternity
Council (IFC), the Intersorority Council (ISC), the Greek Judicial
Board, Residential student staff member, and ASSU Nominations Committee
representatives. The Greek Housing Review Board, serving in an advisory
capacity, will make recommendations to the Director of Residential
Education. The Director of Residential Education, in consultation with
the Dean of Students, will make a final decision on all completed proposals
by the end of January of the year of application. The Director of Residential
Education will make specific house assignments.
- A presentation and interview by the chapter with the Review Board.
This will permit the chapter to introduce leadership, provide an oral
presentation on its proposal, and answer any questions.
- The Greek Housing Review Board may, in the event of unclear proposals
or other circumstances, ask for further documentation from the applicant
after the initial proposal has been submitted.
- Process of Evaluation and Review
Housed Greek chapters will be reviewed annually using a variety of sources
of information. Compliance with the University Residence Agreement, the
principles and policies in the Greek Guide, and in this document (particularly
the housing criteria described below), and any conditions imposed by
the University as a result of prior reviews will be among the matters
assessed in the annual review. Working with members of each housed Greek
organization, the Associate Director of Residential Education and the
Director of Student Activities develop a status report documenting the
chapter's health and activity for the year and will report special areas
of consideration or concern in relationship to the criteria.
In the process of review and evaluation, there is the expectation that
the University and the Greek chapter will maintain a relationship of
mutual trust and respect. While there are some items in the list of criteria
which alone could trigger the removal of a chapter from University housing
(e.g., loss of recognition, serious financial mismanagement, egregious
conduct violation), it is the expectation that the review will look for
the spirit of compliance in the different areas of the criteria as a
whole.
If there is a trend, (generally two to three years), of failure to meet
the requirements set out in this document, the Greek Housing Review Board
will convene to review the chapter in question. The timing of this meeting
will depend on the nature of the non-compliance. With the regular meetings
involving housed Greek leadership, Student Activities, and Residential
Education and the annual status report, the chapter should not be caught
unaware of a troubling trend. Therefore, chapters not meeting University
expectations will be placed on probation in consultation with the Greek
Housing Review Board. As with the allocation of a house, the Greek Housing
Review Board will make recommendations for action to the Director of
Residential Education.
In support of the aforementioned philosophy that living in the chapter
house is seen as the members' highest housing priority, occupancy of
the chapter house should, as a general rule, be by members. In the history
of fraternal chapters at Stanford, falling below ninety percent of the
house being occupied by members has triggered review of the chapter for
possible removal. With this document, the expectation is that chapters
will achieve 100% membership in the house, but any review will look for
the spirit of meeting this goal and will not penalize rare dips in the
occupancy by members. If there is a negative trend, however, the chapter
may be removed from University housing.
In addition to a regular review of housed Greek chapters, the Greek
Housing Review Board will evaluate the effectiveness of the criteria
outlined in this document on a regular basis. A continued assessment
will include clearer performance standards for housed chapters. Chapter
reviews will occur annually with a program review occurring every three
years.
- Greek Housing Criteria
The Greek Housing Review Board will carefully consider the information
provided to support the criteria listed below. The Board will also seek
input from the Dean of Students Office, Office of Student Activities,
Greek Judicial Affairs, Residential Education, Student Housing Services,
Interfraternity and Intersorority Councils, Housing Assignment Services
and others as appropriate when reviewing all applications. Criteria include:
- The chapter must be registered with the Office of Student Activities.
- The chapter must have a history of good conduct. Good conduct is
defined as a chapter's ability to successfully meet and follow University
policies and ensure that the health and safety of its members and guests
is not compromised.
- The chapter must have a stable and healthy financial management history.
- The chapter must establish a sound student leadership and management
plan including a codified plan for leadership transition.
- The chapter must demonstrate effective and consistent stewardship
of the resource. The group must not cause deterioration to the house
that is any greater than the normal wear and tear that occurs in the
typical Draw-filled residence.
- The chapter must actively demonstrate its commitment to the mission
of Residential Education including support of the University's academic
mission, the intellectual life of the house, cross-cultural education,
commitment to diversity, responsible citizenship, and faculty-student
contact.
- The chapter must meet the following criteria specifically related
to housing occupancy:
- The chapter must have sufficient and balanced membership by
the required housing deadline to fill the house to 100% of its
rated occupancy for the following year. The chapter must fill
the house to 100% of its rated occupancy (which may include a
limited number of boarders) for Fall and Winter Quarters. (Balanced
membership is defined as classes of approximately equal size).
- An eligible member is defined as an undergraduate student (with
undergraduate confirmed by the University Registrar) with years
of "guaranteed housing" remaining. Pledges who will be seniors
will not be counted in the chapter's membership or occupancy
totals. Pledges who cannot participate throughout the chapter's
normal pledge period will not be counted in the chapter's membership
or occupancy totals.
- The chapter must have a clearly written Housing Preference
Policy (HPP) developed by the chapter with the assistance of
Student Activities, Residential Education and Housing Assignment
Services specifying who will occupy the house (e.g. leadership,
pledges, seniors etc.). The chapter must have its HPP submitted
and approved annually by the University no later March 1. All
chapter HPP's must be made widely available to all prospective
members prior to Rush.
- The chapter must provide to the Row Office, by the Thursday
prior to the Draw deadline for undergraduate applications, a
total membership roster (of eligible members and pledges as defined
above) indicating who will be living in the chapter house, and
who will be living outside the house. Members released from their
housing commitment shall include students overseas, those assuming
primary residential staff positions.
- Members will surrender all remaining "preferred and guaranteed
years" to the chapter. Based on the Housing Preference Policy
(HPP) and University approval, the chapter then may release members
to Draw-filled or off-campus housing and return their preferred/guaranteed
years for use in the Draw if the chapter house is filled by members
to 100% capacity. For this to happen, however, the house must
first be filled with membership to 100% in Fall quarter of that
academic year.
- Released members of housed chapters who choose to enter Draw-filled
housing, must go through the Draw and comply with all contractual
agreements and house requirements (e.g., housing deadlines, meal
plans, work agreements, etc.).
- The chapter may fill periodic vacancies that occur in the house
with unassigned students or members living outside of Draw-filled
housing whom have "guaranteed years" remaining. An updated roster
must be provided each quarter to HAS by the application deadline
for the quarterly waiting list.
- Chapter leaders must actively participate in Greek leadership activities.
These activities include participation in the Greek Leadership Retreat
and Greek Leadership meetings, attendance at housed Greek quarterly
meetings, attendance at Party Planning Workshops, and involvement with
governing Greek parties (e.g., Interfraternity Council, Intersorority
Council, AAFSA, and attendance at Residential staff training and meetings).
- Chapter leaders and pledges must fully participate in the University's
pledge education programs and must implement a thoughtful chapter member
development program.
- The chapter must demonstrate evidence of meaningful on-going community
service.
- The chapter must demonstrate effective self-evaluation by submitting
quarter end financial reports, completing Program Summaries, participating
in annual residence evaluations, submitting a Greek Annual Report,
ensuring a collective memory for the group and its leaders from one
year to the next.
- The chapter must maintain regular communication with appropriate
University representatives.
- The chapter must demonstrate positive, consistent engagement with
alumni. Involving them in governing, educational, and social opportunities.
- The chapter must actively welcome non-residents (e.g., non-Greek
students, faculty, University representatives, alumni, and parents)
to the house.
- Additional Applications of the Housing Criteria
The University recognizes that meeting the housing occupancy criteria
may be quite challenging given the nature of student and academic life.
Some applications of the Greek housing process are detailed below.
- Any exceptions to the criteria on 100% membership occupancy of a
chapter house must follow the Housing Assignment Services Office's
guidelines for petitions or termination of agreement. Examples of exceptions
may include but not be limited to admits to overseas or off-campus
programs or an unexpected change in marital or registration status.
- Housing Assignment Services reserves the right to assign guaranteed
undergraduates to any vacancies in chapter houses.
- The chapter may petition to house members in unguaranteed years according
to the regular Housing Assignment Services process.
- Billing is based on rated house occupancy, not actual occupancy (e.g.,
a house rated to hold 50 students will be billed at 50 times the per
student rent rate for the quarter).
- All housed chapters are expected to provide to the University Risk
Management Office certification of liability insurance.
- If a housed chapter shows a trend (generally two to three years)
of failing to meet the requirements and criteria for occupancy, the
chapter is likely to be removed from the house.
- Should a chapter be removed from its house, that specific house may
be allocated to the general University Draw system or to another program
(which could include allocation to another Greek chapter), at the University's
discretion.
- Greek Housing Review Calendar
The housing review process for all non-housed Greek chapters is one-year
application process, occurring every other year. Please see the calendar
below:
Greek Housing at Stanford University
Housing Criteria and Process
Adopted: December 30, 1997
(Modified: October 21, 1999 and June 11, 2001)
| May |
Possible houses announced for future Greek houses |
| May |
Information session on application process |
| October (First Friday) |
Deadline for applications to be submitted |
| October - December |
Committee reviews applications, conducts interviews and makes recommendations
to the Director of Residential Education. |
| November |
Application Presentations/ Interviews of Chapters |
| January 15 |
Director of Residential Education makes announcement if a chapter
is awarded housing and, if so, which house. |
| January-June |
Greek Review Board and staff assists newly chapter transition into
housing by through workshops and meetings. |
| September |
Chapter moves into house. |
| Following academic year |
Greek Review Board assist in transitioning of chapter into house. |
In order to be a healthy, housed organization, the Greek Housing Review
Board recognizes that all housed fraternities and sororities must meet and
maintain a number of criteria. Currently identified criteria include the
following:
