Fraternity and Sorority Life Program Review

Ongoing Initiatives

• The Fraternity and Sorority Life Alumni Advisory Board was announced on August 22 as the next step in engaging the community. Initial board appointments will be determined by the OFSL team and four undergraduate governing council presidents. Interest forms are currently being collected with an anticipated kick-off meeting around Penn State's 2025 Homecoming celebration.
• IFC, OFSL, and OSACR are collaborating to build a structure for council involvement in the accountability process. Social event and recruitment concerns are often addressed through advisory letters and proactive engagement instead of initiating formal conduct processes.

Completed Initiatives

• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life benchmarked collaborative efforts and advisory models at comparable institutions across the country.

Ongoing Initiatives

• News stories highlighting student leaders and fraternity and sorority life have been published in partnership with Student Affairs Communications and Marketing. Feature stories and ways to highlight positive impacts are ongoing.
• A Community Guide is being developed, and OFSL is redesigning its website.
• Student Affairs has increased direct communication to students and families to highlight health and safety concerns about unrecognized chapters. The website with information on suspended and unrecognized groups has also been updated to provide expanded resources.

Completed Initiatives

• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life tabled at the New Student Orientation resource fair, welcoming student and families to campus while sharing information about the community.

Ongoing Initiatives

• Student leaders and OFSL continue to expand Greek Sing and Greek Week, with Greek Sing moving to a larger venue next year due to increased participation.
• The University is partnering with students and alumni to develop and advance a design for a new NPHC plot on campus.
• The Panhellenic Council organized a committee with students, advisors, alumni, headquarters, OFSL, and University leadership to identify solutions for community needs. This collaboration continues to focus on both short- and long-term improvements.

Ongoing Initiatives

• A national search for a Hazing Prevention Specialist is underway, bringing a research-based expertise to Penn State to support staff and students. The position will be housed in Health Promotion and Wellness and serve on the OFSL Health, Safety, and Event Planning team. Students and alumni have been tapped to be involved in the search process.

Completed Initiatives

• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life hired two associate directors and one assistant director with additional staff joining the team during summer 2025. Additions increased the number of chapter coaches to allow for more individualized support and connection with chapter leaders, advisors, and headquarters staff.

Ongoing Initiatives

• A University-wide hazing prevention committee is evaluating evidence-based practices and developing a marketing and communications plan.
• External vendors and CommAgency have been contracted to assist in developing assets for parents, families, and students in 2025-2026.
• Student Affairs has increased direct communication to students and families to highlight health and safety concerns about unrecognized chapters. The website with information on suspended and unrecognized groups has also been updated to provide expanded resources.

Completed Initiatives

• Penn State hosted the Hazing Prevention Institute and engaging staff from across the Commonwealth and exercises and seminars about hazing prevention.

Ongoing Initiatives

• OFSL is providing dedicated trainings to all fraternity and sorority leaders on the University's student organization and accountability process durign the beginning of the fall semester.

Completed Initiatives

• Advisor roundtables were hosted in late August to discuss the RISE Report findings, outcomes, and share important updates for the fall semester.
• Advisor training was hosted in late August to provide an overview of the student accountability process.
• All online fraternity and sorority training modules were reviewed and updated to address and enhance offerings based on participant feedback collected in 2024-2025.

Ongoing Initiatives

• With additional staffing, OFSL has shifted coaching portfolios to allow more personalized attention and strategy between partners. Coaches now have between 7-9 chapters compared to over 25 previously.
• Advisors and headquarters partners are now involved in regular communications and meetings with chapter leaders.

Completed Initiatives

• OFSL has implemented a process for advisors and headquarters partners to receive copies of plans and other content submitted by chapter leaders through platforms that require University authentication, increasing transparency.

Penn State commissioned RISE Partnerships, an external consulting firm specializing in management of fraternity and sorority programs, to assess current challenges, identify opportunities for improvement, and provide clear, actionable steps that will strengthen relationships at University Park. RISE was asked to evaluate the current fraternity and sorority community climate and the impact of the reforms put in place in 2017 with a specific focus on programming and safety initiatives, eligibility requirements, and stakeholder relationships. 

The comprehensive review was conducted with five key components: interviews, focus group sessions, document review, benchmarking, and site visits. Over 140 stakeholders participated in various stages of the process, including current students involved in the community, council leadership, representatives from inter/national headquarters, alumni, advisors and housing corporation leaders, administrators, and volunteers. 

We’re partnering with student leaders, alumni, national organizations, faculty, staff, and local community members to ensure that initiatives stemming from this program review are inclusive, transparent, and sustainable. Based on the report results, Penn State will look to implement key action steps immediately, including actively engaging stakeholders, to increase collaboration and transparency. Decisions will be made with community input while prioritizing the health and safety of our students. 

We are committed to clear, timely, and transparent communication. Updates will be shared regularly through meetings, websites, newsletters, and direct outreach to chapter leadership, governing councils, and additional partners.