Fraternity and Sorority Life Program Review

Ongoing Initiatives

• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life has begun exploratory conversations with campus partners about a potential shift from deferred, spring-only recruitment to a delayed model. These discussions are in the early stages and aim to determine whether an adjusted timeline could better support student health, safety, and a more structured recruitment environment.
• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will collaborate with campus partners to build capacity of the Fraternity and Sorority Life Alumni Advisory Board to guide opportunities for volunteer development and student outcomes.
• The Interfraternity Council, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response 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.
• The Fraternity and Sorority Life Alumni Advisory Board was appointed by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life team and four undergraduate governing council presidents. Initial meetings were held on November 18 and December 4. The Advisory Board will continue meeting at least three times each year, including the fall, spring, and summer.

Ongoing Initiatives

• A Community Guide is being developed to share with students and families interested in joining a fraternity or sorority.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life collaborated with Student Affairs Communications and Marketing to complete its website redesign.

Ongoing Initiatives

• Student leaders and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life continue to expand Greek Sing and Greek Week, including efforts to establish a cross-council programming committee that will plan and host fraternity and sorority life signature events each year.
• The University is partnering with students and alumni to develop and advance a design for a new National Pan-Hellenic Council plot on campus.

Completed Initiatives

• The Panhellenic Council organized a committee with students, advisors, alumnae, headquarters, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, and University leadership to identify solutions for community needs. This collaboration continues to focus on both short- and long-term improvements.
• Greek Sing 2025 returned to Eisenhower Auditorium, the event’s historical location, in November to accommodate its growing popularity and increased participation. 32 chapters from the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils were paired to perform. Council leaders also partnered with Students United Against Poverty to collect donations to help combat basic needs insecurity at University Park.

Completed Initiatives

• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life hired two associate directors and one assistant director in fall 2024 with three additional assistant directors 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.
• Health Promotion and Wellness hired a hazing prevention specialist, bringing research-based expertise to Penn State to support staff and students. The specialist also serves on the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life's Health, Safety, and Event Planning team to develop tailored hazing prevention efforts for fraternities and sororities. 

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.

Completed Initiatives

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

Ongoing Initiatives

• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life piloted updates to the EMERGE Rising Leaders Retreat in November based on student leader and participant feedback. These updates will also be incorporated in the ELEVATE Presidents Retreat this spring.

Completed Initiatives

• Advisor roundtables were hosted at the beginning and end of the fall 2025 semester to discuss the external program review findings, outcomes, and share important updates. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will continue to host advisor roundtables each semester to further develop collaboration and rapport.
• Dedicated trainings for fraternity and sorority leaders and advisors were provided on the University’s student organization accountability process, opportunities that will be offered annually.
• 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

• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life hosted focus groups during the fall semester to collect student feedback on the FSL Standards of Excellence program. Potential revisions for the 2027 calendar year are under development and will be discussed with stakeholders in the coming months.

Completed Initiatives

• With additional staffing, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life 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.
• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life 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.
• The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life updated fraternity and sorority advisor requirements in October in response to feedback from community stakeholders regarding University advisors. Chapters are now required to have one or more official chapter advisors approved by their inter/national organization. If an organization is unable to secure an approved advisor, or if it does not have an inter/national organization, the chapter must identify a full‑time faculty or staff member to serve as a University advisor.

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.