Spring 2003 Black Greek Summit Notes
Date of Summit: April 27, 2003
Notes compiled on April 29, 2003
Issues Discussed
- Numbers on the whole are healthy, but some member organizations face an uncertain future with graduation pending.
- Academic performance continues to be a concern for BGC member organizations, as well as all African-Americans in general.
- Academic expectations from BGC (2.4) allows for chapters to underachieve.
- Some organizations are more active in their efforts around service than others.
- Internal conflict between member organizations.
- Relations between HBGLOs and athletes.
- Black Greek Council leadership effectiveness.
- BGC needs to reestablish credibility with administration and its member organizations.
- Undergraduate and grad chapter relations; disconnect with how intake is performed may contribute to overall relationships; some grad members feel need to control undergrads.
- Undergrad members are not necessarily joining for reasons outside of social; those inclined to do well and perform service are doing it anyway; involvement in academic and services is not an outcome of involvement in organization, but rather their initial inclination.
- MIP procedures; hazing activities.
- Have we really tackled hazing? Did we ever really get rid of it or did it go underground?
- Accountability.
- Some grads need to realize they are grads and not undergrads; evolution to next phase of membership needs to occur.
- How do we generate excitement for service?
- We need to promote the good work of Black Greeks in public forums.
Solutions
- Education for grad members about current reality for undergrad chapters; grad members need to understand and support the current intake process.
- BGC should expect higher academic performance by member organizations; 2.4 is not sufficient.
- Member organizations should evaluate current academic program on both an individual and BGC front; are we contributing to the academic success of our members?
- Leadership training needs to be augmented.
- OMSA's resources should be promoted, particularly around leadership and academic training.
- Explore national guidelines and policies around intake procedures and grade requirements.
- Grad chapters should accept role as mentors, particularly with regards to academics; they should also offer incentives to undergrads.
- Compile resources for grad advisors who are not local so they can direct undergrads to the right places.
- Black Student Convocation should address academics more than it does.
- BGC needs to take ownership over addressing hazing activities; partner with Board of Fraternity Affairs and Board of Sorority Affairs - grad members and Fraternity and Sorority Affairs can help them address this issue; The "tough decisions" must be made that groups who are hazing should be removed.
- Train on alternatives to hazing for member intake - work with national offices.
- Explore alternative efforts being made to tackle this (i.e. SGR's new proposed longer plan).
- Create opportunity/forum for grad members to share resources (yahoogroup) - completed April 29, 2003.
- Incorporate positive press into Stepshow or other public events to address more positive attributes of HBGLOs.
- Make BGC annual awards address academics and service with a stronger emphasis; possibly assemble a collection of graduate members to assist in award review.
- Present annual awards at Stepdown.
- Increase involvement of regional directors through more communication and opportunities to interact with them.
Updates
- All member organizations with the exception of one has conducted MIP this academic year.
- New execs offer a diversity of organization - APA, PRH, IPT, AKA.
- Programs related to scholarship and Black Student retention have been initiated by BGC.
- Member orgs have done well individually but as a community, we have challenges.
Resources, Information, Miscellaneous
- Participants were provided with an article prior to the summit via email entitled: "Despite numbers, black Greeks fail to realize potential" and then a listing of books and resources compiled by Dr. Walter Kimbrough per an email from the NPHC national listserv and two articles for consideration.
