Fraternity and Sorority Life Services and Expectations

Fraternity and Sorority Life Services and Expectations

Services Provided to Chapters

  • Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Staff – John Michael VanHorn, Jamie Methvin, Abby Buck, Conner Nason, Blaine Smith
  • Center for Student Activities – Kylie Forrester, Staci Franklin, Julia Pratt, Ryan Hamill, Tara McCurdy, Nicole Tate, Kirsten Smith, Haleigh Duke, Peyton Brown
  • Training, advising, and mentoring to the student governing councils
  • Advising on recruitment/intake to the councils and individual chapters - Staff will do chapter visits each semester. 
  • President Meetings 
  • Training for chapters’ executive councils through educational sessions 
  • Extensive advising and support for new organizations on campus
  • On-campus meeting rooms in the Colvard Student Union
  • Annual Greek awards program (Ritter Awards) to reward chapters and individuals for achievements.
  • Assessment program to measure training, community service, and chapter standards. 

Staff Areas of Responsibilities:

Jackie Mullen – Assistant Dean of Students

  • Oversee Fraternity and Sorority Life and Center for Student Activities 
  • Long-term and strategic planning for both departments
  • Greek Facilities (chapter houses, NPHC Plaza, future Greek facility, all department office space use)
  • Representative of CSA and OFSL at division and university level meetings, recruiting events, and fundraising efforts 

John Michael VanHorn – Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life

  • House Director Communication/Programs
  • Facility Management (fire safety, parking, lease expectations)
  • Meal Plans, Infrastructure Fee, Council Fees, Greek Fee 
  • Public Relations (Websites, Strategy, Orientation, Office Outreach) 
  • Liaison: University Police, third-party contractors
  • Orientation and Preview Day Planning
  • Departmental Assessment Efforts
  • Crisis Management Preparedness

Jamie Methvin – Assistant Director of Education and Member Wellness

  • Greek Education Curriculum (Officer and Advisor Training, Monthly Ed Sessions, International Institute, Chapter Programs) 
  • Liaison – Health Promotion & Wellness, Center for Student Success 
  • Greek Programming: Risk Reduction, Leadership Development, Academic Support 
  • New Member Class – Select facilitators, develop curriculum 
  • Serve as parent liaison
  • Provides appropriate referrals for students to other offices or agencies when assistance needed is beyond scope of responsibility
  • Advise Mental Health Chairs

Vacant - Assistant Director

  • Advise: NPHC and MGC
  • Serve as chapter coach  
  • Provides guidance to chapters operations, budget, leadership, activities, recruitment, registration, policies, and compliance. 
  • Roster Updates
  • Serve as liaison with headquarters 

Abby Buck – Panhellenic Coordinator

  • Advise: Panhellenic  
  • Serve as chapter coach for Panhellenic chapters 
  • Plans and executes recruitment 
  • Provides guidance to chapters operations, budget, leadership, activities, recruitment, registration, policies, and compliance. 
  • Roster Updates 
  • Serve as liaison with headquarters 

Conner Nason – IFC Coordinator

  • Advise: IFC  
  • Serve as Chapter Coach for IFC Chapters 
  • Plans and executes recruitment 
  • Reconciling Budget Ledgers: IFC 
  • Provides guidance to chapters operations, budget, leadership, activities, recruitment, registration, policies, and compliance. 
  • Roster Updates 
  • Serve as liaison with headquarters 

Blaine Smith – Graduate Assistant

  • Greek Week 
  • Ritter Awards  
  • Absence Reports 
  • Assist with New Member Class
  • Gameday Parking Coordination 
  • Academic Initiatives (Scholarship Applications, Training programs) 
  • Coordinate SGLA Awards 
  • Composite Picture Coordination  
  • Marketing initiatives 
  • Assist with planning large scale programs (Step Show, Retreats, etc.) 

Expectations

  • Follow the standards and trainings of your prospective organization and evaluate how they coincide with Mississippi State University policies
  • Comply with the following policies:
    • MSU Code of Student Conduct
    • MSU Alcohol Policy
    • MSU Hazing Policy
    • Turn in completed MSU Hazing Compliance Form and Grade/Conduct Releases at the beginning of each semester
    • Attend recruitment training sessions, round tables, monthly President Meetings, etc.
    • NPHC chapters should follow the Intake Membership Policy
    • Chapters to fully initiate their new members and hold any probates/bid days by established deadline
  • Secure a chapter advisor that focuses on the daily operations of the chapter and event approvals for on-campus and off-campus in Cowbell Connect
  • Meetings and Retreats
    • Chapter presidents will meet regularly with office advisors.
    • Council officers and Presidents will attend President meetings monthly.  
    • Chapters will pay infrastructure, plot, and Greek fees in a timely manner. 
    • Chapters will attend meetings and financially support their governing council.
    • Chapter officers will read and understand the governing council’s constitution and bylaws and their individual chapter’s constitution and bylaws.
    • Chapter officers will attend designated training sessions for Presidents or assign others to attend. 
    • Chapter will participate in Summer Orientation designated sessions. 
    • All new members will attend the New Member Class/Retreat
    • Support Council programs including activities, Hathorn programming, community service projects, etc. 
  • Information needed each semester
    • Chapters will update their roster with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life twice a semester at least. (January, April, Summer, October, December) 
    • Chapters will turn in the following:
      • Number of service hours performed and who received the service at the end of each semester- update in Cowbell Connect through Maroon Volunteer Center. 
      • Dollars raised for charity and who received it at the end of each semester
      • Assessment information on social events, philanthropy, community service, educational programs in Cowbell Connect.
    • Chapters will turn in the Chapter Officer Transition Form after chapter elections
  • Presidents will inform the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life of any emergencies or serious situations/incidents.