Greeks at MSU are earning better grades in their classes, and their grade-point averages have been rising for at least the past five years.
The Spring 2002 Greek Academic Report says all Interfraternity Council groups averaged a 2.831 GPA, up from 2.689 in spring 1997. Panhellenic Council groups averaged a bit higher than the men with a 3.033, up about 6 percent from their spring 1999 average.
“We’ve continued to raise the bar,” said Jonathan Rosenthal, the Interfraternity Council’s academic programs director. “We’ve tried and will continue to get above all the men’s GPA.”
Average spring semester grades from fraternity and sorority members were slightly lower than the averages for all men and women at MSU. The average for all men’s GPAs at MSU was 2.938 in the spring; for the women, it was 3.073 - just .04 higher than the greek women’s average.
Rosenthal said greek students need to find a balance between academics and social activities.
For both greek women and MSU women, the averages are higher than those of the men.
The continuing increases in greek GPAs is a welcomed trend.
“Since I’ve been here, there’s been a trend in greek GPAs rising,” Interfraternity Council President Paul Hage said. “Some chapters have been asking for GPAs and using that as a factor in extending an invitation to join.”
The international relations senior said most MSU greek organizations have a minimum GPA members must retain to remain active. He also said individual chapters require study sessions for members whose GPAs are below a specific level.
At the top of the heap for the men is the just reopened Sigma Alpha Epsilon with a spring GPA of 3.201. The leader for the women was Sigma Delta Tau which had a Spring GPA of 3.149.“I think it reflects the hard work sororities are putting into academics,” Panhellenic Council Vice President for External Relations and communications junior Angela Corsi said. “One of our main focuses is scholarship. And this is a great reflection of that, for both sides.”
Of the 42 organizations in both councils, only two had GPAs of below a 2.5 - and Rosenthal wants something done about that.
“I’m trying to get the presidents of the bottom five houses to increase their house’s GPAs,” he said. “If they don’t increase by a certain margin, penalties will be enforced.”
Rosenthal said greeks should know where their priorities lie.
“We want maximum exposure of the greek community through academics,” he said. “Greek life is important, but to get the good jobs, you need the good grades.”
