Each semester the chapter president of a Recognized Chapter shall sign an acknowledgement that they have read, understood and are bound by the Lehigh University Recognition Policy for Fraternities and Sororities (the "Policy") and this Attachment A. Note: The Policy and Attachment will apply to a Recognized Chapter regardless of whether they submitted a signed acknowledgment to Lehigh.
The following additional information is incorporated by reference in the Policy and is intended to supplement Section IV (Benefits of Recognition) and Section V (Criteria for Recognition). This Attachment A may be modified by the University from time to time.
a. Participation in intramural sports as a recognized group.
b. Access to co-sponsorship opportunities with campus offices and organizations.
c. Access to campus facilities and campus spaces.
d. Access to LINC.
e. Access to an organization mailbox within Fraternity and Sorority Life.
f. Access to an organization Lehigh email address.
g. Access to member individual and aggregate academic grades subjected to FERPA.
h. Access to a Chapter and Greek Grade Report from Fraternity and Sorority Life each semester.
a. Statement of Purpose and Principles
b. List of chapter officers, alumni advisors and headquarters staff with accurate contact information.
c. Roster of members with local addresses, telephone numbers and member status. Note: this includes immediately notifying FSL if the Chapter removes a member for any reason and providing documentation to FSL to demonstrate compliance with any process required by the organization's inter/national office.
d. Constitution, Bylaws and additional governing documents. Note: Chapters are not required to provide copies of esoteric ceremonies or other ritual information.
e. Cost of Membership.
f. Proof of good financial standing with the organization's inter/national office, upon request by the University.
g. Certificate(s) of Insurance.
a. FSL shall verify eligibility of potential new members prior to the fraternity or sorority extending a membership invitation.
i. Students are eligible to join a fraternity or sorority after successfully completing a full-time Lehigh schedule of 12 credit hours or more and earning a 2.500 GPA or higher. Transfer credits do not apply toward eligibility. Individual organizations may have higher GPA requirements.
ii. Students interested in joining a fraternity or sorority must attend any Lehigh designated mandatory educational programs.
iii. A student's ability to join a fraternity or sorority may be impacted by their University Conduct record.
iv. Recognized chapters shall limit their active membership to Lehigh University students. The only exception shall exist when a formal agreement is made between the University and other institutions. Members from other institutions must first be granted permission from Lehigh in order to be active contributing members of the University's Recognized Chapter.
b. Recognized chapters shall strictly prohibit the use, distribution, or possession of alcohol at any recruitment, new member education, initiation, or intake of members event or activity.
c. The governing councils, in consultation with FSL, shall develop recruitment rules and regulations beyond the minimum expectations. Recognized chapters are required to follow these rules and regulations as well.
d. Recognized chapters shall educate their members on recruitment/intake rules and regulations and are responsible for the actions of their members.
e. Designated Alumni Advisors shall make a strong effort to participate in chapter recruitment/intake events. This includes being aware of the rules and regulations surrounding recruitment/intake and assisting the organization's primary recruitment/intake officer and other officers in enforcing these rules.
f. Recognized chapters shall notify OFSA of any invitations to membership via the requested procedure as defined by FSL.
g. Individual members shall complete the Bid Acceptance Agreement in order to be recognized as a member of the organization.
a. Will not implement or tolerate hazing in any form at any time, as defined by the Student Code of Conduct and will acknowledge this in writing to the University along with the new member education plan.
b. Shall submit new member education plans to FSL in a timely manner. FSL shall oversee the process for submission and approval of these plans.
c. Shall strictly prohibit the use, distribution, or possession of alcohol at any recruitment, new member education, initiation, or intake of members activity or event.
d. Shall comply with the initiation deadline determined by the University each semester.
e. Shall create a developmentally based new member education program, drawing assistance from inter/national and University resources designed to teach chapter history and tradition while promoting a positive member experience.
f. Alumni Advisors and inter/national organization staff shall approve and be familiar with the chapter's new member education program in accordance with the values and tenets of the fraternity or sorority and the University.
g. FSL shall post approved new member education plans on the office website for the purposes of information sharing and accountability.
a. As indicated in the Fraternity and Sorority Lehigh University Recognition Policy, all recognized organizations must maintain commercial general liability insurance per the requirements below in order to remain in good standing with the University. Such insurance affords protection to the chapter, its members and to Lehigh University.
b. A recognized organization shall, at its own expense, maintain Commercial General Liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate on an occurrence basis. Lehigh University shall be named as an additional insured on the Commercial General Liability policy which shall also include defense and indemnity coverage for Lehigh University for liability arising from alcohol, hazing and sexual assault related incidents.
c. These coverages and limits are to be considered minimum requirements and in no way limit the liability of the recognized organization. This insurance shall be by a company licensed to do business in Pennsylvania with a minimum A.M. Best rating of A-VII. Each policy shall provide for notification to Lehigh University thirty (30) days prior to termination, material change or restrictive amendments.
d. The insurance companies issuing the policies shall have no recourse against Lehigh University for payment of any premiums or for any assessments under any form or policy. Lehigh University reserves the right to request copies of insurance policies. The insurance policies referred to above shall be on a primary and non-contributory basis for the vicarious liability of Lehigh University and ahead of any insurance carried by Lehigh University and shall contain a waiver of subrogation in favor of Lehigh University. A recognized organization shall provide a certificate of insurance to Lehigh University evidencing this coverage annually.
a. Comply with and educate their members on University policies. Each semester the chapter president of a Recognized Chapter shall read, review, and sign an acknowledgement that these policies exist and apply to their organization. Note: These policies apply to a recognized chapter even if that chapter has not submitted a signed acknowledgement to Lehigh.
i. Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination
ii. Anti-Hazing Policy
iii. Medical Amnesty Policy
iv. Student Organization Events with Alcohol Policy
v. Additional policies as defined by FSL
b. Educate all members about, and comply with and/or participate in, the following:
i. Student Code of Conduct, Student Organization Events with Alcohol Policy, and other applicable University Policies.
ii. All contractual agreements with the University.
iii. Reasonable requests of University officials when the institution investigates violations of any regulation, rule, or policy.
iv. Federal, State, and Local Laws as well as all Lehigh University rules and regulations regarding the use, possession, or distribution of alcoholic beverages and other drugs, by ensuring that:
1. Alcohol is not provided to anyone under the age of 21.
2. Hard alcohol is not used by or provided to any member guest at events where alcohol is present.
3. Unauthorized or illegal use, distribution, or possession of any controlled substance or illegal drug is prohibited at chapter events or by chapter members.
c. Participate in any educational and compliance programming required by the University.
d. Participate in all programming provided or required by FSL, including leadership training and education programs.
a. Recognized chapters shall participate in and be evaluated through the annual accreditation process conducted by FSL.
i. Recognized chapters evaluated as unaccredited for two consecutive academic years shall lose University recognition and access to group housing.
ii. Recognized chapters evaluated as unacceptable shall immediately lose recognition and access to group housing.
b. A Report of Recognition Compliance with this Policy will be included as an attachment for the annual Accreditation process.
a. Recognized chapters shall meet regularly, weekly or bi-weekly, as determined by the University, with their designated FSL advisor.
b. Recognized chapters shall understand and educate members about the status of all University advisors as a Campus Security Authority for purposes of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and as mandatory reporters under the University's Policy on Harassment and Non-Discrimination.
c. Recognized chapters shall have an active designated faculty advisor and shall:
i. Designate a faculty advisor for one academic year and evaluate the renewal of this appointment annually.
ii. Inform FSL of the designated faculty advisor at the beginning of each academic year.
iii. Invite faculty advisors to attend a meal once/semester.
iv. Invite faculty advisors to attend one chapter sponsored program/semester.
v. Utilize faculty advisors to assist the chapter in the Academic & Intellectual Advancement portion of accreditation.
d. Recognized chapters shall have an active designated staff advisor and shall:
i. Designate a staff advisor for one academic year and evaluate the renewal of this appointment annually.
ii. Inform FSL of the designated staff advisor at the beginning of each academic year.
iii. Invite staff advisors to attend a meal/semester.
iv. Invite staff advisors to attend one chapter sponsored program/semester.
v. Ensure chapter president and other executive officers attend one on one developmental meetings with staff advisors as needed.
vi. Utilize staff advisors as a resource and connection to campus resources and/or facilitation of workshops based upon current needs of the chapter.
vii. Utilize staff advisors to assist in ongoing accreditation conversations related to four of the five possible Accreditation metrics: Leadership & Member Development, Organizational Operations, Community Service & Engagement, and Academic & Intellectual Advancement.
e. Recognized chapters shall be supported by an active and fully functioning alumni organization or graduate chapter and a designated alumni advisor.
i. A functioning alumni organization shall be structured as indicated by the governing documents of their inter/national fraternity or sorority. This alumni organization shall maintain close relationships with the active chapter and chapter members so that the active chapter and active members have advisors who are members of their organization to assist in the functioning of the chapter.
ii. Recognized chapters should employ a stratified advisory network to support their continued functioning as a recognized organization. This will help to ensure that fraternity and sorority members have the same opportunities for high achievement and positive continuity.
iii. Recognized chapters will provide Lehigh University with the complete and accurate contact information of their alumni advisor. This individual will be alumni recipient of official communication from the University concerning the chapter. The University may reach out to other alumni as needed, including other alumni officers.
iv. Alumni advisors and other alumni officers should participate in any and all programming that FSL provides for alumni advisors.
a. Fraternity and sorority membership should enhance the academic performance of a student through the membership experience.
b. Recognized chapters shall have a developed academic plan that includes goals and programming efforts for students who need assistance and students who wish to maintain academic excellence. The plan shall be discussed with FSL on a regular basis.
c. If requested by the recognized chapter, and in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), FSL may provide individual student grades to one designated chapter officer. No other individual, including advisors, shall receive individual grades and the person responsible for receiving that information will be educated on the requirements for confidentiality that exist in FERPA and other laws, rules and regulations.
d. Recognized chapters are required to participate in any educational workshop aimed at academics designated as mandatory by FSL.
e. Recognized chapters are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA that is above the all campus average. Failure to do so will reflected in the annual accreditation process.