U S I N G
A
CHAPTER
HEALTH
INDEX T O
O U R
S U P P O R T
S T U D E N T S
M A R K S TA R R & A M I E J AC K S O N
In fall 2016, a chapter at Case Western Reserve University closed after 24 years despite significant effort to keep it open from the Greek Life Office, chapter’s alumni, and headquarters staff. As we reflected upon our inability to save the chapter, we realized the efforts to do so began too late. By the time our staff intervened — with the help of headquarters staff and volunteers — the chapter was already too far gone. This situation prompted us to think about the warning signs we missed and how we could create a system to identify the next chapter slowly heading toward closure so we could intervene before that chapter reached the point of no return. From the ashes of this closed group emerged the Chapter Health Index. We realized if we can determine objective data points to serve as warning signs of a chapter in decline, we can engage students, volunteers, and staff when change is still possible. In creating the Chapter Health Index, we reflected upon components of a “healthy” chapter. What does the chapter do or not do that contributes to its current status? Ultimately, four categories emerged: Community Standards, Community Involvement, Recruitment/Retention, and Academics. Within each category we identified objective data points the Greek Life Office or university were already collecting. Within the Community Standards category, data was utilized connected to individual member campus conduct history as well as chapter conduct history. We know this information is an important connection to the overall health of the chapter. For example, the chapter that closed had 96 unique responsible student conduct cases related to individual members the year before closure. In establishing this category, we not only took into account severity of the conduct cases but also allocated additional points if the chapter “failed to comply” with outcomes. We believe a chapter that fails to comply with outcomes is indicative of poor chapter management or attitude about the conduct process. Issue #4 PERSPECTIVES 40
