Eva Ryan, A 2011-2012 Gamma Sigma Alpha Scholarship Recipient

Eva Ryan is a recipient of a Gamma Sigma Alpha Graduate Student Scholarship for the 2011-2012 academic year. She is currently a full-time graduate student at the Manhattan School of Music taking classes towards a Master of Music degree in Orchestral Flute. Ryan was an undergraduate student at Northwestern University where she served as president of the Beta Tau chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha. She is a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and was recognized at Northwestern as a Greek Emerging Leader.

An accomplished musician, Ryan decided to forgo the opportunity to attend a conservatory or traditional music school in order to attend Northwestern. One of the reasons she made this choice was to be involved in fraternity/sorority life and other campus activities. She volunteered her time at local schools and retirement homes throughout her undergraduate career.

During her time as President of Gamma Sigma Alpha, Ryan coordinated the first-ever Leadership Reception with the University President. She also continued the tradition of hosting intimate faculty dinners with Gamma Sigma Alpha members each quarter. In addition to playing a pivotal role for Gamma Sigma Alpha, Ryan co-taught the Greek Emerging leaders class. Her co-teacher in this role, wrote her recommendation letter and stated, “Eva believes in the values of Kappa Kappa Gamma and the true purpose of sisterhood…She did not shy away from challenging topics and on many occasions would speak about how she has combated hazing, alcohol abuse and stereotypes within fraternities and sororities.”

The Board of Directors of Gamma Sigma Alpha recognized Ryan as an extraordinary student, leader, scholar and role model. We wish her continued success. For information on the graduate student scholarship application process, please visit our website and plan to apply by April 1, 2012.

Council leaders & advisors, these tips can be distributed periodically via social media sites over the course of the semester or presented during an “academic focus” portion of a council or chapter meeting. It may be a great way to get Gamma Sigma Alpha initiates involved in helping the academic culture of the campus.

Students occasionally make the mistake and ‘learn’ to study when exam time comes around, but the best time to make changes to your schedule and preparation activities comes at the early part of the semester to allow you to get ahead of the game.

Here’s how you do it…

Consistent Preparation–Needs to happen throughout the semester and is the MOST important:

1. Go to class (we know you knew that)
2. Take notes in class. Know the kind of notes you should take…do you learn best sharing notes with a friend to review the ‘take-away’ lessons? Do you like flash cards? Hand-written or electronic? Make these choices and stick with them.
3. Take notes as you read. Highlight the book, or use your classroom note-taking strategy as you review the text.
4. Participate in class. Close facebook and listen!

Preparing to get the grade:

1. Reverse planning: Take a look at the course schedule and work backwards. Make your own plan to spread out the assignments and readings so that you don’t get overwhelmed or behind.
2. Make lists: This is a great way to consolidate your responsibilities in each class and know which topics you should focus on each week leading up until mid-terms, then final exams. Include a ‘goal sheet’ that you can reference over the course of the semester to see if you are on target.
3. Know your professors: Discuss class issues throughout the semester. Do not wait until after grades are released. If you are struggling, ask for resources. An introduction early in the semester can go a long way.
4. Every day is important. It’s easy to fall into that habit of ‘blowing off’ the first couple weeks of the semester, but when you do, you’ll spend the remaining time just trying to stay afloat. Do the opposite and work just a bit everyday.

Maximize your study time:

1. Use active studying techniques: flash cards, online tutorials, roundtable studying with friends.
2. Know your memorization strategies: You may find success reading out loud, using acronyms, trying to visualize what you are learning or using association to tie the new subject with something you already know in your mind. All these techniques can be found in online resources with a quick internet search and may make the difference for you.
3. Focus on the goal sheet: keep it updated and use it to know if you are keeping pace with what you want to accomplish this semester. Think about doing a buddy syster so that you have a friend keeping you accountable and you do the same for them.
4. Keep alert: There’s a reason teachers forced you to do calisthenics in middle school. Take a brisk walk or break to stay alert and on task when studying.

Follow these tips for a successful semester & don’t forget to join Gamma Sigma Alpha!

Our thanks goes to The Student Academic Resource Center at the University of Central Florida for sharing some of these tips with us.

Our Potential. Your Move. 

Notice the first descriptor is STUDENT. This, I’m sure, was very intentional. Let’s not forget! Good luck with end of the semester exams, papers, presentations and all!

By the Fraternity/Sorority Campus Office

1. Publish grades

2. Conduct assessment with university research office

3. Assign interns, graduate students, or practicum students to work on academic projects or initiatives

4. Help fraternity/sorority community showcase their academic achievements to the university community

5. Obtain budget incentives from tutoring companies

6. Begin to impose initiatives

7. Reach out to headquarters

8. Email grade reports to the chapters

9. Create resource packets on academics for chapters

10. Contact NPHC chapter advisors if members/chapters are below 2.5

11. Ask Counseling Center to assist with academic support

12. Put grade report on website

13. Provide chapters with academic workshops

14. Set community wide academic goals

15. Share the Fraternity/Sorority Community academic report card with all chapters

16. Empower the student leaders in this area

17. Provide job descriptions and resources for faculty advisors

18. Talk with chapters about their academic profile and performance

19. Show students how to hold their peers accountable academically

20. Meet regularly with all chapters about scholarship

21. More incentive based plans

22. Hold academic integrity conversations

23. Work with schools/departments to recruit/designate chapter faulty advisors

24. Publicly “brag” on exceptional chapter/student academic achievement (newspaper, facebook, twitter, etc)

By the Councils

25. Host special event for scholarship chairs whose chapters met or exceeded the respective all-campus GPA

26. Chapter challenges for grades/grade improvement

27. Have stakeholder discussions

28. Have an academic aspect of recruitment

29. Post chapter GPA’s during orientation and/or recruitment

30. Co-host fraternity/sorority awards and faculty appreciation dinner

31. Talk with chapters about their academic programs

32. More faculty recognition programs, especially for influential faculty

33. Hold scholarship banquets

34. Select a faculty member of the month

35. Set an academic goal together

36. Improve Council academic programs

37. Voluntary round tables at Starbucks or other on-campus location

38. Re-allocate budget for scholarships

39. Establish chapter standards and requirements

40. Skills workshops for scholarship chairs

41. Take officers on tour of campus resources

42. Faculty/staff advisor recognition

43. Council to council contests

44. Establish peer expectations

45. Raise standards by council

By the Chapters

46. Allocate a percentage of the budget on academic enrichment

47. Put academics into recruitment conversations and expectations

48. Recruit new members with high GPA’s

49. Ask for input from the student leaders on new member programs and what is working and what is not

50. Make sure new members achieve good grades during new member period

51. Assess chapter time spent on academics as related to time available, budget and values

52. Elicit ideas from members

53. Develop an individual member academic probation period, have those members file an action plan with scholarship chair

54. Enforce quiet hours in the house—all semester or during exam periods

All Constituencies

55. Help every chapter maintain or raise its GPA

56. Help chapters with academic achievement awards

57. Give faculty recognition

58. Assessment of academics/academic achievement to peer averages

59. Training for chapter scholarship chairs

60. Reach out to faculty advisors

61. Budget for academic programming

62. Start/support a Gamma Sigma Alpha chapter

63. Strengthen the faculty/staff programs; create relationships

64. Improve cultural aspects

65. Share academic research with chapters

66. Share honor society information

67. Support fraternity/sorority campus office on what they are trying to do

68. Parity in message about academics is important

69. Create a list of faculty and staff with their fraternity/sorority affiliations

70. Appreciation baskets to colleges/departments/faculty

71. Photo opportunities with deans and/or senior administration

72. Academic excellence dinners

73. Develop individualized chapter plans—one size do not fit all

74. Create point systems & incentives

75. Use the Academic Achievement Report Card to evaluate & improve (Available: HERE)

For complete details of the various scholarships available, click here.

To apply for a scholarship, click here.
Deadline to apply is August 26, 2011.

WebGreek was founded when three of the six WebGreek members lived as brothers of the same fraternity at UC Berkeley and often struggled with managing their chapter alongside their college life because any solution attempting to relieve their headaches just ended up creating a new batch of their own. So naturally, they pursued their own workable solution. They accepted the challenge of customizing web-based solutions for Gamma Sigma Alpha and we are excited to partner with them to bring you, our members and advisors, the best experience possible. Stay tuned.

During his tenure at GVSU, Chapman was active in the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity where he served as Treasurer prior to being elected President of the InterFraternity Council (IFC). His academic and leadership achievements were recognized with memberships in Beta Alpha Psi, Order of Omega and Gamma Sigma Alpha.

Chapman was involved in numerous community and volunteer activities including the GVSU Alternative Spring Break for two years. Most recently the group traveled to New Orleans, LA to assist in the reconstruction of homes damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

When asked what Gamma Sigma Alpha membership meant to him, he said, “My involvement in Gamma Sigma Alpha surrounded me with some of the brightest, intellectual minds the Greek community had to offer, and learning from them was one of my favorite benefits of the organization…With advice and direction from GSA members, my GPA was raised each semester I was a part of the organization.”

The advisor to IFC at GVSU, Jesse Koch wrote, “Brett serves as an example of what an exemplary fraternity man can be; a distinguished leader and an accomplished scholar.”

The Board of Directors and staff at Gamma Sigma Alpha wish Brett continued success as he finishes his graduate school career!

Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama chartered the Theta Psi chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha on April 12, 2011. Almost 50 students were initiated as charter members of Gamma Sigma Alpha from across the 12 active fraternity/sorority organizations on the campus.

The State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz will charter a chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha at the end of this month. It will become the Theta Omega chapter and boasts 14 charter members. The campus at New Paltz becomes the 5th campus in the SUNY system to host a chartered chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha.

The Board of Directors and staff of Gamma Sigma Alpha welcome our new chapters and look forward to supporting you as you grow and recognize high academic achievements within your own communities!

Begun in 2000, the Gamma Sigma Alpha regional GPA competition seeks to recognize those schools within the geographic regions whose fraternity/sorority GPA is the greatest above their undergraduate GPA. Honor Roll schools are determined by those schools whose fraternity/sorority GPA is above the undergraduate GPA.

Northeast Greek Leadership Association: The institution receiving the award for the Spring 2010 academic period for the Northeast Greek Leadership Association (NGLA) is Drexel University. The NGLA winner for the Fall 2010 academic period is St. Francis University.

The Honor Roll recipients for NGLA for BOTH the Fall 2010 and Spring 2010 semesters are: Washington & Jefferson College, Drexel University, Saint Francis University and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.

Southeastern Interfraternity Conference:The institution receiving the award for the Spring 2010 academic period for Southeastern Interfraternity Conferences (SEIFC) is Western Kentucky University. The SEIFC winner for the Fall 2010 academic period is Jacksonville State University.  

The Honor Roll recipients for SEIFC for BOTH the Fall 2010 and Spring 2010 semesters are: The University of Georgia, University of Central Florida, Spring Hill College, The University of Louisiana at Monroe, Western Kentucky University, Jacksonville State University, University of Miami and University of South Carolina.

For more information about Gamma Sigma Alpha and how you can start a chapter on your campus or get your school name on this list, click here. A complete list of award recipients will be published after the regional conferences commence.

Ashley Sanford is one of six graduate student scholarship recipients awarded by Gamma Sigma Alpha for the 2011-2012 academic year. Sanford graduated with her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee. She enjoyed her undergraduate time at APSU so much, she has continued there for graduate school. She is currently in her second semester in the Master’s in Corporate Communications program. Sanford is a proud member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and upholds the fraternal principles in her own life: service, scholarship and sisterhood.

Sanford has been an integral part of many service projects during her time at school. Most notably, she has worked with the Ronald McDonald House, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Goodwill Industries and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. She also spent significant time volunteering as a note taker for the Office of Disability Services at APSU.

Throughout her undergraduate years, she joined many organizations, held numerous leadership positions and was recognized with a laundry list of honors, however her scholarly focus never waivered. Sanford continually made the Deans List and her academic achievements made her an excellent candidate for Gamma Sigma Alpha. Sanford said, “Gamma Sigma Alpha has allowed me to stand with a select few qualified initiates and exemplify the highest ideals of academic excellence in the Greek community. These experiences have made my four years as an undergraduate an experience of a lifetime.”

We wish Ashley continued success in academics and in all future endeavors. Congratulations again!