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Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Pi and Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., had the highest GPAs in the Greek-letter system this fall, according to a grade report released this winter.
The sorority Alpha Delta Pi had the highest GPA in the entire Greek-life system, with a semester GPA average of 3.35. The fraternities were led by Alpha Epsilon Pi, which scored a semester GPA average of 3.33. A semester average of 3.28 was earned by Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., the highest of any multicultural fraternity or sorority.
On the low end of the scale was the fraternity Lambda Chi Alpha with a semester average of 2.95, Tau Kappa Epsilon with a 2.98 and the multicultural fraternity Pi Delta Psi fraternity with a 2.82.
“Chapters are extremely competitive about achieving the highest GPA and is one of the top priorities of Greek-letter life,” said Chas Pressner, the president of the Inter-Fraternity Council.
The results of the GPA tally were not a surprise, said Dean Harwood, the assistant director of student activities and Greek Life.
“There are several groups who are consistently near the top, and there are some groups who vary from semester to semester,” Harwood said.
Sigma Phi Epsilon is a particular chapter that has shown consistent improvement over the past few years, Harwood said.
The chapter has always had an academic assistance program, but made slight alterations earlier in the year, said Dan Blumenthal, the fraternity’s president.
“For the past semester we’ve tried to refine the program to meet individual needs because not everyone is the same and has the same problems,” said Blumenthal, a sophomore.
The chapter now boasts a 3.28 semester average – up from last spring’s 3.21 average.
Alpha Delta Pi, the highest ranked sorority, encourages its members to utilize campus and sorority resources to achieve high GPAs, said the chapter’s president, Brittany Mitchell.
Inter-Fraternity Council standards require each individual chapter to set its own minimum GPA standards. Pressner explained that if a member of a chapter falls below that standard, then he will be required to appear before the chapter’s standards board. This board then assigns that particular brother with mandatory study hours, a fine, suspension or a combination of the three, he said.
During the spring’s Greek Excellence Awards, chapters can receive recognition for high GPAs, successful philanthropies and more with bronze, silver and gold rankings. Ultimately, gold rankings make chapters eligible for a house on Townhouse Row.
