DIALOGUE AND DELIBERATION FOR A BETTER GREEK COMMUNITY

I recently “attended” a webinar from NASPA’s Online Learning Community, which referred to dialogue and deliberation as “innovative processes that help people come together across differences to tackle challenging problems and conversations.” This reminded me of a strategic planning event held recently.

Earlier this month, we convened a subgroup of our campus community – fraternity and sorority members - in a conversation about shaping the future of Greek life on our campus. Our 38 chapters were asked to send at least two members to participate, which resulted in about 75 members, representing diverse chapters – some cultural and faith-based, some with only 1 or 2 members, some new chapters and some with a 30-year history, and all from multiple governing councils.

The conversation was modeled after the University’s strategic planning process’ use of design thinking where students were challenged to (1) think critically; (2) identify issues facing the Greek community, and (3) create solutions to effect change. The goal was to actively engage students in changing their own community.

Students were placed randomly into small groups with Greek-affiliated staff from various units across campus to facilitate dialogue around the following questions:

1. What forces are acting on fraternity & sorority life today, both those internal to the University, within the region and nationally for higher education?
2. In 10 years, what forces will further shape fraternity & sorority life? Which forces will accelerate change and which ones will slow?
3. What are the implications for the national organizations, the institution, and students, staff and faculty? Specifically, what new opportunities may be created in the future?
4. How will the future developments and opportunities affect the local chapters and the University? How might the All Greek Council, sub-governing councils, local chapters, and UAlbany respond to these within the strategic planning for the future process?

Each group then reported out to the rest of the participants. All groups articulated issues of common ground faced by all chapters:

• lack of funding
• lack of Greek housing on campus
• hazing
• “underground” organizations
• misperceptions and stereotypes
• lack of presence and recognition on campus
• growing the community
• governing council development

Very specific opinions emerged during our dialogue but comments were respectful and productive. More importantly, the conversations were appropriately focused on social change, which Leadership for a Better World: Understanding the social change model of leadership development tells us:

1. Is aimed at change
2. Addresses the root causes of problems
3. Is collaborative
4. Is not easy

Social change also “addresses each person’s sense of responsibility” and it became evident, and reinforced by our Vice President for Student Affairs, that any change in the Greek community required each person’s individual commitment and for all stakeholders to work together, not pointing the finger to what the university needs to do. In fact, the evening’s first lesson in collaboration involved the Marshmallow Challenge.

All in attendance were interested in better promoting the Greek community, opportunities for membership, and achievements by individual members and chapters, as well as addressing misperceptions regarding academic performance and social activities. Supporting the idea that leadership is action, not position, a few members from the Latino Greek Council have already proposed an “I Am Greek” campaign to highlight chapter member achievements and educate the campus community about their contributions to campus life.

The strategic planning session was only our first conversation. Additional dialogue and deliberation will follow as we – collectively – take on the challenge of improving the Greek community.

References:

Komives, Susan R., & Wagner, Wendy. Leadership for a Better World: Understanding the Social Change Model of Leadership Development. Second ed. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2017.