| Contact: |
Alpha Phi International
Fraternity, Inc. |
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1930 Sherman Avenue, Evanston,
IL 60201, 847.475.0663,
www.alphaphi.org/news |
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Release Date: |
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June 21, 2005 |
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Media Contact: |
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Nora Gardner, 847.316.8929 |
Plattsburgh, N.Y.
– The Theta Psi chapter of Alpha Phi was recognized by the State
University of New York at Plattsburgh with five-star status, making it
one of the first sororities on campus to receive this honor. The
university’s Center of Greek Affairs Office utilizes a Chapter
Accreditation Program as their means of evaluating chapters’
performances while encouraging community involvement and scholastic
achievement.
Theta Psi finished above
the campus' 13 other fraternities and sororities based on the chapter’s
performance in each of five categories: scholarship, member education,
finance, community and fraternity/sorority relations, and service.
"The chapter had made it
their goal to achieve this status, and this proves they all have the
ambition and brains to be the best chapter on campus," said chapter
adviser Danielle Miller.
"Achieving five-star
status is a great honor and privilege," said chapter president Alison
Ovadek. "All of our hard work paid off."
The Chapter Accreditation
Program, or CAP, began as an idea in fall 2000, according to Coordinator
of Greek Affairs and Leadership Development Allison Swick-Duttine. Since
then the pilot program has evolved into an ongoing project with
campus-wide chapter participation.
Swick-Duttine and one
undergraduate student selected to work for the Center of Greek Affairs
evaluate each chapter’s report on a monthly basis. The reports detail
that month’s activities and progress in each of the five categories. A
set point system determines each month’s tally and chapters work to
accumulate points during the fall and spring semesters. Points are
totaled, and chapters are accredited accordingly.
The position for next
year’s undergraduate chapter accreditation undergraduate student will be
filled by Theta Psi Ashley Balcum.
In 2004 Sigma Tau Gamma
fraternity was the first to achieve five-star status. This past spring
Alpha Phi and Delta Phi Epsilon sorority were accredited with five
stars.
In order to be accredited
a chapter must receive at least three stars. Incentives are offered to
chapters in pursuit of five-star status that include a $1,000 grant from
the Center of Greek Affairs to be used for programming and fees, a trip
to the Undergraduate Interfraternity Institute (UIFI), a chapter banner
hung in the university’s student center and special privileges regarding
new member recruitment of freshmen during the fall semester.
When Ovadek initiated in
spring 2003 the chapter held three-star status and improved to four
stars by the time she was elected president. Under her leadership, Theta
Psi set up a chapter accreditation committee consisting of sisters who
volunteered to keep track of points the chapter earned and those they
still needed. "As a chapter we really buckled down when it came to
attendance, especially Panhellenic events. We also supported other Greek
organizations by attending their events," Ovadek said.
Next year, Ovadek said,
the chapter will turn its focus inward, with emphasis on strengthening
relationships between sisters.
"Personally, I feel that
since we have accomplished this goal, it may be easier to grasp the
meaning of the word ‘sisterhood.’ We are going to focus more internally
as a chapter on its needed improvements," said Ovadek.
Alpha Phi International
Fraternity was founded at Syracuse University in 1872 as one of the
first Greek societies for women. Alpha Phi is dedicated to promoting
sisterhood, cultivating leadership, encouraging intellectual curiosity
and advocating service. The organization is comprised of more than 140
collegiate chapters and more than 130 alumnae chapters throughout the
United States and Canada. The Alpha Phi Foundation is the fraternity’s
philanthropic and educational partner. Through contributions from
chapters, individual members and friends, the foundation supports
women’s cardiac health and other charitable and educational projects.
Together, Alpha Phi International Fraternity and Foundation develop
character for a lifetime.
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