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Lafayette College’s fraternities will have live-in advisors beginning in the next academic year under a new policy adopted by the College’s board of trustees at its Jan. 30 meeting.
The adoption of the policy comes after months of discussion of the issue by all constituencies of the College and its Greek system, including students.
The dialogue about fraternity policies is one component of an extensive collaborative process that began last spring when a College-wide task force – including trustees, faculty, students, and administrators – prepared a report listing 55 recommendations to reduce alcohol consumption on campus. The College has already implemented many of the report’s major recommendations, including opening a new campus coffeehouse that stays open until least 2 a.m. each night, offering shuttle-bus service to shopping and dining complexes, and hiring a psychologist as coordinator of drug and alcohol counseling.
The main responsibility of the advisors-in-residence will be to assist fraternity chapters and their house corporations in establishing programs beneficial to the fraternities and the College. They will report to the fraternities’ respective house corporations, not to the College administration, and the final details regarding their responsibilities and compensation are to be worked out by the advisors and fraternities.
Lafayette President Arthur J. Rothkopf said, “Since the initial preparation of this proposal, the College has examined the programs in place at a number of other institutions. The evidence points clearly to the conclusion that this program can be of significant assistance to the success of our residential life program and that this liaison position will facilitate communication between the fraternities and their house corporations.”
Among other duties, it is expected that fraternity advisors will meet regularly with the chapter’s president and other officers and with College officials, alumni, and faculty advisors. To help the fraternities recruit advisors, the College’s Office of Student Residence has developed a suggested position description and will publicize the positions and coordinate the application and screening process.
The College also plans to assist any fraternity that requires additional funds to prepare proper space within its house for an advisor. It will make loans available at a below-prime interest rate and work with fraternities to engage contractors used by the College.
Lafayette’s board also approved a new policy under which fraternities will be expected to contract services for the interior and exterior maintenance of their facilities. The fraternities may contract with either Lafayette College or an approved private contractor for these services.