Purpose of the Scholarship Committee



Purpose of the Scholarship CommitteeAlthough scholarship is often considered to be a personal endeavor by each individual member of the chapter, and ultimately it is because only individual can study, do their assignments, write papers, and take their tests, every active chapter needs a functioning scholarship program and committee to support the individual brothers in their academic efforts.With the high ideals of Sigma Chi in mind, there is no other choice than to strive for excellence in everything the chapter and the individual members do, particularly scholarship. The reason all brothers went to college initially was to gain an education, and their association with the chapter should help them achieve this goal.The scholarship committee should assist the scholarship chairman in all aspects of the scholarship program. It should monitor the success of various incentives and deterrents, and adjust them for the best possible results. It should assist in maintaining and updating studying files and teacher evaluations in order to provide resources to the brothers. The scholarship committee must make opportunities beyond mere study hours available for new members. Academic mentoring, tutoring, and access to the chapter study files must be provided also. Just as the new member is obligated to work with diligence to become eligible for initiation, the chapter must work with diligence to provide them with assistance.Objectives of a Scholarship ProgramThe ultimate goal of every chapter is to excel in every facet of Sigma ChiFraternity men hole themselves to a higher standard than the average person. With this said, one of our main objectives of being a good brother in the chapter is to maintain a high level of excellence in the classroom.The primary reason individuals attend a college or university is to get an education. This should be the main priority and concern of every member of your chapter. Sigma Chi can help its members achieve the highest levels of scholastic excellence with a solid and well-planned scholarship program.The chapter as a whole can help prevent members from making poor grades, and this is accomplished in two ways:By giving members incentives to perform well in the classroom;By having consequences for those members who fail in the classroom.Both are effective ways to help members attain a reasonable GPA.The Scholarship ChairmanRegardless of what the past attitude of the members in your chapter has been toward scholarship, it is imperative you take a leadership role in making the program an important and interesting part of the total Fraternity experience. It is difficult to change overnight a general chapter feeling that it is alright to skip classes or to blow off low grades. This job is challenging and will take a tremendous amount of patience and hard work, but you can improve the academic reputation and standing of your chapter considerably.The Scholarship Chairman should reflect outstanding qualities as a prerequisite for the position. He should:Be an above-average student;Be able to command the respect of new and initiated members;Be organized and possess leadership experience;Believe in the importance and purpose of a scholarship program;Be persistent in efforts to perform duties of the office.Duties of the Scholarship ChairmanThe duties of the Chapter Scholarship Chairman should be:Establish a written scholarship program for the chapter (if not already in place)Schedule study hours for members of the chapterMaintain a scholarship file and test fileEstablish incentives for members of the chapter who meet certain standards in the classroom (if not already in place)Discuss the importance of goal settingCreate chapter by-laws pertaining to scholarship for members (if not already in place)Create a set of quiet hours for the chapter house (if not already in place)Written Scholarship ProgramThe Chapter Written Scholarship Program shall follow and consist of the following:Chapter Goals (short and long term)Incentives/RecognitionDeterrents/Consequences Study Files Academic Mentoring (new and active members)Campus ResourcesAdditional Study AidsSupplementsI. Chapter Goals (short and long term)Six MonthsRaise minimum standard to initiate from a 2.2 GPA to a 2.5 GPA Active chapter GPA of 2.85 for next semesterHave every member raise his GPA by 10% this semesterOne YearActive chapter achieve a 3.0 GPA for the 2010-2011 school yearHave new member class achieve a 2.85 GPAImplement a test fileHave 20% of chapter members on the Dean’s listUpdate and review current written scholarship programRank in top 5 of grade reportII. Incentives/RecognitionMore money shall be budget to reward academic achievements Letters shall be mailed to parents of members with outstanding grades, along with recognition at Parents WeekendInitiation fees for new members with a 4.0 GPA shall be paid by the chapterContinue giving plaques at an annual event:Scholastic Excellence Award – Given to the brother with the highest overall GPA.III. Deterrents/ConsequencesSocial privileges for all members not maintaining at least a 2.20 GPA shall be revoked for one semester, or until minimum is reachedLetters shall be mailed to parents of members not maintaining at least a 2.20 GPATeacher/Class Evaluation forms shall be issued to and used by all members not maintaining at least a 2.20 GPAIV. Study FilesThese documents shall be updated and maintained by a member of the Scholarship Committee – appointed by the chairman – and stored in either the Scholarship Room or the President’s room. Study files are available for use by all initiated members and shall be checked in and out by the Scholarship Chair. If a brother wants and/or needs a file for more than an hour he must copy the parts of the file needed for his personal use. Items wanted for and included in the chapter’s study files include, but are not limited to, the following:Old tests LabsSyllabiNotesPapers (for ideas not plagiarism)V. Academic Mentoring (new and active members)Member Tutoring At the beginning of each semester, the Scholarship Committee shall distribute a tutor sheet to identify those brothers with special skills who are willing to share them with other members. The information shall then be compiled, broken down by area of discipline and distributed to all members. This shall act as a guide for the chapter and enable individuals to seek help on their own, without facing humility or embarrassment.Study HallStudy hall shall be a requirement for and part of the New Member Education Program. It shall be held at least twice a week and last for no fewer than two hours, the designated area for which shall be assigned by the New Member Educator or Scholarship Chairmen. While new members are required to attend all study halls, active brothers may and are also encouraged to attend this reserved time for studying. This is a great time for new members to see active brothers caring for their academic success and will also make new members feel a part of the chapter. The New Member Educator or Scholarship Chairmen shall clearly make it known to new members and actives alike that this reserved time has no limitations, although prolonged periods of study can undermine one’s productivity. New Member Mentor ProgramNew members in need of academic help shall be paired with active brothers who have the same majors as them and have good grades and study habits. The active brother shall meet with the new member to discuss how class is going, good study habits, classes he needs to schedule for the following semester, and help them in the areas they are struggling. This shall be done during new member study hall hours or at a time most convenient to the mentoring brother. In either case, steps shall be taken by the New Member Educator and mentoring brother for confidentiality to be upheld and maintained.VI. Campus ResourcesThe following names are individuals who may be of service to you, because of your affiliation with the Fraternity. Never hesitate to contact any of them, and if desired, speak with the Scholarship Chairman or President first and ask of them assistance. Director of Greek Life – Paul KittleAssistant Director of Greek Life - Bo MantoothAssociate Director of Greek Life – Jill MooreChapter Advisor – John SmythOther campus resources are available to you as an Auburn University student.Office of Undergraduate ResearchThe Office of Undergraduate Research seeks to enrich the academic experience of all AU undergraduates by providing research and scholarly experiences in their chosen fields. The office promotes inquiry, discovery, and creativity in all disciplines through faculty-student mentoring relationships and the integration of instruction with research, scholarship, and creative activities.Career CenterThe Career Center serves as a comprehensive career information center providing programs to enhance career development; and provides counseling and testing to assist students in career clarification along with opportunities to gain career-related experience, explore career goals, develop marketable skills and make contact with employers for part and full-time employment. The Center facilitates communication among employers, faculty, students, and alumni concerning employment and enrollment trends. Office of Pre-Professional Advising (OPPA)The Office of Pre-Professional Advising (OPPA) helps students prepare for the complex application process to professional school and also provide information on various community service projects sponsored by area hospitals and agencies, job shadowing opportunities with local health professionals and lawyers, essay writing workshops, medical school tours and a trip to the Law School Forum in Atlanta. VII. Additional Study AidsEffective Study Behavior ModelLearning From an ExamTen Ways to Improve GradesEffective Study Behavior ModelTime. Scheduled class time/study time should not exceed ten hours a day. For the week, 45-50 hours of study should be sufficient. Work efficiently – after 60-90 minutes of concentrated study – take a short break.Record assignments in a book. Know your class assignments and when they must be completed. If unsure, ask.Gather necessary materials. Use all available resources. Ask librarians and instructors for assistance in locating needed materials.Record information on 3” x 5” note cards (can be arranged/rearranged as needed).For essay writing, make a rough outline first. Use large blocks of time when beginning to write. Write a rough draft. Put it aside for 24 hours; then rewrite. Have someone else read the essay and discuss their comments, set essay aside for 48 hours, then prepare final draft for typing.Do the most difficult assignments during best concentration periods. Save rewriting tasks for periods when concentration is not as good. Try simpler assignments first, building up your confidence.Schedule definite study times and outline specific goals for study time. Allow at least 2-3 hours for weekly review of notes and text per class.Ask the instructor questions when clarification of lecture points is needed.Volunteer to answer questions posed by the instructor in class.Participate in class discussion.Ask the instructor for clarification of lecture information/assignments.Engage in formal or informal discussions with classmates on topics relevant to courses. Seek clarification on points that were unclear during lectures or labs. Review course content with other students.Interact with other resource persons on campus.Learning from an ExamCareful examination of your paper or exam when it is returned may reveal points which need to be learned or re-learned.Find out what you missed. Check over each item you received only partial or no credit for on an exam.Find out why you missed it. There are several reasons why individuals miss exam questions. It is best to look back and figure out how the error could have been prevented.Decide how you can avoid these on the next exam. Make a note of your errors and review the types of errors you made before the next exam.If the test papers are not returned, ask for permission to see your individual test.Ask for specific criticisms. If you are not certain why a question has been marked wrong or partially wrong, ask your instructor about it. Ask, though, with an attitude or wanting to gain a few extra points.When talking over your exam or paper, forget the grade. The instructor has made an honest effort to grade all papers fairly. Emphasis on your grade is only an indirect attack on the professor’s fairness.Check the correct answers, too. This will serve as a means of emphasizing them in your mind. It also may have been just a “good guess” on your part and you may not be as fortunate next time.Find your relative standing in the group. The score you receive on your exam is usually meaningless until you know where others in your group stand.Save your exam questions and answers. These will be valuable for future review. Sometimes a part of the questions are used over again. With subjective questions, it will give you some idea concerning how the instructor likes to have the answers presented.Ten Ways to Improve GradesAlways attend class.Sit in the first three rows.Visit with the professor once a week.Review syllabus and notes before class.Always do extra credit if available.Participate in class.Pay attention to detail.Use available resources.Practice time management.Avoid cramming.VIII. SupplementsChapter Members and MajorsChapter Goals (form)Individual Goals (form)Teacher-Class Evaluation (form)Members and Academic Majors SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1FirstMiddle LastHometownMajorScholastic GoalsChapterGPA last semester:__________GPA goal this semester:__________Academic I.F.C. ranking last semester:__________Academic I.F.C. ranking goal this semester:__________Scholastic GoalsIndividualName: _________________________GPA last semester:__________GPA goal this semester:__________Current Cumulative GPA:__________Cumulative GPA goal:__________Scholastic Goals:What must you do to accomplish these goals?How can the chapter help you achieve these goals?Member Signature: _________________________Scholarship Chairman Signature: _________________________Date: __________Teacher - Class EvaluationsMember Name: ______________________________Course: ______________________________Instructor: ______________________________Texts: ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________Assignments:Tests:TypeDatePercent of Grade________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Final Project:_______________Due:________ Grade %_______________Term Paper:_______________Due:________ Grade %_______________Grading:% tests/lecture _______% tests/lab _______% papers _______% projects _______% class part. _______% final exam _______Comments on instructor: ................
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