Policy 8-13 Rev 2
Date October 26, 1999
Subject: UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS - Chapter XIII
FRATERNAL SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
I. DEFINITIONS
"Fraternity" includes any private incorporated or chartered social
organization for either male or female students that has become duly affiliated
with the University of Utah pursuant to the university policy.
"President" means the President of the University of Utah.
II. POLICY
It is the policy of the university to facilitate and encourage voluntary
fraternity organizations as a means for providing a learning experience for
university students beyond the formal atmosphere of the classroom in small,
personal, social and living groups. Fraternity social and physical
arrangements, however, should be organized within suitable policy guidelines
and limitations designed to assure that participating students will experience
opportunities for personal growth, development of leadership skills, and the
responsible application of concepts of democracy, community service,
brotherhood/sisterhood, equality, fair play, individual morality, and social
justice.
III. GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES
A. Advisory Staff
The University of Utah will provide advisory staff personnel to (1) encourage the fraternities to realize policies of behavior and attitude consistent with their own philosophy and the policies of the university;(2) assist fraternities in fully utilizing the resources of the university; (3) oversee the various programs of chapters and work with alumni of chapters; and (4) provide general supervision of fraternity activities, on their premises and the campus, to assure compliance with the standards set forth herein.
B. Standards
The university as part of its supervision expects each recognized fraternity to:
1. Conduct all of its activities in accordance with applicable laws and ordinances, and applicable University of Utah regulations, policies, and procedures (including University of Utah Student Code and the ASUU Organizational Policies and Procedures Manual), as well as in conformity with the national or local policies of the fraternity not inconsistent with such laws, ordinances, regulations, policies, and procedures.
2. Operate on a nondiscriminatory basis with regard to race, creed, ethnic origin, and color in membership selection and privileges.
3. Seek in good faith to obtain a membership reflective of racial, academic, religious, ethnic, and geographic diversity.
4. Conduct orderly recruitment techniques involving action and publicity consistent with good taste and appropriate to an institution of higher learning.
5. Develop meaningful programs with regard to training of new members and programming for the chapter as a whole that are designed to assist each member to accept responsibilities and to contribute to the larger society.
6. Support its chosen leaders in the best democratic sense.
7. Establish and maintain orderly financial and accounting procedures, and be current in meeting its financial obligations.
8. Provide a comfortable environment for the members of the chapter and maintain the property in keeping with general standards of good housekeeping and exterior upkeep characteristic of the campus environs.
9. Cooperate with the university administration in building and maintaining constructive community relationships with neighbors in the residential area in which it is located.
10. Develop orderly processes for dealing with infractions by fraternity members of any of the provisions of this statement of Guidelines and Procedures, including appropriate provisions for sanctions including warning, probation, suspension, or termination of membership.
C. Fraternity Rights
Subject to the standards set forth in Section B above, the university recognizes the right of a fraternity to:
1. Select its own membership from those students who voluntarily participate in the recruitment system.
2. Determine its own judicial structure, memberships and procedures, consistent with ASUU Judiciary Policies and Procedures (ASUU Policies and Procedures V-I).
IV. FRATERNITY COLONIZING
Prior to a fraternity's application to its national for a charter or for
independent affiliation with the university, the following procedures must be
observed:
A. The fraternity colony must meet applicable requirements of the approved Expansion Policy adopted by the Greek Council or other cognizant representative bodies.
B. Prior to action by the Committee on Student Affairs, the Constitution of the petitioning fraternity shall be reviewed by the legal counsel of the University of Utah.
C. Greek Council, or other cognizant representative body within the fraternity system must recommend to the Committee on Student Affairs, in writing, that the colony receive its charter. The recommendation must include a statement to the effect that the colony has met the requirements outlined in the relevant Expansion Policy.
D. After endorsement by the Committee on Student Affairs and the vice president/dean for student affairs and services, the recommendation may be submitted to the president for approval.
E. If the president approves the recommendation, he or she will extend an invitation to the national fraternity to charter a chapter on the University of Utah campus.
V. RECOGNITION AND STATUS OF CHAPTERS
A. Recognition
If a fraternal organization successfully colonizes and is in compliance with the applicable standards outlined above (III. B), it may request recognition by the University of Utah. Requests for recognition, bearing the written endorsement of the Greek Council and the Committee on Student Affairs, should be submitted to the president. If the president approves the request, an official letter extending recognition to the chartered chapter on the University of Utah campus will be sent to the chapter president and the national office of the fraternity. Upon receipt of the official letter of recognition, the chapter shall be eligible for the privileges available to a student organization under University Regulations, Chapter IX (University Speaker Policy) and Chapter X (Student Code).
B. Chapters in Good Standing
Chapters of fraternal social organizations that have been duly recognized by the University of Utah shall be deemed in good standing so long as they are:
1. In compliance with applicable policies of the national fraternity, local chapter, Greek Council, and the University of Utah, including Section III. B., above.
2. In compliance with applicable federal and state statutes and local ordinances.
3. Maintaining communication with the Greek Council advisor at least once a semester.
C. Chapters on Warning
Chapters found to be in minor violation of the above provisions (Section B) may be placed on warning by action of the Greek Council, the Greek Council Judiciary, or the Greek Council advisor. A chapter on warning will remain so for a period of 60 to 180 days at the discretion of the authority issuing the warning. Prior to the end of the warning period, a chapter must demonstrate that it is no longer in violation of applicable policies. Failure to do so may result in possible probation or suspension.
D. Chapters on Probation
1. Chapters found, after notice and opportunity for hearing, to be in serious or habitual violation of Section V. B, above, may be placed on probation for a period of six to twelve months by action of Greek Council, Greek Council Judiciary, Committee on Student Affairs, or the president, or designee, subject to such sanctions and other reasonable conditions as may be specified.
2. Sanctions may include monetary fines, suspension of social events, limitations of privileges, and/or uncompensated service projects. Fines are payable to the Greek Council, and shall be used solely for administrative costs of Greek Council, or for other purposes beneficial to the fraternity system, as approved by Greek Council. A statement concerning the disposition of such funds shall be issued by Greek Council.
3. Prior to the end of the period of probation, a chapter must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the authority which imposed the probationary status that it has fulfilled all conditions of probation including full payment of all fines imposed, and that it is no longer in violation of applicable policies. Failure to do so may result in suspension or termination of recognition.
4. A written report of any hearing held under paragraph 1 of this section, resulting in placing or refusing to place a chapter on probation, shall be filed with the president, or designee who may direct that supplemental hearings or other proceedings be held and thereafter may impose additional sanctions or conditions, or may reduce, modify, or annul those previously imposed.
E. Suspension or Termination of Recognition
The president, or designee, may suspend or terminate recognition of a chapter that has failed to fulfill all conditions imposed as a condition of probation under Section V. D, above.
Approved: Board of Trustees 5/9/94
Editorially revised 10/26/99
M02