SAVE OHIO ZETA PI BETA PHI

The 2017 pledge class of Ohio Zeta has put forth a plan of action to increase general member involvement. On June 16, 2017 we were informed that Ohio Zeta would remain on probation for the fall of 2017. On July 14, 2017 we were informed Ohio Zeta’s charter was in jeopardy and going to be put up for a vote by Grand Council. It was stated that “the biggest reason the chapter didn't meet its Terms was the apathy and lack of participation from the general membership. Several of the Terms required the involvement of non-officers, e.g., class forums or committees, and that simply did not happen. Also, the term regarding improving the GPA was not met.” The 2017 pledge class does not believe that they have a fair opportunity to show their willingness to better the Ohio Zeta Chapter. As a school that participates in spring recruitment, the 2017 pledge class was not initiated as active members until April 8th, 2017. The academic school year came to a close on May 12, 2017. We have had very minimal time to work towards our probation terms and believe that we deserve a chance to work towards meeting these goals.

The 2017 pledge class has put together a plan of action to show nationals that we are dedicated to this fraternity. We have created three committees: Academics, Campus Involvement, and Philanthropy. We hope that you consider the new members of Ohio Zeta as you move forward with this decision.

 



Academics

 

Mission statement:

The Academic Committee is dedicated to the development and improvement of high scholastic achievement in Pi Beta Phi’s members by providing study time and offering opportunities for betterment of one’s personal competence in their academics.

 

Plan of Action:

The 2017 Pledge Class Academic Committee consists of 19 total members including 2 co-chairs. One of the co-chairs will report to their national counterpart or to whomever has been designated by nationals in order to update them monthly on our progress. The Academic Committee has come up with 3 specific and achievable actions to take place when the 2017 fall semester begins. These 3 actions are centered around academic success to fulfil a GPA improvement for the Ohio Zeta Pi Beta Phi chapter.

Our plan for academic success includes

 

1. Mandatory Study Hours

2. Pi Phi Tutors

3. Corridor Quiet Study Hours

 

We intend to implement this for our 2017 pledge class in order to properly train our chapter from the bottom up.

 

Mandatory Study Hours

 

The Academic Committee will reserve study rooms once a week for 2 hours at King Library for Pi Phis to use to study. Members of the 2017 Pledge Class Academic Committee will proctor the study room wearing Pi Phi apparel in order to show our dedication to both Pi Phi and academics. This will help us be visible on campus and show potential new members that grades are important to our chapter. We then hope to invite our pledge class of 2018 to join us weekly at King Library. We would like to propose 2 mandatory study hours per person a week that must be logged. These hours can be met by attending the 2 hour study session at the library or by attending the library at any other time during the week. Professor offered study sessions and attending professor office hours are also acceptable hours for the log. Signatures of pi phi proctors/professors/study group leaders/witnesses and details of the class, date, time and location will be mandatory on the log form. This way we can assure that hours are true and accurate. Logs will be collected at the end of every month at chapter

 

Consequence: If hours are not met or log hours are falsified, the person will receive a warning for their first offense. For their second offense, we propose they will suspended from the next social event (or we propose they are brought before Standards board for appropriate consequence).

 

Pi Phi Tutors

 

The Academic Committee has created a spreadsheet with the major of each Pi Phi member and their contact information. This will be sent out to all members so they can find people to study with or ask for advice about major requirements/teachers/classes etc. This will also promote our sisterhood. If a Pi Phi is struggling in a specific class, they can reach out to The Academic Committee. The Academic Committee will be in charge of pairing the Pi Phi with another sister who is willing and able to help the other Pi Phi in their specific class.

 

Corridor Quiet Study Hours

 

During the 2017-2018 school year, the 2017 Pi Beta Phi Pledge Class will be living on the 1st and 2nd floor of Hamilton. We would like to propose mandatory corridor quiet hours one night a week, every week, for 2-3 hours. The Academic Committee has agreed that Sunday 7-9 p.m. would work best.

 

During this time, no visitors are allowed, no loud music is permitted, study groups must meet in the study rooms in the corridor, and one member of The Academic Committee will monitor each hall. Each week, the hall monitors will place signs on the entry doors to the corridor to remind members and others living in Hamilton that Pi Phi quiet hours are in progress. The hall monitors will rotate and not be the same people every Sunday.

 

Consequence: If a visitor is found, they will be asked to leave until quiet hours are over. If someone is playing loud music or making a lot of noise, the hall monitor will ask them to turn down their music or lower their volume.  

 



Campus Involvement

 

Mission Statement:

The Campus Involvement committee is committed to creating intellectual and personal growth by collaborating with organizations on campus to create experiences to engage students through campus involvement.

 

Plan of Action:

The 2017 Pledge Class Campus Involvement Committee consists of 20 total members including 2 co-chairs. One of the co-chairs will report to their national counterpart or to whomever has been designated by nationals in order to update them monthly on our progress. The Campus Involvement Committee has come up with 3 obtainable ideas set to take place in the 2017 Fall Semester. Each action addresses different aspects regarding campus involvement to help increase Pi Beta Phi’s overall presence on campus.

Our plan for campus involvement success includes

 

1. First Year Student Move In Volunteers

2. Miami Football Game Honoring Our Country's Heroes

3. Sunset Yoga

 

First Year Student Move In Volunteer

 

The Campus Involvement committee has registered 9 women to serve as volunteers to help move in first year students. This will show students arriving on campus that Pi Beta Phi lives out its core value of service and help new students feel at home on campus. We hope that this will allow new students to see familiar faces throughout the year and see that the women who helped them were apart of Pi Beta Phi. Additionally, this will show prospective members the true Pi Beta Phi spirit.

 

Miami Football Game Honoring Our Country's Heroes

 

On Tuesday November 7th, the Miami Redhawks will honor the heros of our country. Pi Beta Phi is working with the athletic department to help volunteer to collect money for The Wounded Warriors Project. The Wounded Warriors Project is a nonprofit organization serves over one hundred thousand injured warriors and their families each year. This event would show Pi Beta Phi’s support of our football team and those who serve our country.

 

Elaine Clifton is working with the athletic department, but we would either collect money in the stands throughout the game or at the entrance as people walk in. As volunteer’s we would wear T-shirts that recognize Pi Beta Phi’s support for all of those who serve our country.

 

Pi Phi Phitness Sunset Yoga

 

The Campus Involvement committee of Pi Beta Pi would like to host sunset yoga in sorority quad. This would provide an opportunity to bring the greek community together. This event would take place in late September and sophomore, Lena Nazelli, certified yoga instructor, would lead the class.



 

Philanthropic Service

 

Mission Statement:

The goal of Pi Beta Phi’s Philanthropy committee is to inspire a lifelong love of reading by collaborating with Read > Lead > Achieve to bring awareness of a more literate society through community service and involvement.

 

Plan of Action:

The 2017 Pledge Class Philanthropy Committee consists of 20 members including 3 co-chairs. One of the co-chairs will report to their national counterpart or to whomever has been designated by nationals in order to update them monthly on our progress and upcoming events. The Philanthropy Committee has come up with 3 attainable events for the 2017 Fall Semester. The purpose of these events is to promote Read > Lead > Achieve and literacy in the Oxford area.

Our plans for philanthropic events include

1. Monmouth Duo Book Drive

2. Lemonade for Literacy

3. Storytime at Oxford Library

Monmouth Duo Book Drive

 

Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma were both founded at Monmouth College in 1867 and 1870 and therefore are known as the “Monmouth Duo.” Kappa Kappa Gamma’s partners with “Reading is Fundamental” which helps underserved kids discover the joy of reading and books. This philanthropy has very similar goals and motives as Pi Beta Phi and Read > Lead > Achieve. We propose that in the Fall of 2017 Pi Beta Phi partners with Kappa Kappa Gamma in organizing a book drive. We would set book bins in all sorority corridors to collect books to donate to local elementary schools. All the bins would match and be clearly labeled with a logo Pi Beta Phi and Kappa Kappa Gamma create. Kramer Elementary School is located at 400 W. Sycamore St. in Oxford, Ohio which is less than a mile from Miami University. Mariana Galiga has committed to reaching out to Kappa Kappa Gamma’s philanthropy chair and Kramer Elementary School’s Principal, Jason Merz, to organize the book drive. We also intend to reach out to Cincinnati Alumnae Club Philanthropy Contact, Mallory Nicole Widecan, to ask for book donations for our drive.

Lemonade for Literacy

 

Lemonade for Literacy is a fundraising event which will be held during the first few months of first semester as well as towards the end of second semester. The women of Pi Beta Phi will be selling lemonade in front of King Library as well as near Miami University’s seal which is located outside of Armstrong Student Center. The lemonade will be sold from the hours of 11 a.m to 3 p.m for $2 a cup and all proceeds will be donated for Read > Lead > Achieve. Each cup will have a different fact about literacy printed on it as a way to spread awareness of our cause.Through this event, we not only hope to spread awareness of this foundation which provides funds and books, but we also hope to express the importance of reading and learning to the students of Miami University. Francesca Ciula has volunteered to reach out to Miami University faculty to ask for permission to sell lemonade at said locations.

 

Storytime at Oxford Library

 

Oxford Lane Library is located at 441 S. Locust St. in Oxford, Ohio. This library is 1.5 miles from campus. We propose to have members of our Pi Beta Phi chapter volunteer to read at Oxford Library for local children wearing Pi Beta Phi apparel. Oxford Lane Library holds many events including “Family Storytime” and “Community Helper Storytime.” We would love to start “Storytime with Pi Beta Phi” at Oxford Lane Library. Kayleigh Fikejs and Sam Seger have volunteered to reach out to Oxford Lane Library Youth Services Manager, Gratia Banta, in order to plan and arrange for this to happen this fall. Ideally, we would love to have a storytime slot at the library every month.

Conclusion

 

The pledge class of 2017 is excited and hopeful to inspire and mentor the future pledge class of 2018. We hope to be the first class to put these committees into action so we can recruit representatives from the pledge class of 2015 and 2016 to participate in order to successfully achieve a higher chapter GPA, visible campus involvement and raise awareness for Read > Lead > Achieve. In 48 hours from across the country, the 59 members of Pi Beta Phi’s 2017 Pledge Class has split into 3 committees, named 7 chairs and come up with 9 specific and practical solutions to our biggest prior setbacks. Can you imagine what these 59 can do when we hit campus together this fall?

Thank you.