Importance of Scholastic Chairman
by Tim Reuter • April 2008 • No Comments •
During the 2007–2008 academic year, as a cornerstone of Lambda Chi Alpha’s Operation: Shine the Badge, Chapter Services began working with Greek advisers and chapter officers to improve reporting of scholastic rankings, and also to improve chapter GPAs.
Since the implementation of these efforts, the numbers seem to tell a remarkable story that we have always known: standards and expectations may intimidate and frustrate some, but for a man in Lambda Chi Alpha, our shared standards and expectations are not only met but exceeded time and time again.
One of the key ingredients to continuing to improve academic performance is the increased emphasis placed on chapters electing a strong leader to serve as scholastic chairman.
Primary Duties
Today, a successful scholastic chairman is much more than just academics. The role also goes far beyond just interacting with the officers, brothers, and associate members of the chapter.
A good scholastic chairman also interacts with many elements of the campus and the surrounding communities as well.
The scholastic chairman’s responsibility is to generate positive direction in several areas for the growth and development of our brothers and the chapter.
Specifically, the responsibilities involve three major areas:
- Scholastic development of members,
- Cultural development of members,
- Educating members to various campus resources and their support for our brothers during, and beyond, their undergraduate experience.
The importance of the position cannot be overemphasized. The role includes the major responsibility of determining the scholastic atmosphere, the resultant level of academic achievement, and the cultural development of all chapter members.
The response to the program is the composite of the respective attitudes of the individual chapter members.
Exemplifying Core Values
Many of the functions with which the scholastic chairman is charged strike right at the core of the values of Lambda Chi Alpha.
Examining our Seven Core Values from the True Brother Initiative, each and every value can be practically applied to the work that the scholastic chairman and his committee should be accomplishing:
LOYALTY in the way that he works with each individual chapter member, the confidentiality with which he does his job, and the time he devotes to these important tasks.
Taking on such an important position, the scholastic chairman has a DUTY to each and every member and the chapter to provide the best guidance, resources, and support.
In this work, the scholastic chairman should emanate RESPECT for every member, his efforts, his issues and concerns, and the potential that each man brings to the brotherhood.
A good scholastic chairman exemplifies SERVICE AND STEWARDSHIP with all of the information with which he must work, as well as the effect he can have on the brotherhood and the lives of each chapter member.
The scholastic chairman has the responsibility to teach and encourage a sense of HONOR and INTEGRITY as he inspires academic success, such that chapter members should never consider dishonesty or cheating in their academic pursuits.
And finally, the scholastic chairman will undoubtedly find himself in situations where his own PERSONAL COURAGE will spur him on to make the tough decisions regarding discipline, academic probations or suspensions, and holding chapter members on his committee, and the entire chapter, accountable.
The scholastic chairman can make a big difference in the life, and the future of, every chapter member.
Ideal Credentials
He is, first, a salesman. The scholastic chairman is virtually a highly-specialized, public relations device for building respect and motivation for scholastic achievement. He must sell himself, his committee, and the product of scholarship — its importance and its significance — to every individual brother and associate member of the chapter.
He has the ability to organize. Once the concept of the program is sold, the scholastic chairman must devise a step-by-step plan and execute a highly-organized program that will lead to academic achievement and cultural development — and maintain it.
He is a leader. The scholastic chairman must have the ability to express himself well and to communicate easily with others. He must be able to earn the respect of the chapter in order to enlist their support and confidence in the program.
“A well-kept and well used library will raise the tone of your house, impress visitors, and help make a better Chapter.” —John E. Mason
He is a responsible scholar. Experience has shown that just because a man is an “A” student, he is not always the best scholastic chairman. However, a successful scholastic chairman needs to enlist the respect and support of the chapter for good scholarship. He also must demonstrate a responsible attitude backed up with above average motivation, study habits, skills, and, if possible, grades.
He feels a sense of responsibility for his job. Much time and effort is required to perform this job satisfactorily. The job is time-consuming and at times frustrating. Usually, he will receive little recognition other than a sense of satisfaction for a job well done. Only the scholastic chairman who maintains his sense of responsibility in the face of occasional discouragement will be successful.
He is eager to face the challenge of his job. He must be constantly searching for new and better ways to execute the duties of the office. Only through a tradition of excellence in carrying on the responsibilities of office does any position gain prestige and continued respect.
He begins immediately. He must begin to plan and execute his program immediately after taking office. If he procrastinates until the last minute, he will immediately lose the respect of his committee, the executive team, and the chapter.
He understands and appreciates the full significance of scholarship, academic achievement, and cultural awareness. Most importantly, he must understand why good scholarship is essential, the importance of a complete education in the Fraternity, and the relationship of the Fraternity to the comprehensive educational environment.
He is a teacher and a counselor. It will be imperative that he establish himself as a problem solver. He will find that to be effective, he must seek out problems; problems of chapter attitude and problems of individuals will not necessarily seek him out. He must analyze the problems and solve them or, at the least, enlist the appropriate resources and support to solve them.
He has a strong desire for excellence and achievement. He must be satisfied with nothing less than the best from himself, from his brothers, and from Lambda Chi Alpha.
Appreciating Individual Differences
Each chapter member has his own particular area of study and interests. Each also will have his own issues, skills, and baggage that he brings with him that can either positively or negatively affect his ability to be successful.
Therefore, the scholastic chairman must work with each individual to ensure that he is getting the most out of his education. Whether it is helping to develop effective study habits or securing summer employment, the scholastic chairman must consider the individual’s needs, and approach each, as a unique individual.
Furthermore, this must be reflected in the recruitment of new members. A scholastic chairman must be able to sell an educational program that is designed for the individual member, not for everyone in general.
