From the NPC Chairman: A sincere commitment to academic excellence

In the coming weeks college students will be returning to campuses to begin the 2019-20 academic year. With their arrival comes the excitement of a new year, the welcoming of new members and the importance our organizations and Panhellenic communities put on lifelong learning and academic excellence.

Research indicates that students today have an intense focus on career readiness. They are more career-driven and academically focused, with many of them finding that being in a sorority holds them back as opposed to enhancing their academic focus. This puts the burden of providing relevant and engaging academic and career programming on our member organizations and Panhellenic communities so they are preparing members for life after college.

According to a 2014 Gallup-Purdue University Index study of U.S. college graduates, it’s not the type institution you attend, but it’s the support you receive that matters. Graduates who were emotionally supported during college have more than double the odds of being engaged in their work and nearly three times as likely to be thriving in life after college. Sorority members report higher well-being and workplace engagement, which they attribute in large part to the support of their member organization as well as the institutions of higher learning they attended. This is confirmation that sororities do indeed provide significant benefits in helping women graduate and as sorority women it is our mission to educate others about the role our organizations have in ensuring the success of members. 

As we begin a new academic term, I encourage our Panhellenic Councils and member organization chapters to take an active role in providing effective programming and recognition in order to establish a culture in the sorority community that fosters academic excellence. Scholarship is one of NPC’s building blocks for advocacy and we need to teach our members to take an active role in their education and learn to be their own advocate. Encourage them to be proactive about using resources available on campus and be the person who’s not afraid to speak up when they need help. Talk about the importance of getting to know their professors with the goal of attending professor office hours during the first few weeks of the semester. This lets the professor know they are serious about doing well in class.

According to the Gallup-Purdue survey results, college graduates who had a professor who cared about them as a person, made them excited about learning and encouraged them to pursue their dreams, are more engaged in the work force than those that did not. Building strong mentoring relationships is key to establishing a support system whether it’s with a professor, sorority/fraternity advisor, chapter advisor, alumnae member or peer. Those mentoring relationships and the academic standards you set will enable NPC and its 26 member organizations to continue to promote our consistent message that the sorority experience adds value and enriches lives.

By educating sorority women on the importance of academic success, you are helping them fulfill their academic potential and live up to the scholastic ideal stated in the Panhellenic Creed:

We, as Undergraduate Members of women’s fraternities, stand for good scholarship, for guarding of good health, for maintenance of fine standards and for serving, to the best of our ability, our college community.”

Moreover, through effective programming and recognition, a College Panhellenic can establish a culture within the sorority community that demonstrates a sincere commitment to academic excellence.

Message From the Chairman: Learning Together

When my youngest daughter was in grade school, a group of mothers came together to discuss the voracious nature of our daughters’ reading, and how we could best support their love of books. A monthly mother-daughter book club formed, ushering the girls from primary school through junior high. It continues today for the same moms. Our daughters have long since graduated from college, and some have formed reading groups of their own!

Women of all ages benefit from coming together to read classics, best sellers, personal development, fiction and non-fiction. There is nothing like a good read, and the opportunity to share opinion, new insights and "ah-hah" moments with other women. When reflecting on the early years of my mother-daughter book club experience, and how impactful a book can be, I am reminded of one of the early books we read: “Who Moved My Cheese” by Dr. Spencer Johnson.

A story told in fable form about dealing with change in our lives, with the central characters being two mice, two small people, a block of cheese and a maze. The cheese is a metaphor for what brings us happiness in life. You may think this a rather odd choice for 8-years-old girls, but what they and their mothers gleaned from reading the book, and the lasting impressions made were significant and applicable to everyday life. Originally written for the business sector, Johnson soon discovered the lessons delivered about change in life both professionally and personally were applicable to all ages. The book has been released in several other editions including “Who Moved My Cheese for Children” and “Who Moved My Cheese for Teenagers.”

Books dedicated to personal and professional development, growth, change and well-being fill the shelves in libraries, bookstores and online. From the early formation years of the 26 NPC member sororities, women have gathered to read and study together. So, during February in honor of the Month of the Scholar, form a reading group or book club in your office, your association, with friends or as a college chapter monthly sisterhood event and feel the power of women sharing and learning from each other.

In order to jump start you on your journey of learning together, the NPC staff and I have provided a list of 12 – one for each month of the next year – personal development books. Download it here.​​​​​​​

​Interfraternally,

Donna C. King
Chairman 2015-17

Top 10 Campus Resources for NPC Scholars

1. Library

Though Google may give you the answer, try heading to your institution's library for a wealth of resources.

2. Career Center

The career center is a great resource for resume and interview advice, as well as, a place to learn about available internships and job openings.

3. Academic Advisor

Your academic advisor is not just there to make sure you get the classes you need, they are also there to help you throughout the term with anything course related.

4. Speaking / Writing Center

The speaking and writing centers are great resources if you get nervous before presentations or have trouble with writing assignments. These are often student led groups so you get to support from your peers.

5. Study Abroad Office

The study abroad office offers year-long, term-long and short opportunities to learn in other countries. 

6. Learning Resource Center

Not everyone is a great test taker. Others can have problems with studying. Whatever your problem is, your campuses Learning Resource Center is there to help make you the best student possible.

7. Professors

While your professor probably doesn’t have real magical powers, they can still be pretty magical people. Talking to a professor can make all the difference when you are struggling in a class. You might be surprised how much they are willing to help if you reach out to them.

8. Sisters in your major

Everyone’s favorite lawyer Elle Woods wouldn’t have gotten into law school without her sisters. Find one in your major to help you with concepts and classes, chances are they can help or know someone who can.

9. Online Learning Portal

While technology isn’t always our friend, most schools have an online portal where you can upload assignments, take quizzes and keep up to date on your classes. 

10. Health Center

Exercise and sleep can be used to help keep stress levels down and keep you from getting sick.

Top 10 Tips to Achieve a 4.0

         1. Plan a schedule of balanced activities.

Do not overbook your life. You want to make sure that you have flexibility in your schedule for surprises.


2. Go to every class prepared.





Read assigned material in advance so you can participate in discussion.


3. Sit in the front of the class.





Sitting in the front of the class gives you less distractions so you can concentrate on what is being taught.


4. Review notes ASAP after class.







By reviewing notes right after class, you are able to highlight the areas that were most important and keep it fresh in your mind.


5. Study at the same time each day.





By studying at the same time and in the same space you maximize your efforts. Also, the earlier in the day you study, the better your comprehension.


6. Spend no more than two hours studying one subject.





Taking breaks and changing topics will maximize your effectiveness and enhance efficiency.


7. Do justice to each class.





Keep distractions to a minimum while studying and put in the same effort for each class.


8. Take care of yourself.





Eating properly and sleeping 7-10 hours a night is a big factor in being able to function at your highest level.


9. Trade time – do not steal it.





Always keep a “to do” list so you can make sure that you get everything done that you need to.


10. Reward yourself.





When you meet a study goal, make sure to reward yourself for a job well done.

#NPCScholar Spotlight: Creighton University

Creighton University College Panhellenic credits the success of its individual chapters to its academic success as a campus. The seven sororities at Creighton have a wide variety of methods by which they support academic excellence. Regular study hours are held and highly encouraged for all members. Women are supported by chapter scholarship chairwomen through the creation of academic success plans and identifying resources that can further academic goals. There are study groups for similar majors, mentor programs and advice and support from alumnae available. Chapters host presentations on being successful in the classroom on topics like time management, campus resources and goal-setting. They also consistently recognize academic achievement, often with small prizes, in chapter meetings each week for perfect attendance, utilizing professors and tutors to be more successful and high scores on quizzes and tests. In addition, Order of Omega grants an “Excellence in Scholarship” Award each year at the Greek Awards Ceremony. All of these efforts have resulted in the all-sorority average rising to a full point higher than the all-women’s average at Creighton University.

#NPCScholar Spotlight: California State University, Fullerton

The Panhellenic women California State Unviersity, Fullerton have been working toward the goal of academic excellence for a long while, and they set high standards for themselves, focusing a lot of effort on promoting academic success. The women started a program called Scholar of Month that recognizes women who have achieved a 3.5 GPA or higher with an Instagram shout out and special gift. They also have an awards banquet each year, Pursuit of Excellence, at which they reward both Interfraternity Council men and Panhellenic women who have achieved a 3.9 GPA or higher. The Panhellenic Council shares all scholarship opportunities with each chapter on campus to assist women with the financial responsibility demanded by both academics and sorority involvement. Finally, the Panhellenic Council awards two scholarships each year to sorority women for Order of Omega dues.

#NPCScholar Spotlight: Bethany College (@Bethany_College)

Every year during the fall convocation at Bethany College, the dean of students awards the Anna Ruth Bourne Award to the sorority with the highest overall GPA. The three sororities on campus are very focused when it comes to their academics. The academic chairs from each of the three chapters at Bethany College were asked to share their chapters’ academic plans for the upcoming semester, and each sorority seemed to have similar plans for rewarding its members for their hard work. One chapter plans to continue its trend of exemplary grades by incorporating academics into sisterhood events, with events such as themed study parties and study sessions. The chapter also plans to continue its weekly rewards system, which involves recognizing women each chapter meeting who have earned academic achievements. Another chapter plans on having pre-chapter meeting study parties as well as asking each sister to create her own academic plan. The chapter is also creating a reward system to keep its sisters motivated to stick with their academic plans. The third chapter on campus wants to raise its academic GPA and has implemented study hours based on its members’ GPAs. The chapter is also starting a new reward system that involves giving small gifts to sisters whom the chapter wants to recognize for academic achievement.

#NPCScholar Spotlight: Wichita State University (@WichitaState)

This month, we are celebrating the Month of the Scholar. We’ve been highlighting College Panhellenics on Twitter that have achieved an all-sorority average above the all-women’s average on their campuses, and this week, we will be highlighting some specific activities that College Panhellenics are doing to promote academic excellence and scholarship. The first campus we are highlighting is Wichita StateUniversity.

Wichita State University Panhellenic Council holds an annual scholarship dinner each spring as an opportunity for its chapters to encourage academic excellence. This year’s dinner included a guest speaker from the Wichita State University Barton School of Business. The women hope that the scholarship dinner and recognition encourages sorority women to strive for academic excellence.