Before discussing the “how,” we must discuss the “why.” College is about helping students learn and grow in multiple facets of life. It is the job of the fraternity and sorority experience to aid growth, helping turn students into better and more well-rounded members of society. Although compliance with policies and regulations is an essential skill to be a productive member of society, accountability is necessary for continued growth and success. Compliance is forced, but accountability is a choice that the culture of fraternity and sorority life on campus can help cultivate.
Move From Punitive to Proactive:
Rather than relying on punishment to deter rule-breaking and force compliance, proactive measures can be effective in helping squash bad behavior before it escalates. When potential problems within a chapter or with a student are noticed, open conversations about what is happening, finding the root of the cause of the behavior, and addressing the issue can help avoid future defiance.
Focus on Positive Sanctions
When sanctions are necessary, finding a way to ensure it is educational or a restorative practice can be most effective. For instance, if a chapter has a culturally insensitive party, rather than putting the organization on social probation, one could have the chapter complete educational workshops to learn how to be culturally sensitive, avoid micro and macro aggressions, and positively celebrate different cultures. Restorative Justice can also be effective in this instance. Those working with the organization could encourage the chapter to learn about the culture they appropriated and the negative effect that cultural appropriation has on historically marginalized groups. Then the organization could find a way to give back to the community they affected. This approach fosters taking accountability for actions while helping members educate themselves and grow.
Encourage Peer Accountability
As we teach students to hold themselves accountable, peer influence can be a powerful tool. Creating a culture of collective ownership – where students feel a deep sense of connection, pride, belonging, and responsibility towards the fraternity and sorority community – helps make peer accountability come more naturally. When rules and regulations align with one’s identity and values, the individual is more likely to feel a duty to encourage others to follow the rules as well. Collective ownership is cultivated through a culture of transparency, empowerment, collaboration, and shared responsibility. To do this, one must communicate transparently, create opportunities for open and honest group discussions, listen to and incorporate feedback, and actively promote a shared purpose. Encourage members to support one another and to speak up when something goes against the values of the chapter or community.
Celebrate the Small Wins with Positive Reinforcement
Actively praising and rewarding students and chapters for success and growth is a great way to encourage desired behavior. Publicly praising students and chapters who show responsibility for their actions can help encourage the continuation of accountability and encourage others to do the same. Celebrating growth and progress, not just excellence, can motivate members to strive for improvement constantly. Although positive reinforcement is beneficial, using it sparingly and with care is essential to ensure it continues to be effective, as excessive external rewards can diminish intrinsic motivation and create a culture of being motivated only by external validation.
Build Trust
Trust is the foundation of accountability. To build trust with students, you must set boundaries, have transparent expectations, and model behavior. Setting boundaries helps students feel safe and respected in their professional relationships. They know what to expect when communicating, creating a feeling of calmness and comfort. Having transparent expectations allows students to feel confident in what they must do to meet expectations and the consequences of not doing so.
Last but not least, modeling behavior is essential in building trust. Today’s students do not respect or believe in the “do as I say, not as I do” model. If we want them to take ownership of their mistakes, we must do the same.
Use Chapter Values as a Catalyst
Knowledge of expectations is not enough. Students must believe in the importance of meeting expectations to build accountability. If they think an expectation is unfair, unreasonable, or unnecessary, they will not feel as though they should have to fulfill it. Every chapter has a set of important shared values, which are often quite similar among organizations. Integrating expectations with common chapter values such as integrity, loyalty, leadership, fellowship, and service can help chapter members connect with and take accountability for achieving expectations. Regularly reflecting on shared values and how they relate to expectations helps reinforce shared values and beliefs in the expectations.
Balance Standards with Support
Giving an expectation without the tools to succeed is asking for failure. Meeting regularly with chapter members to assist in creating goals and provide training in self-assessments and reflection can help increase independence and accountability. Another way to support standards is to provide preventative training to ensure a proactive approach in educating chapters with the skills to problematic behavior.
Moving from a compliance-based approach to an accountability-based culture is no easy feat, but it is worth the effort. This culture will allow fraternities and sororities to foster an environment where members take accountability for their actions and the safety, health, and progress of the community as a whole. This change not only improves adherence to the rules from chapters and individuals – it creates more vibrant, engaged, and empowered chapters that are motivated by their values to be the best they can be and uplift the collective mission of the fraternity and sorority community.
About the Author
Justice Weyand currently serves as an advisor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she supports the Multicultural Greek Council, College Panhellenic Council, and the Las Vegas Fraternity Association, alongside all the member organizations within these councils. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education and a master’s degree in educational psychology, both from UNLV. Outside of her professional life, Justice is an avid reader and is also passionate about sustainable fashion and enjoys hunting for hidden gems at thrift stores.
