Overview

The Expectations for Excellence is an initiative at the University of Rochester to create College-centered fraternity and sorority chapters on campus. The program follows a success-driven model that encourages organizations to become a larger part of the campus community rather than exist as insular groups on the periphery of the College. The program encourages co-sponsorship of events with other fraternities, sororities, and campus organizations as well as greater interaction with College faculty/staff and use of College resources.

Through the Expectations for Excellence process, each fraternity or sorority chapter creates a distinctive plan with proposed events and strategies for the calendar year. The chapter is then responsible for completing the goals set forth in the plan, with the support of the Fraternity and Sorority Association staff, chapter advocate (a staff or faculty member), and alumni advisor.

In November, each fraternity or sorority submits a written annual report and formally presents the annual report, in person, to the standards subcommittee review panel. After the standards subcommittee has reviewed a chapter’s submitted materials and the annual report presentation reviews, the standards subcommittee determines a final accreditation status for that organization and provides feedback through the review process for improved chapter operations.

Expectations for Excellence Standards

Following a review of the Expectations for Excellence process in 2021, the following standards for the community were created. Each of these standards reflects an important aspect of sorority and fraternity membership and is rooted in the College CompetenciesMeliora Vision and Values, and AS&E Priorities. Expectations for Excellence has four standards:

Expectations for Excellence Outcomes

Standards Outcomes

A chapter can receive one of four outcomes in each standard of the Expectations for Excellence:

  1. Excellent: The organization is a model group in this standard. The organization is eligible for awards in this standard.
  2. Accomplished: The organization meets all required minimum expectations and demonstrates the achievements expected from a University of Rochester sorority or fraternity in its additional plans, activities, and reflection.
  3. Minimum: The organization meets all required minimum expectations for this standard but overall has room for growth. The organization must submit a plan for improvement in this area to be approved by Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and must meet with the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs staff in April to discuss progress for growth in this area.
  4. Unacceptable: The organization did not meet minimum expectations for this standard. The organization will be given mandatory provisions in this area. These provisions are designed to address deficiencies identified by the organization’s review team.

Final Accreditation Decisions

Each chapter receives a final accreditation rating based on their overall performance.

  1. Accredited with Excellence: The organization has met all requirements and is a model student organization.
  2. Accredited: The organization has met all requirements.
  3. Unaccredited: The organization is not met the standard expected of Rochester’s fraternities and sororities.

Organizations’ outcomes are listed on chapter results page.

Resources

Support

The Fraternity and Sorority Affairs graduate assistant can provide the following support to organizations as they complete this process:

  • Grant access to your Google Drive, where your organization’s current and past EE documents are stored
  • Help a new officer understand the basics of the EE process from start to finish
  • Review the status of your current document and provide feedback on your progress
  • Conduct a complete document review, providing your organization with feedback prior to your final submission

Please reach out to FSAGA@ur.rochester.edu for any of these resources.

Contact

If you have any questions about Expectations for Excellence, contact the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs graduate assistant.

Headshot of Shetara Bigham.

Shetara Bigham
Email: FSAGA@ur.rochester.edu
101-D Ruth Merrill Center, Wilson Commons
Phone: (585) 275-9375
Office hours: By appointment