Director of Academic Affairs
The Director of Academic Affairs is a fundamental component of every chapter. As the director, you are responsible for maintaining and improving the academic foundation of the chapter. It is your job to make sure that all members are fulfilling their basic obligations of pursuing academic excellence. Maintaining high academic standards has been of great importance since the Fraternity was founded in 1858, and it is up to you to carry on this tradition in your chapter.
Your ultimate goal is to organize your chapter so that every member is able to realize his full academic potential within the arms of the Fraternity.
The Academic Guide
The academic guide lays out general guidelines to help you create a successful academic atmosphere in your chapter. This guide does not limit you in how to set up your programming, but it helps to steer the chapter in the right direction to academic success. More than likely your chapter has some programs that are already aligned with this goal, but it is up to you to build and expand upon these existing programs. You may want to reference the Best Practice Guide link.
Academic development cannot occur in isolation. The Fraternity’s Central Office staff will assist you in your efforts to improve the academic quality of your chapter any way they can. However, it is ultimately up to you and your committee to create programming to ensure the success of chapter academics.
You can also look within your chapter for help. It is a good idea to have an Academic Affairs Committee to help you serve the chapter. The more people who are involved in the academic success of the chapter, the more likely the chapter will succeed.
Communication and assessment are very important. The goals of you and your committee should clearly state the direction you would like to see the chapter head. Along with this, you and your committee should always assess the situation the chapter finds itself in. A chapter who is continuously analyzing the situation will better understand what the future holds and how to plan accordingly.
To update the Central Office of your academic status over the academic year, you must complete your section of the Fraternity Awards/Accreditation Report (FAAR). The FAAR provides a structure for planning, implementing, documenting and evaluating your chapter’s academic programs. It is the backbone of your academic programming.
To help you to attain your goals, your chapter has the resources available needed to succeed. The university’s campus also provides resources to you. Utilize the resources that you have directly in front of you. They are there for the taking.
Being a Leader
As an elected official of the chapter, you are responsible for assisting in the leadership of the chapter. You also have the responsibility to be a role model for a sound academic record. You and your committee need to take your position seriously to ensure the success of the chapter as a whole.
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