Spring 2002 statistics released Oct. 15 from Residence Life and Housing placed the average grade point average of all fraternities on campus below the all-men's average by one thousandth of a point.

In response to this news, the Interfraternity Council, overseen by Tricia Richerson, assistant director for Greek affairs and conference programming, will execute new scholarship initiatives, such as study hours, recognition and study skills training for new members and creating a scholarship chair committee.

Taking into account both active brothers and pledges, the all-fraternity average, 2.965, has previously ranked above the all-men's average, which was 2.966 in the spring.

The data marked a turning point for the all-fraternity average, which had been decreasing over the past few years and the all-men's average, which had been increasing.

In Spring 2001, the all-fraternity average ranked above the all-men's average by .045 grade points at 2.942. For sororities in Spring 2002, the all-sorority average ranked above the all-women's average by .030 grade points at 3.234.

Lambda Chi Alpha, Chi Psi, Sigma Nu, Theta Chi and Sigma Chi fraterntities ranked in the Top 5, above the all-mens' average, while Kappa Sigma, Pi Kappa Alpha, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Sigma Pi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Sigma Phi, Alpha Phi Alpha and Omega Psi Phi fraternities ranked below.

The week the statistics were released, IFC implemented mandatory study hours for pledges and new members, Monday to Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. The study hours were first held at RLH offices and have since been in DeTamble Auditorium. Collin Jacobson, IFC academic chair, said fraternities will be fined if pledges do not attend study hours, but that fines thus far have not been determined.

"It's actually something we assumed all the separate fraternities were doing within their fraternities," Jacobson said. "We started asking, being a little more inquisitive as whether they were actually doing these study halls for the new members É A lot of times, we found they had gone by the wayside."

Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and fraternity athletes are exempt from this policy, since they already have proctored study hours.

According to IFC policy, pledge activities should end after a six-week period and initiation should occur four weeks before the end of the semester. However, RLH plans to continue requiring study hours until the end of the semester.

"Even though they become active members before final exams," she said, "they're still listed in the new members category."

Richerson said that IFC is also promoting awards for most improved chapter GPA and study skills session of Alpha Series. In previous years, IFC has awarded the chapter with the highest average GPA and required study skills sessions from pledges under a 2.5 GPA.

IFC will also create a scholarship chair committee, including scholarship or academic chairs from each fraternity and members of the faculty who aren't Greek advisers.

"We're really trying to push scholarship," Richerson said. "We want every chapter to have their own scholarship chair, one person within each fraternity to focus only scholarship."

Richerson said that the loss of the Sig Eps and Chi Psis, who no longer operate as fraternities on campus, will not change the average GPA in the future. "I don't think there's going to be a significant impact with Sig Ep and Chi Psi being gone."