Issue #4 Fall 2009
Kappa Delta Sorority Aims for an All-Chapter GPA of 3.0 or Higher
Elisabeth Arellano, Kappa Delta Academic Excellence Chair

After reading the book INFLUENCER: the power to change anything (Patterson, Grenny, Maxfield, McMillan, Switzler), it became clear that we needed to add depth to the chapters approach to Academic Excellence.  The authors of this book suggest that change is not sustainable until we tap into the six sources of influence.  We have developed our program to tap each of them (which focus on the individual, the group, and tools that inspire). 

  • Of our three top goals, Kappa Delta has made Academic Excellence our number one goal.
  • Academic Excellence is a standing topic in our weekly chapter meetings.
  • Our Academic Excellence Chair has delivered a workshop for active members and another for new members. 
  • We have developed an Individual Goals form, inspiring members to:
  •       Set an achievable GPA goal for the semester.
  •       Seek advice and tips from friends who have already taken the class.
  •       Identify three VITAL behaviors/strategies for each class that will lead to success in that course (ex: start a study group, keep up with reading, meet with academic advisor, schedule exercise, attend SI classes, etc.).
  •       Find a Kappa Delta sister, a friend or a classmate to help with tutoring and study groups.
  •       Rate each class as easy, medium, or hard, and then schedule the appropriate amount of study hours outside of the classroom.
  • Use the ARC resources available.
  • Tap into the Big/Little Sister relationships for mentoring and motivation, as well as an early alert system (recognizing when someone is struggling and helping them to address it early). 
  • Celebrate successes:
  •       Post special signs on the doors of women earning a 3.5 GPA or higher.
  •       Give small rewards for using a planner; sharing best practices; earning stickers for going to every class, everyday; and friendly team competitions.
  • Create a Sister2Sister Tutor list and post in the house.
  • As Kappa Delta sisters, we all want to encourage each other to succeed in school!

These changes have already made a difference in the way we interact.  More and more often, we hear girls saying, “I can’t go this time, because I’m going to study for a test I have tomorrow,” instead of girls saying, “I have a class in a few minutes, but I’m hungry, so I’ll just go to lunch instead.”

Girls have been going to the library together to get Italian Sodas and study, so they get studying done and spend time with their sisters. The study room in our Chapter House is also being utilized for study groups and peer tutoring.

Academic Excellence is a part of Kappa Delta’s core values.  Our open motto is, “Let us strive for that which is honorable, beautiful, and highest.”  We have, in turn, used our motto to inspire women to excel academically.  Kappa Delta chooses not to lower its standards, but instead inspires its members to rise to meet them. We are holding each other accountable in the academic field.  “Our founders believed in the pursuit of knowledge as a powerful and empowering goal, and they created an organization that would offer women support for their intellectual endeavors.” (Norman Shield of Kappa Delta)

For more information, contact Elisabeth Arellano at elisabeth.arellano@aggiemail.usu.edu.

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