Fraternities often cause debate. While in most instances and on most campuses, fraternities are seen for the positive impacts that they make upon those who join them and the communities of which they are a part. However, on other campuses, fraternities face great challenges to exist and operate. Often, the arguments both for and against the fraternity experience have been solely focused upon personal and anecdotal experiences. Now, thanks to the independent UniLOA research conducted by The Center for Learning Outcomes Assessment, Inc. there is finally “hard data” available to bring to the conversation.
The research focused on the seven main areas of behaviors that are regarded as “most critical” by employers, academics, managers, researchers, and others. Those areas are: critical thinking, self-awareness, communication, diversity, citizenship, membership and leadership, and relationships.
The data clearly shows that fraternity men scored higher, and experienced higher net gains in growth over their academic lifespan, than the national mean of all students in each of the seven areas measured.
The data shows a significant spike in several key areas of development. This spike occurs when individuals first join the fraternity, and continues to build cumulatively throughout their time in college.
Participation in a fraternity provides students with an essential supplement to the academic pursuits of the collegiate experience. The quest of true education is not merely to enrich the mind with lesson plans, but to foster the development of well-rounded citizens who will make lasting contributions to society.
UniLOA Data shows that those students who choose to participate in the fraternity experience gain a significant advantage to non-participants in many formative measurements that apply greatly to civic engagement, relationship building, and professional leadership skills.
Civic Engagement
UniLOA Data Point: Fraternity Members are more likely to work to help others and to actively engage in community projects (+6.5)
In 2008-2009, NIC Fraternities reported more than 1.2 million service hours completed by their undergraduate members.
Speak Up for Issues
UniLOA Data Point: Fraternity members are more likely to engage in the political process and speak up for issues that are important to them (+11.5)
Leadership Development
UniLOA Data Point: Fraternity members rank significantly higher in actively pursuing leadership roles and focusing on corresponding responsibilities (+8.9)
Life Balance
UniLOA Data Point: Fraternity members develop more engagements beyond the fraternity itself and learn to balance personal interests and time management (+9.6)
Deferred recruitment, a common tactic that singles out fraternities by blocking an individual’s ability to join until later in their collegiate career, not only discriminates against fraternities, it also impedes those
individuals’ capacity to achieve their maximum potential.
Deferred recruitment on certain campuses keep students from being able to join fraternities as first (and sometimes second) semester students. The UniLOA data, however, shows that this “safety” mechanism is actually a significant hindrance to student growth and development.
During the first two semesters, the research shows significant growth for fraternity men compared to non-fraternity affiliated men in each of the main domains tracked by UniLOA (Critical Thinking, Self-Awareness, Communication, Diversity, Citizenship, Membership and Leadership, Relationships). For fraternity men, growth is strikingly positive; suggesting that growth during the “pledge” semester is superior to growth of first semester non-affiliated men.
In addition to greater positive growth in the first semester, fraternity men appear to experience a greater magnitude of growth throughout their collegiate careers, culminating in higher scores in their final semester, as well.
The research shows significant advantages that are specific to the fraternity experience. Some of the most dramatic areas of difference are found in leadership and community involvement. These differences appear to be unique to the fraternity experience compared to other student groups and prove to be essential tools for building well-rounded individuals that are more completely prepared to join the workforce.
Those students who choose to join a fraternity leave college better prepared for immediate impact in the workplace and involvement within the community than those who do not.
It is not the early adoption of an organization or activity that makes the difference, but the commitment specifically to a fraternity that creates the difference in leadership development, citizenship, diversity, and self awareness.
Of particular distinction are the differences in areas of citizenship and community involvement, an area that resonates strongly with both the Millennials considering participation, as well as their parents. This differentiation emerges as a result of the empowerment provided by active participation within the fraternity and its leadership structure, a growing familiarity with the process of enacting change, the community involvement/responsibility ethic instilled as a part of the group, and by taking advantage of the leadership opportunities available to members of these specific organizations.
