Western KY Greeks Adopt New Grade Standards

IFC institutes new GPA requirements by Kathrine Wade Some fraternities at WKU could be facing penalties for low GPAs starting in the fall.

The Interfraternity Council, which acts as a judicial body for fraternities on campus, has made a scholarship bylaw revision that will require fraternities to maintain a certain GPA.

Hawesville junior Billy Stephens, a member of Sigma Chi and vice president of recruitment for the IFC, said IFC came up with the new plan in order to help people with lower grades.

“Our old scholarship plan was very vague and had a lot of loopholes,” he said. “It didn’t really benefit anyone.”
According to the new bylaw, a chapter is placed in a warning semester if its semester GPA is between a 2.5 and 2.6.

If the chapter GPA drops to between 2.25 and 2.5, it’s placed in level one academic probation. If the chapter GPA falls below 2.25, it’s placed in level two academic probation.

Both levels of academic probation can result in the chapter being restricted from social activities and intramurals. That’s along with being required to attend TLC study hours, academic workshops, as well as submitting monthly grade reports to the IFC Executive Council.

Stephens said he thinks these changes will cause fraternity members to concentrate more on improving their grades.

“I think they’re going to take it more seriously,” he said. “You have to get the grades or be baby-sitted.”

Bowling Green junior John Hughes, president of the IFC and a member of Kappa Alpha Order, said he was excited about the new academic bylaws.

He said that although none of the fraternities take grades lightly, now they will have an easier time realizing what they need to do if they get off track.

“This should raise awareness of whenever you get on that borderline,” he said.

Hughes also hopes these revisions will help improve the reputation of the IFC among the fraternities.

“Our goal is not just to lay down the law,” he said. “It is to help and do the best things for our Greek community. The best thing we can do to better scholastics is to be more involved.”

http://wkuherald.com/news/article_550be2cc-5996-11e0-b1be-00127992bc8b.html

Sex May Have Been Part of Cash-for-Grades Scheme

(Courtesy of The Fratboy News)

Student Says Community College Cash-for-Grades Scheme May Have Involved Sex

In what sounds like a scheme straight out of the movie 'Slackers,' police are now saying sex may have been involved in a ring of students at Diablo Valley Community College who were said to have charged classmates about $600 per grade to change the final marks on their transcripts at the school's registrar.

Police have been investigating the ring of cheating for about 16 months. They said the students orchestrated a cash-for-grades system, where students who worked in the office would change the grades on the transcript for a charge.

About 84 students were believed to have been involved in suspiciously changing more than 400 grades. Since May, about 20 students have been cleared of all charges. The rest could face charges from real police for falsifying records.

A student was reported to have come forward and said that sometimes sex was exchanged in lieu of cash for the grades.

Police say the scam now dates back to 2000, and many of the students have transferred to four-year colleges using the transcripts.