Despite a poor score on the spring University Greek assessment, the LSU Omega Psi Phi chapter has been recognized as the most outstanding in its district.
Although there is a misconception that the University has suspended its charter, the University chapter of Omega Psi Phi will return to campus this semester.
Jerrel Wade, assistant director of Greek Affairs, said his office never planned to remove the fraternity from the University. The misconception stemmed from the public results of the spring 2003 Greek assessment.
Omega Psi Phi received the lowest possible score on the assessment with a “recommendation of withdrawal of recognition.” This means the committee is recommending the Office of Greek Affairs to investigate this organization further and consider removing it from campus.
Victor Felts, director of Greek Affairs, said a low assessment score does not mean the University will remove a Greek organization from campus. A committee outside of the Office of Greek Affairs gives the assessment scores, which are only a recommendation.
Bradford Edwards, associate University registrar and Omega Psi Phi chapter adviser, said the low score was a result of some “paramount mistakes” the chapter made in its presentation to the assessment committee.
“I want it to be clear that we did the required programming and are fully compliant with our responsibilities as a Greek organization at LSU,” Edwards said.
Edwards said the chapter currently is trying to correct the miscommunication by “filling in the blanks that were left open” on the assessment. Omega Psi Phi is working with the Office of Greek Affairs to add information about its involvement in community service and programming during the 2002-2003 school year to the assessment.
The chapter performed poorly on the assessment because of a weak presentation, not a lack of involvement or activities, Edwards said.
Omega Psi Phi Basileus, or chapter head, Steve Brockington, said the chapter’s leadership last year was preparing for the University assessment and the district assessment simultaneously. This caused the members to not adequately prepare for the University assessment.
Despite the low University assessment score, the LSU Omega Psi Phi chapter won Undergraduate Chapter of the Year in the ninth district, which includes 78 chapters in Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
Felts and Wade said they have recognized the chapter’s outstanding performance in its district assessment.
“We’re working with Omega Psi Phi on the recommendation of the assessment team to bring them up to the bronze level,” said Felts.
The bronze level is an accreditation with recommendations from the Greek assessment committee and at least two levels above Omega Psi Phi’s current standing. Last spring, the assessment committee awarded eight Greek organizations a bronze rating and 23 a silver or gold rating, which are the two highest ratings.
The next University Greek Assessment will be during the spring 2004 semester.