There are 42 fraternity and sorority chapters at Georgia Tech with more than 2,300 undergraduate members and relations with the administration haven't always been smooth.

The Office of Greek Affairs is working with Greeks and other student organizations to pave over the bumps.

"There has been an image-related problem between the Dean of Students Office and some campus organizations, particularly the Greeks," said Buck Cooke, assistant dean of students and director of Greek Affairs. "We needed to emphasize a positive relationship with students, alumni and administrators over the mutual distrust that existed."

Work began last year directly with Greek leaders, advisers and alumni.

Although all organizations are involved, Cooke said the effort began with the Greek system "because they have the most members and have had a traditionally adversarial relationship with the dean's office."

The meeting defined the responsibilities and benefits for students and administrators in four areas.

"The judicial process had to become transparent and predictable," Cooke said. "Preventable discipline requires the student organizations to make ethical decisions, practice honesty and own up to their mistakes while the administration needed to work with organizations to find solutions to problems rather than putting out fires."

Cooke said organizational sustainability is the biggest challenge the administration faces.

"Student organizations need concrete measures to refer to when dealing with internal problems, Institute policy violations, sanctioned events — even emergencies," he said. "This model defines everything from proactive disclosures of campus violations to proper response to emergency situations.

"We're there to be an advocate for student organizations and put them on a track to success."

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