When it Seems Your Campus Greek System is Unraveling

Hamilton College announced significant changes to its residence life program in 1995, which included allowing fraternities and sororities to remain active on the small liberal arts campus, but closing all chapter houses. To articulate the changes and address the concerns of students, parents, and alumni, the college undertook what alumni affairs director Jennifer Potter Hayes calls a personal, long-term, and multifaceted communications strategy... Hamilton College reports that the move to nonresidential fraternities (sororities had never been residential) has had a positive impact on the caliber of student it attracts. Also, for the last three years, the number of women entering Hamilton - which was all male until 1978 has been greater than the number of men. Administrators attribute these changes at least in part to the closing of Greek houses four years ago.