Alcohol reforms at MSU Fraternities

Up until the late 1970s, it was commonplace for MSU fraternities and sororities to employ a chapter “house mother.”  Most fraternities at MSU stopped this practice in the 1970s, as there was no University requirement for chapters to have a live-in mentor/mother.  Currently, one MSU fraternity (Sigma Phi Epsilon) and all four MSU sororities have a live-in house mentor/mother.  Sigma Chi fraternity will pilot a House Mentor position during Summer 2015. 

Recommendation #9

  1. Integration of House Mentors.  All fraternity and sorority chapters with housing facilities at Montana State University will have a University approved House Mentor residing in the chapter facility during the academic year and during the summer (if the facility is occupied).   The Dean of Students’ office will establish necessary qualifications and expectations for chapter House Mentors and annually approve the appointment of the House Mentor in accordance with established qualifications and expectations.  Based upon the potential financial impact having a House Mentor will have on the overall financial operations for a fraternity or sorority, the Dean of Students will have discretion to phase in this requirement based upon demonstrated financial implications on individual chapters.

The House Mentor will be expected to participate in regular meetings with the Assistant Dean of Fraternity/Sorority Life in the Dean of Students’ office and attend all appropriate trainings and workshops. Similar to the system for those chapters that currently employ a house mentor/mother, funding for the House Mentor will be the responsibility of each chapter, with additional support from the University as funding becomes available.