UMKC & Sorority Affairs

Housing Task Force Report

Eric Grospitch, Task Force Chair 6/24/2010

We believe that involvement in the fraternal community can promote student learning & growth, as we aim to cultivate a values‐based & inclusive community of excellence by ensuring all members a high‐quality & safe experience.

In May of 2009, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Mel Tyler, charged this working group with the following: In particular, the work team will discuss location of a Greek Row, the needs of the chapters and the requirements of their national organizations, and options for long‐term leases, building, and short‐term rental options. The goal of the work team will be to provide him with information to present to the neighborhood associations and the Chancellor’s leadership team that will allow a Greek Row to be added to the campus Master Plan for the Board of Curators to approve.

That Fraternity and Sorority Task Force generated a report which covered a great deal of territory and presented some concrete recommendations with input from students, alumni, area neighborhood representatives, community members, chapter advisors, faculty and staff members. As a result, this report addresses a general consensus and recommendations (page 2) of what the 17 recognized and Sororities at UMKC would like as the University continues to move forward with its Master Planning.

The members of the Task Force were:

Tanner Austin – Lambda Chi Alpha Beth Millas – Beth Brubaker – Community Member Jeanne Mitchell – Dennis Cesari – UMKC Peggy Moore – David DeCecco – Epsilon Angela Morel – UMKC Jackie Desnoyer – Alpha Delta Pi Kari Murphy – UMKC Dee Evans – UMKC Nick Patonai – Marissa Garcia – UMKC Mystie Oldham – Geoff Gerling – Paula Rowe – Chi Omega Derek Greer – Paris Saunders – UMKC Eric Grospitch – Chair Bob Simmons – UMKC John Hickman – Beta Theta Pi Martha Steele – Alpha Delta Pi James Hottel – Lambda Chi Alpha Jose Vazquez – Quincee Jackson – Latrisha Washington – Alpha Kappa Alpha Kim Johnson – Community Member & UMKC Deb Welch – Chi Omega Rachel Luptak – Chi Omega Aaron Welch – Lambda Chi Alpha Tim McFarland – Sigma Alpha Epsilon Tiffany Williams – UMKC

The following needs of the chapters were identified through a survey or our current students and advisors:

Rent Rent Land Chapter Build House Apt Lease Sleep National Info Not Lambda Chi Alpha Preferred preferable No Long Term 20‐25 bed Sleep 15‐20 Not 40 expandable Avg. chapter Beta Theta Pi Yes preferable No Long term to 80 house sleeps 50 Sigma Alpha Epsilon possibly Yes No 40 beds 10‐12 beds

Sigma Phi Epsilon possibly Yes No Long Term 12-18 beds 25 min/chapter Lambda Theta Phi No Yes No 3‐6 beds Alpha Delta Pi No Yes Not Chi Omega Yes preferable No long term 25-35 beds Sleep 20 More than 5 Delta Zeta No Yes No beds Alpha Kappa Alpha No Yes Maybe 7‐10 at most Delta Sigma Theta No Yes Maybe No more than No Yes Maybe 10

The – Kansas City has stated a goal of increasing student engagement and increasing the number of students enrolled at UMKC over the next ten years. As Fraternity and Sorority members have taken an active role in Goal 1 of the UMKC Strategic Plan of creating a vibrant campus community, this committee requests that Vice Chancellor Tyler begin conversations at the University level to add a designated Fraternity and Sorority Housing area to the UMKC Master Plan.

This workgroup understands that the work they have done is a recommendation to UMKC, and will be used to inform discussions with the Chancellor and his Leadership Team, as well as the neighborhoods.

The following are recommendations of the Housing Task Force for consideration by UMKC

 The committee recommends that UMKC commission a study to determine fit options for the area between 52nd and 54th Streets on both sides of Rockhill Road, for the future growth of UMKC Fraternities and Sororities with immediate focus on the stretch of Rockhill between 52nd and 53rd streets. It is understood by the committee that at this time, the African American Culture House and the International Student Affairs Offices are not under consideration, and that the academic offices located in that area will have to be relocated prior to any construction. This area could allow for new construction as well as renovation without additional parking concerns as the Rockhill parking structure is conveniently located.

 UMKC Real Estate and Fraternity and Sorority Chapters begin working together to develop financially feasible options including but not limited to multi‐year (2, 5, 25 years) and long‐term land lease options for facilities.

 UMKC Real Estate begin working with those Fraternity and Sorority Chapters that currently do not have housing to located appropriate housing options within the community to meet their needs. Specifically those groups that can be accommodated with the current stock of UMKC homes.

 UMKC Real Estate and Student Life work with fraternity and sorority representatives to recommend policies for these homes as well as a transition plan as spaces and homes become available in the designated area.

 UMKC Real Estate and interested Chapters should work together to discuss rental unit needs as new spaces become available so to ensure some equity amongst all chapters.

The group is requesting the following be considered for the long‐term growth needs of the community:

 UMKC may also consider a community center for Fraternity and Sororities that will provide large meeting spaces as well as storage facilities within the designated housing area. This could allow for smaller and new chapters to grow and still be able to meet the needs of the students, but would not specifically address the needs of some of the larger chapters.

 It is proposed that UMKC consider what options could be available to new Fraternity and Sorority Chapters that want to colonize UMKC in the future.

Finally, there were some overall concerns that were raised by members of the Housing Task Force that merit inclusion into this report:

 The committee recommends improved communication between current Fraternity and Sorority Housing Boards and UMKC Real Estate be strengthened and improved. Student Life and UMKC Real Estate will have regular meetings to discuss how we can work together to improve the experience for our students.

 The committee recommends an electronic work order system be investigated to improve tracking and reporting of work orders. The university is investigating the expansion of the system used by Residential Life for this area.

 Members of the committee voiced requests for commitments from UMKC related to other chapter’s housing long term, before they would be willing to invest their respective chapters’ money in new construction. This was particularly true for Chi Omega, Beta Theta Pi and Lambda Chi.

 Members of the committee voiced requests for commitments of creative funding/financing options from UMKC for those chapters that do not have a significant alumni/alumnae base to fund construction. Specifically the concern was groups that are currently renting would not be able to save/raise enough money to build a home equal to the larger chapters.

 Members of the committee expressed concern that the current rental costs of UMKC homes as well as the inability to directly apply Financial Aid restricts that environment for students.