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Fraternity and Sorority Experience Survey (FSES) - University of Nebraska-Lincoln

General Information

The FSES is a survey that assesses fraternity and sorority student experiences and a wide range of learning outcomes. The sections in the survey is organized into five constructs: Learning, Values, Operations, Community, and Alcohol/Social issues. Within these constructs, several areas are covered: College & University learning outcomes, Academic experiences, Educational programming, Integration of F/S into life, Personal growth and development, Volunteerism, Gaining of new members, Membership/Intake, Chapter affairs, Advising, Personal satisfaction, Sense of community, Housing, Alcohol use & Role of alcohol to Fraternity/Sorority experience, Bystander intervention, and includes Student demographic information.

The data contained in this report was based on data collected from University of Nebraska-Lincoln fraternity & sorority members during the Fall Semester of the 2015-2016 academic year. The information presented in this report represents a small fraction of the entire data and was selected on the basis of what appears, in our opinion, to be useful for higher education practitioners. All percentages are rounded to nearest whole number.

Demographic Information

1301 members of University of Nebraska-Lincoln participated in the FSES. Of those:

  • 651 identified as female
  • 436 identified as male
  • 3 identified another gender identity
  • 211 did not respond

Ethnicity

  • 80% identified as White or Caucasian
  • 3% identified as Hispanic or Latino
  • 2% identified as Asian or Pacific Islander
  • 1% identified as Black or African American
  • 2% identified as other ethnicities (American Indian or Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander)
  • 8% of the students’ parents attended but did not graduate from college.

Learning (College & University desired learning outcomes, Academic experiences, Educational programming)

  • 96% agreed their new member education program was respectful of all members [1].
  • 99% cited the founding values of the fraternity/sorority was something learned during the new member education program. 9% cited university policies was not discussed during the new member education program.

Values (Integrating Fraternity/Sorority experiences into life, Personal growth & development, Volunteerism)

  • The most commonly cited was chapter support for academic success, personal growth, alcohol and drug awareness, personal accountability, and sexual health awareness.
  • 95% reported that their fraternity/sorority experience had a positive effect on their ability to develop positive relationships with others[2].
  • 94% reported that their fraternity/sorority experience had a positive effect on their ability to become involved in things that interest them.
  • 93% reported that their fraternity/sorority experience had a positive effect on their commitment to serve the community[3].
  • 92% indicated that their fraternity/sorority experience had a positive effect on their sense of campus community.
  • 91% reported that their fraternity/sorority experience had a positive effect on their sense of integrity.
  • 88% of members reported that alumni/alumnae assist with networking for careers[4]. 34% of members reported that alumni/alumnae are not involved with new member education[5].

Operations (Gaining of new members, Membership intake, Chapter affairs/process, Chapter advising)

  • The most commonly cited reasons for joining their fraternity/sorority were:
    • Friendships
    • Personal development
    • Academic support
  • 38% were new members/new initiates (first year of membership).
  • 81% of members reported they received mentoring from older undergraduate members. 20% reported they didn’t receive mentoring from faculty members.
  • Most cited their chapter spent the appropriate amount of time on philanthropy, socializing, studying, leadership development, and brotherhood/sisterhood activities.
  • 99% cited was that the chapter upholds organizational values. 5% cited the chapter does not deal with conflict between members.
  • 98% stated the chapter receives formal or informal advising from their chapter advisor[6]. 28% stated the chapter does not receive formal or informal advising from parents[7].

Community (Personal satisfaction, Sense of community, Housing)

  • 93% were satisfied with their new member education program[8].
  • 93% are satisfied or somewhat satisfied with their fraternity/sorority experience.
  • 69% have held leadership roles of committee member, committee chair, or executive board officer in their chapter.
  • 80% of officers stated alumni/alumnae assist the chapter with chapter operations. 49% of the officers stated alumni/alumnae rarely assist with mental health issues.
  • 93% cited that the chapter house was a good place to socialize. 81% cited the chapter house is not a good place to party.

Alcohol (Role of alcohol to Fraternity/Sorority experience, Alcohol use)

  • 2% reported that their chapter’s alcohol and drug policies were not enforced[9].
  • The five most commonly cited chapter problems were:
    • Alcohol Use (69%)
    • Mental Health Disorders (22%)
    • Recreational Drug Use (18%)
    • Prescription Drug Use (12%)
    • Eating Disorders (8%)
  • 6% believed their chapter spent too much time educating members about alcohol use while 29% believed their chapter did not spend enough time on educating members about depression.
  • Most agreed they wanted to be part of a chapter that intervened on a brother/sister’s behalf when they were unable to and would respect someone who intervened in a potentially harmful situation[10].
  • Binge-Drinking statistics (within the last two weeks)
    • 19% drank four or more drinks twice
    • 15% drank four or more drinks three to five times
    • 4% drank four or more drinks six or more times
  • During the past two weeks:
    • 34% reported they heard someone in the chapter talk about drinking alcohol three to five times
    • 11% reported they set a limit on their consumption of alcohol three to five times
    • 8% reported they encouraged others to limit drinking alcohol.
  • 22% reported their fraternity/sorority members drinking or drug use has negatively affected their sleep and 10% reported their fraternity/sorority members drinking or drug use has negatively affected their studying.

  • [1]Combination of “agree” and “somewhat agree” responses
  • [2] Combination of “agree” and “somewhat agree”
  • [3] Combination of “agree” and “somewhat agree”
  • [4] Combination of “always” and “sometimes”
  • [5]Combination of “rarely” and “never”
  • [6]Combination of “always” and “sometimes” responses
  • [7]Combination of “rarely” and “never” responses
  • [8]Combination of “satisfied” and “somewhat satisfied” responses
  • [9] Combination of “somewhat disagree” and “disagree”
  • [10]Combination of “strongly agree” and “agree” responses