Kappa Alpha Theta ranks highest in GPA

The Panhellenic Association, which governs IU’s 19 sororities, released the rankings of each chapter’s average grade-point averages. Kappa Alpha Theta earned the No. 1 spot.

Theta has ranked first in scholarship among the houses for 10 of the last 11 semesters, said sophomore Sara Johnson, Theta’s scholarship chairwoman.

This semester the average GPA in the house was 3.4954.

Johnson said she thinks the main reason the sorority members consistently maintain a high GPA is their approach to academics. They don’t have study tables because they feel that different girls thrive in different study environments, Johnson said.

“We tend to view (academics) based on each individual’s situation, and through taking this individualistic approach, we want to cater to all learning styles,” Johnson said.
Johnson said in addition to small incentives to acknowledge academic success, they also make sure that women who are struggling academically work with the house scholarship adviser to improve grades.

“If someone in the house is struggling academically we come up with an individualized, confidential improvement plan to support them because they are just as important as girls getting straight A’s,” Johnson said.

The other houses in the top five are Phi Mu, Delta Gamma, Alpha Gamma Delta and Alpha Omicron Pi, said Ashley Clark, vice president of communications for PHA.

AGD, which ranked fourth among the houses, had an average GPA of 3.4143.

Junior Kiley Geist, vice president of scholarship for AGD, said she looks for women during rush who make it clear that they value academics.

“If we want to be one of the top houses in GPA, then we want to recruit those girls that academics are really important to them,” Geist said. “Yeah, they have a good time and enjoy college, but they know that their homework and school is important, too — that’s the main reason they’re here.”

Geist also said they use study tables and incentive programs such as the “Smartie Pants Award,” which is given to girls at chapter each week who have done well on tests and projects and helps motivate girls to keep their grades up.

AOPi ranked fifth among the houses with an average GPA of 3.4022.

Sophomore Ashley Sullivan, vice president of academics for AOPi, said in addition to weekly study tables, the sorority emphasizes teamwork and pairs women who have similar academic schedules so they can study and help each other.

“We match up people in the house based on their majors and class schedules so that the newer pledge class can get help from the older women,”