The Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council sponsor an organized, designated study area twice a week called Study Town to help members keep up with their studies.

Many fraternities and sororities encourage their members maintain a certain grade point average to remain active in the organization. The Greek organizations on campus are based upon values, and scholarship is a key component, said PHC President Diane Howe, a senior elementary education major.

“(Study Town) is an opportunity for members to get quiet study time,” Howe said.

To help both new members and active members do well academically while there is a temptation to ignore homework and socialize with friends, some organizations require that their members put in a certain amount of study hours per week.

Students can study in the library, in their rooms or other areas on or off campus.

“This is just another option available,” Howe said, adding that Study Town has less distractions than the library or a residence hall room.

Some organizations have older members who are available to help younger members with particular classes and subjects. Professional tutors are also welcome to come and assist students.

“Almost every chapter has a program in place to help (members) get their grades up or keep them up,” Howe said.

Sigma Kappa asks its members to dedicate six hours to studying per week, and what members don’t finish in one week continues into the next, said Erin Pittman, a member of Sigma Kappa and a sophomore journalism major.

“They just want to make sure we stay on top of our grades,” Pittman said.

Scholarship chair Kayla Bryan offered the girls incentives to go to Study Town to complete those hours, Pittman said, adding that for every hour a member spends at Study Town, that member earns an extra half hour of study credit for that week.

“It’s a good way to get your hours done faster,” Pittman said.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday two active members work at Study Town, making sure that the room, usually half-full with students, is quiet and that those students sign in to receive credit for their study hours, Pittman said.

Members of IFC and PHC, executive board members and scholarships chairs of each of the organizations volunteer to work at Study Town, Howe said.

Delta Chi asks its members to complete four study hours per week.

Michael Vinci, a junior business management major, has worked at Study Town as vice president of standards for Delta Chi.

“I promote (Study Town) a lot,” Vinci said. “I think it’s a good idea.”

However, the fraternity determined it was more effective to set up study tables in the Delta Chi chapter room on Tuesdays and Thursdays instead of sending them to Study Town, he said.

“It’s just the way we are,” Vinci said.

Although others disagree, Vinci said that for Delta Chi, studying in a private atmosphere is better.

“(Study Town) worked good but a lot of kids talk a lot,” Vinci said. “In our own chapter room we can yell at people and tell them to knock it off.”

Study Town is held in the Carman Dining Center on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8 to 10 p.m.

“Anyone is welcome to take advantage of it,” Howe said. “….as long as they use it for its intended purposes.”