The Inter-Fraternity Council presidents' council and executive board voted Thursday to institute mandatory weekly study halls for fraternity pledges.
Each fraternity house will be required to send its pledges to one of three two-hour study halls in one of the auditoriums on Grounds.
Attendance will be monitored by the IFC governing board.
IFC Scholarship Chairman Dave Katz said he hopes the study hall program will emphasize the value of academics in the Greek system.
"This will start a habit that every fraternity man will carry throughout his four years at the University," Katz said.
The program should be implemented within the next two weeks, he said.
IFC President Wes Kaupinen said the study halls will provide added structure to the pledging process.
"This program will help ensure the continued academic success of fraternity members," Kaupinen said.
Kaupinen said the decision was "very, very close to unanimous" but declined to comment on both the vote count and on how many fraternities voted against the proposal.
"It puts the kids pledging together in an atmosphere away from the brothers to get their work done," said Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity president Todd Marsh. "It also dispels the negative image of fraternities."
Marsh said poor grades are not the motivation behind creating the study halls. He said classes always have come first for pledges.
But Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity president Sam Bellas said his fraternity has "had some difficulties with scholastics in the past." Mandating the study halls is a positive step because "it's always good to start pledges off on the right foot."
Theta Chi pledge Matt Kidd said the new requirement is a good idea.
"It makes managing time easier and helps in convincing parents that pledging is not that awful," Kidd said.
Fourth-year Engineering student Jeff Feldman de-pledged from Sigma Alpha Mu when he was a first-year student because of his demanding workload.
Katz said pledging a fraternity is a hefty time commitment, especially during the last few weeks before becoming a brother.
He said he had to maintain a high grade point average to apply for his systems engineering major.
"I didn't feel that I could give my all academically and also finish out the pledge process," Feldman said.
But Pi Kappa Phi pledge Phil Jones said college students should not be forced to study just because they pledge a fraternity.
Katz said pledges have not struggled with academics in the past and added that the average GPA of fraternity men has been higher than non-fraternity men.
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said he was in support of the program.
"I think this is an attempt to emphasize academics and secure good habits," Laushway said.
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