Some of your students may be curious about Greek life on their prospective campuses. Here is a quick glimpse to assist your students and parents should they desire more information.
What Is Greek Life?
“Greek life” refers to sororities and fraternities on college campuses, named with Greek letters that symbolize their values. These organizations foster friendship, leadership, and community service, creating lifelong connections and a shared commitment that extends well beyond college.
Greek Life Options on Campus
Sororities are single-sex women’s social organizations found on over 600 college campuses. The National Panhellenic Conference is the trade association for 26 international/national organizations.
Fraternities are men’s social organizations found on over 800 college campuses. The North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) represents 58 international/national organizations.
Divine 9 is the nickname of the nine historically Black Greek-letter organizations found on over 100 college campuses nationwide. The National Panhellenic Council promotes the well-being of its affiliates, five fraternities, and four sororities.
Some campuses have cultural-based fraternities and sororities. Refer to the National Association for Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) for the umbrella coalition for the 17 Latino fraternities and sororities; the National Asian Pacific Islander/Desi American Panhellenic Association (NAPA) for the 18 NAPA fraternities and sororities; or the National Multicultural Greek Council, the umbrella council for 12 fraternities and sororities, for more information.
The Professional Fraternity Association is an association of 27 national collegiate fraternities and sororities which are discipline-specific while students are pursuing graduate school (law, medicine, etc.) or undergraduate (business, engineering, education, etc.).
Association of College Honor Societies: ACHS is an association of 65 national collegiate and post-graduate honor societies.
What to Look For and How to Evaluate Greek Options
Whether large or small, culturally based, academic or general, new or long-established—each fraternity and sorority offers unique benefits. Selecting one is a personal choice, like choosing friends. Students should find the group where they feel most at home and supported.
Potential Benefits
Philanthropy: Community service is a priority for Greek organizations. Thousands of hours have been spent volunteering and millions of dollars have been raised for various community organizations.
Alumni Networking/Mentorship: Greek alumni provide career guidance, advisory board support, career networking, and internship opportunities for members.
Leadership: These organizations are self-governed, so opportunities for executive board and committee chair positions are encouraged internally and through campus Greek Councils.
Academic Expectations and Support: A minimum GPA is needed to be a member. Study hours, time management, study partners, and upper-class members assist with advice and connection to campus resources.
Scholarships Available: Most national organizations have nonprofit foundations that provide opportunities for financial assistance for college expenses.
Potential Drawbacks
Financial Obligations: The financial commitment to join a Greek organization can be seen as an investment in your future, and membership costs vary widely. Expenses depend on factors like housing arrangements (some have houses, dorm floors, or meet in classrooms) and campus traditions. Dues typically cover activities and programs. There is often a one-time fee for national membership, which includes formal items like a lapel pin. Additional costs may arise from optional events, fundraising, or special gear, but overall expenses are similar to those of other campus social and leadership organizations.
Time Commitment: Expectations include being involved on campus, meetings, community service, scholarship, and social events on and off campus.
Notes on Hazing: All fraternities and sororities have strong policies prohibiting any type of hazing. Hazing refers to any activity that is a condition upon recruitment, admission, affiliation, or continued participation in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers someone, regardless of consent or a person’s willingness to participate. Most states (46) have some type of hazing law in the books. Ask for the college police report to learn about campus hazing incidents and ask each group for their expectations.
Recruitment Process
Students entering college and considering Greek life should seek out their campus’s Greek life or campus activities office to learn more about recruitment registration. Recruitment (previously known as “Rush”) happens in various ways and timeframes, depending on each college campus. Some campuses have a more structured process called Primary or Formal Recruitment. Many campuses have Informal Recruitment, which may occur year-round; it all depends on the campus.
Conclusion
Campus involvement offers students a range of opportunities, with Greek life as one option among many. Students should be encouraged to explore resources available through the student life, campus activities, or Greek life offices to find what suits them best.
Research consistently shows a strong link between campus engagement and higher graduation rates. Studies indicate that active participation in extracurricular activities, student organizations, and community service significantly boosts students’ chances of completing their degrees. This success is often attributed to a greater sense of belonging, enhanced academic performance, and a supportive social network on campus.
By Renée Lanzilli Serrano, MEd, IECA Professional (MA) and Mary Kacmarcik Baker, EdD, IECA Associate (CA)