A fraternity is a group of men or women bound together by friendship, brotherhood or sisterhood, and common goals and aspirations. Women's fraternities are most often referred to as sororities. The members that form the fraternity share their friendship, efforts, and knowledge. Together these members learn and grow and make the fraternity strong. Their common experience builds ties that last a lifetime.

Greek houses and privately owned houses are billed en masse by the University based on the number of residents, and in turn collect room and board from those residents. As such, residents of these houses do not have charges for room or board on their quarterly University bills. To be consistent when it comes to the Telecom Fee, the houses will bill their residents for the normal fee amount along with room and board, and each house will pay the University in one lump sum.

The Greek community is a diverse group of men and women belonging to a variety of different fraternities and sororities on campuses across North America. The first Greek organization was founded in 1776, when students realized a need to discuss current events outside the classroom. Greek societies have since taken on a broader role to develop the moral, mental, and social skills of their members.

Fraternities and sororities are an organized group of students with similar interests who work together to make themselves and the community at large better. They serve as a support system, a living and learning environment, and a home away from home.

There is a national group for LGBT Greek members called the Greek Safe Zone, which is a part of the Lambda 10 Project. You can find out more about this organization at their web site, www.lambda10.org/, or by emailing them at info@lambda10.org

There is no fraternity or sorority "type". Most of the stereotypes about Greek membership are myths. One of the strengths of Illinois State's Greek system is the diversity of the individuals who are associated with it. Each fraternity and sorority, no matter how large or small in number, consists of members who have varied interests and backgrounds.

Initiation into a Greek letter organization is by a secret ceremony where a pledge or new member, becomes a fully initiated, life-member of the organization. During this ceremony you will learn the deeper meanings of the fraternity and the reasons why they exist. Each initiation is the same, and because of this, the ceremony becomes the binding force that interlocks each member to the whole body. The secrecy involved with the initiation process teaches respect and trust.

Like most other worthwhile extra-curricular activities, how much you get out of your Greek membership is related to how much you put in. On average, expect to contribute two to four hours per week for meetings and mandatory activities. Optional activities such as holding an office, attending social events, playing on an intramural sports team, or helping out with various projects will of course take additional time. Some organizations require more time than others.

There is a national group for LGBTA Greek member called the Greek Safe Zone which is a part of the Lambda 10 Project. You can find out more about this organization at their web site: www.lambda10.org/ or by emailing them at info@lambda10.org There is also an active alternative sorority at Penn State University Lambda Delta Omega. Check the Center's resources list for the current contact individual for this group.

Yes. Participating in a FIG does not conflict with fraternity or sorority membership. Being in a FIG and a Greek organization involves careful time management and a commitment to both groups.

The process of joining a fraternity or sorority is a very unique process for all Greek-letter organizations. The organizations of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) conduct intake/recruitment activities individually and ask that anyone interested in becoming a member contact the local chapter as well as the national office of the organization. Please reference the Greek Life website, www.umbc.

SMU has a deferred rush that starts in January for first-year students. Students interested in pledging a fraternity or sorority must have successfully completed at least 12 semester hours in residence at a college or university during their last semester enrolled in that college or university preceding the pledging period and must have a minimum 2.25 GPA for that previous semester and a cumulative 2.

Due to limited space, there is no guarantee the organization you join will have vacancies for new members in its house. Housing arrangements should be made prior to recruitment. Adjusting to college life is often a confusing process. By joining a fraternity or sorority your first semester, you can have an immediate family of friends, all willing to help you cope with the hassles of college life and experiences you’ll face.

Membership in Greek organizations offers students many opportunities to develop their leadership potential. Greek organizations not only provide training in the principles of leadership, they are laboratories in which these principles can be tested. Each member is actively involved in decision-making processes, teaching and encouraging students to utilize their leadership talents in the chapters and on campus. Greeks are leaders on many major campus organizations at Rutgers.

The process for starting a fraternity or sorority begins with a visit to the Coordinator for Greek Affairs, located in the Student Services Building, Room 141. You will be given advice on process, paper work, and how to be an effective group. For more information go to Dean of Students:Activities and Leadership:Greek Affairs.

Fraternities and sororities organize a process of meeting people and building relationships. This process is called membership intake, recruitment, or rush. This process offers each student the opportunity to meet other people on campus and learn what each fraternity or sorority has to offer its members. Each of the four councils follows a slightly different schedule and process for membership recruitment.

Faculty and staff who have organized the Summer Reading Program have made certain that there are no fraternity or sorority activities scheduled for Friday morning, so there should be no conflict here.

Scholarship is an important and required component of Greek life. Greek organizations are required by their national headquarters and by the University to maintain a grade point average (varies depending on the chapter). Most chapters offer study sessions, tutoring programs, and other programs to help meet the academic needs of their members.

Costs will vary from chapter to chapter. Financial responsibility is an important part of fraternity/sorority membership. Be sure to ask each chapter about financial obligations during Rush.

For more information on joining NROTC, please contact the Recruiting Officer.

There is not a typical Jewish sorority or fraternity even though almost all of the sororities and fraternities have Jewish members. If a group of students want to start one, other Jewish