Frequently Asked Questions

• Membership within a sorority or fraternity is intended to complement your university experience. You will find academic assistance, gain leadership experience, and participate in hands-on service projects.
• Sorority and fraternity membership provides students the chance to enhance their college experience and, unlike other student organizations, fraternities and sororities are values-based organizations and expect their members to uphold the values established by their founders. Membership also offers a sense of belonging and provides students with a home away from home. You'll also network with alumni who can help you in your job search after graduation and create a support group of lifelong friends.

The time commitment varies chapter to chapter. The first semester is generally a weekly meeting as you go through the chapter’s member education program. Most of the chapter new member programs are 6-8 weeks; these programs allow the opportunity to develop their leadership and time management skills, learn about the history of the organization, develop friendships, and become more involved. Some chapters have mentorship programs to help the transition to college and/or into the chapter. Each chapter has a weekly chapter meeting and other required events including initiation, recruitment, and philanthropies throughout the years. However these activities should never take away from your academic career as long as you plan ahead. 

Absolutely. The sorority or fraternity you join is not meant to be your only involvement. Your membership in an organization is meant to help you connect with the campus community and other resources that help you navigate your time while at KU. Many of the students in our community are involved in other groups or clubs on campus- some even are in top leadership roles or creating their own clubs.

Sorority and fraternity students promote scholarship by providing academic resources for their members including tutoring, academic advisors, study groups, scholarships, and awards. Each chapter has clear academic expectations that are expected for each of their members to maintain throughout membership.

Sorority and fraternity member GPAs are traditionally higher than their non-Greek peers.

No, just as you are trying to figure out which organization you fit best with, chapters are determining who would be the best fit for their organization. This is based on specific criteria such as one's academics, involvement in campus/extracurricular activities or community service. To maximize your options, attend as many sorority/fraternity events as possible, and engage in dialogue to allow chapter members to get to know you better. If you are not asked to join a chapter, you may try again during another recruitment period.

To learn more about each councils recruitment process and how to join, please see Governing Councils.

Yes! We welcome all students who are interested in joining the SFL Community! Be sure to look at the different sororities and fraternities in all the SFL Councils.

Governing Councils | Sorority & Fraternity Life (ku.edu) 

Hazing is a violation of state law, university policy, and the policies of all SFL Governing Councils. KU has zero tolerance for those who allow and/or facilitate hazing activities. Additionally, each chapter abides by strict anti-hazing policies from their inter/national organization. All KU students and student organizations must adhere to the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities and our KU Hazing statement. If you feel that you or someone you know is participating in inappropriate activities as a result of membership in a sorority or fraternity, you should contact the Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life or the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards via Hazing Prevention at KU.

All KU sororities and fraternities have risk management policies that govern their social events, and the boards of those chapters also have alcohol-related policies that chapters must follow. Alcohol is prohibited in sorority chapter houses, and hard alcohol is prohibited in fraternity chapter houses. The intent is to keep chapter events safe and abide by federal and state laws about alcohol. 

Like any opportunity for involvement in college, there is a financial commitment associated with joining a sorority or fraternity. The costs go toward council and inter/national fees, chapter operating expenses and social functions. Students and alumni set the fees for membership in any given chapter, and those fees can be put toward national organization fees, operational expenses, philanthropic endeavors, insurance, retreat costs, social expenditures, scholarship funding, and parent and alumni functions. We encourage you as you go through your recruitment process to ask these questions upfront.

• Most men who join an IFC fraternity with a chapter house do live in it for the first year. Depending on when you accept your invitation to join, this may require your KU student housing contract be broken. Cancellation fees may apply depending on the date of cancellation.
  
   
• Women who join a PHA sorority are not required to move into their chapter's house during their first year. Instead, new members remain in student housing and/or off campus during their first year. Many PHA sororities will have live-in obligations for their second or third year of membership within their organization.
  
   
• MGC and NPHC groups do not have a housing component and do not have expectations around housing.

• Many of our chapters require a certain GPA to receive an invitation for membership, which is why we encourage you to look at each chapter and reach out if you have any specific questions.