Finances

Sorority and Fraternity Life Fee

Executive Summary 

The University of Kansas hosts approximately 44 organizations (chapters, councils, houses), 4,500 members, 400 student officers, thousands of alumni, advisors, and volunteers and 28 independently owned chapter facilities. Nationally, fraternities and sororities positively support retention, persistence, and other student success metrics. While fraternity and sorority academics trend higher than KU overall averages, with more staff support, we could better support the community needs and university priorities.

Supporting Sorority and Fraternity Life (SFL) organizations, which have legacy/affinity connection, and overall impact on the campus community requires the investment of additional time, expertise, and resources. The KU SFL Community has one of the oldest communities (152 years) and a community of over 4,000 students, with unique needs and levels of support.

To meet the increasing financial needs of the SFL Community, an increased amount for the SFL fee will be assessed to all student members of affiliated SFL organizations, which would be allocated to the operation account for the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. This fee will be charged to individual students’ accounts. The funds will be used towards educational programs, leadership development opportunities, prevention and wellness programming and staff support. The SFL fee revenue stream would also create opportunities for stronger long-term partnerships and planning and decrease the community’s dependence on the councils’ budgets and other departmental co-sponsorship opportunities. 

Programming and Support Fee Information: 

  • Amount billed for each semester to student account: $25
  • Oversight will be provided by: Director, Sorority and Fraternity Life 
  • Assessed during the fall and spring semesters

Context 

SFL organizations are uniquely positioned as they are not university sponsored, but university guidance is still provided to the chapters, leaders, councils and stakeholders. These organizations regularly host events (many with alcohol, minors, non-university individuals), occupy residential facilities, engage in travel, manage large financial operations, and host processes (such as intake/initiation/new member education) that require additional knowledge, skills, and oversight to be successful over an extended period. 

The data suggests the issues affecting students have become more complex and require additional expertise, training and professional intervention than was necessary a decade ago. The support and resources we need to address the complexities of our SFL community do not currently exist, mostly due to financial roadblocks. The funding model we will be using will parallel the level of staffing, technology, etc. needed to create effective and sustainable ways to address: 

  • Technology and Communication Updates 
  • Education and Training on Academic support and development 
  • Health, Safety, and Well-being 
  • New Member Recruitment and Intake oversight

Contribution Information 

  • This Sorority and Fraternity Life fee is an expectation for all members. Sorority and Fraternity members receive additional benefits and support from the university beyond other student organizations (i.e.: direct advisement, community specific programming, assessment and data sharing related to each chapter and council, recruitment and promotional support). Therefore, to both maintain and expand these resources, it is necessary that monetary support be increased. 
  • There are situations where members are facing financial hardship or have other specific, extenuating circumstances or needs that may impact their ability to pay the contribution. In these instances, members of the SFL Community may submit a request for a SFL Fee Waiver.
  • All members will be assessed $25 semesterly in the fall and spring semester.

Why is this fee being charged to my student account? 

In years prior, SFL’s four governing councils would collect dues to include this fee. SFL would then issue an invoice to each council. This process was reliant on timely payment of those dues to pay for advising support and assistance, leadership development programs, and general office operation needs. By electronically administering this process, we can ensure more timely payment of fees, ensure an accurate accounting of the funds meant for office support and remove the need for SFL staff to create and manage the payment of invoices. With this new process, individual students will be assessed instead of the councils and that funding will go directly to the university account for SFL operations. 

The office is committed to being transparent by tracking the use of these funds internally and sharing how these funds are spent annually with the campus and community stakeholders. 

Will my financial aid or scholarships cover this fee?

This depends on the type of aid or scholarships you receive. Some may only cover tuition and/or room/board, but not any student fees.  Others may have no restrictions on what costs will be covered by the aid or scholarship. For the best understanding of your individual aid and how it may impact this fee, please contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships, financialaid@ku.edu or 785-864-4700.

What should I do if I cannot afford the Fraternity and Sorority fee? 

  • SFL understands that there are situations where members are facing financial hardship, have other specific, extenuating circumstances or needs that may impact their ability to pay the SFL fee. In these instances, members of the fraternity and sorority community may submit a request for an SFL Fee Waiver. 
  • SFL Fee Waiver Requests must be submitted by the following deadlines to be considered: 
    • March 1st for a fall semester waiver request (July 1 for the 2025 fall waiver)
    • October 1st for a spring semester waiver request
  • Waiver applicants will be notified via email after their request has been reviewed and reached a final decision. Please note that all contribution waiver requests may not be granted. 
  • The waiver will be provided processed through Rock Chalk Central.

Financial Aid Process 

So that the SFL fee can be added to student accounts, the following will be adhered to: 

Adding Charge to Student Account: 

Sorority and Fraternity Life staff will send chapter rosters to the Controller’s Office. Each roster will include the information below: 

  • Amount to be billed to the individuals on each roster 
  • Student names 
  • KU ID number 
  • Chapter of membership

Students will see this charge on their student bill through Enroll & Pay.

Questions and Concerns 

Any questions regarding the SFL fee can be forwarded to Sorority and Fraternity Life: kusfl@ku.edu

Fee Requirement Understanding

Programming Fee Student Agreement

By joining a fraternity or sorority, you are acknowledging your understanding of an agreement to the following Terms and Conditions. Please read carefully.

Participation in a fraternity or sorority is optional and remains a choice of the student. As such, by agreeing to become or remain a member of a fraternity or sorority, you agree to pay the programming and support fee assessed to all students. The programming and support fee is assessed in the fall and spring semesters and applied to your student account. Please review the billing policies and procedures from Student Accounts and Receivables to understand financial responsibilities and processes.