Why should you join a fraternity or sorority?
At first glance, the university experience can seem overwhelming. The fraternity and sorority community gives students the chance to have a support network away from home. The individual chapter will become like a family, and friendships will last a lifetime. By choosing to become a member of a fraternity or sorority, you will meet people who will grow to be close friends, people who will cheer you on and who will support you when the going gets tough. Fraternities and sororities promote the development of close ties between members through living, studying, working and having fun together. Members also meet new people through community service projects, participating in campus events and chapter events.
What kind of fraternities and sororities are offered at VCU?
The VCU fraternity and sorority community reflects the diverse makeup of the VCU campus itself. If you are interested in being a member, there is most likely a chapter that with which you may identify.
How many VCU students are in a fraternity or sorority?
On an inter/national scale, there are almost 200 inter/national fraternities and sororities on 800 campuses with 9 million members. At VCU, there are close to 1,000 members in over 30 chapters, which are the largest and most visible values-based organizations on campus.
How can fraternity and sorority membership help me succeed academically?
Academic success is an important part of college life. One of the central purposes of fraternities and sororities is to promote academic excellence. Each organization requires a minimum grade point average to remain an active member of the chapter. All chapters emphasize the value of academic success and will help their members achieve this success with scholarship programs, study halls, incentive programs and study buddies. Because the fraternity and sorority community puts so much emphasis on scholastics, it consistently has a higher cumulative grade point average than the non-affiliated students, and has established the Order of Omega, its own honorary group, to recognize outstanding fraternity men and sorority women.
Are fraternity and sorority members involved on campus?
Fraternities and sororities provide members the opportunity to expand and develop their leadership skills. Members of the fraternity and sorority community are represented in most campus groups including VCU Student Government Association, Orientation Leaders and many more. As a fraternity or sorority member, you will have the opportunity to become involved in a variety of organizations outside of your chapter.
Do fraternities and sororities participate in community service?
Every year fraternity men and sorority women give thousands of hours of service to the community. Members donate time to help with projects such as Habitat for Humanity, reading to underprivileged children, Adopt-A-Highway and the Special Olympics. Fraternities and sororities also sponsor fund-raising activities for charitable organizations. Each fraternity and sorority chapter has its own national philanthropy, which it supports on an ongoing basis. Chapters have special events to raise money for their particular projects. Some of the projects that chapters are involved with include raising money for children with terminal illnesses, women with breast cancer and victims of domestic violence.
Will I be hazed?
Hazing is prohibited by law in the Commonwealth of Virginia and by VCU. No chapter, colony, student or alumnus shall conduct nor condone hazing activities, and all will support and follow the Virginia Commonwealth University Hazing Policy and inter/national guidelines.
Does being a member of a fraternity or sorority have benefits after graduation?
With the job market becoming increasingly competitive, a college degree no longer guarantees a successful career. In today's job market it is not only important what you know, but who you know. When someone joins a fraternity or sorority, he/she not only becomes friends with the members of that chapter, but also begins building relationships with the families and friends of those members and alumni from all over the country. By joining a fraternity or sorority, a person can create an entire network of people, from which could possibly come a future employer, a spouse or a lifelong friend.
Does it cost a lot to be in a fraternity or sorority?
Joining a fraternity or sorority does carry a financial commitment. Each chapter is self-supporting through dues paid by their members. When students join a fraternity or sorority, they also agree to pay dues and fees while in school to maintain membership. Although chapters may make accommodations for special needs, students should discuss the financial obligations with their parent(s) before deciding to join.
When can I join?
The process in which you would join a fraternity or sorority at VCU is based on the council process. While more detailed information can be found by visiting the council Web site, the basic times of year for each council are:
College Panhellenic Council - Formal Recruitment in September, but can extend invitations all year
Multicultural Greek Council - The Multicultural Greek Council encourages all men and women who are interested in a culturally based fraternity and sorority experience to attend MGC events and/or the events sponsored by the MGC member organizations.
Interfraternity Council - Recruitment begins in August, but can extend invitations all year
National Pan-Hellenic Council - Most NPHC groups encourage men and women who are interested in joining to observe current members and educate themselves on the history and philosophies of each group. There will be many activities throughout the year sponsored by the NPHC organizations. Once a man or woman identifies the group he or she would like to belong to, he or she should attend a social or interest meeting sponsored by the organization.