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Information for Parents |
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FAQ’s for Parents
What is the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life? Why should my student Go Greek? What are the long term benefits? What does membership in a Greek letter organization mean for my son or daughter academically? Can my student participate in any other activities/ organizations if they are Greek? Who is in charge of the fraternity or sorority? Is Hazing a part of tradition?
A Greek organization is a group of individuals of similar interests bonded together by common goals and aspirations. These bonds are created through rituals in which all members participate. Rituals are based on common principles such as honor, friendship, scholarship, community, truth and knowledge, to name a few. Each group also referred to as fraternities for men and Sororities for women works to instill these ideals in their members through their everyday activities. It is referred to as a Greek organization because the name consists of Greek letters. This is true for most of our chapters but we do have fraternities and sororities that do not have Greek letters as part of their official name. Fraternity is a name applied to all Greek organizations, but specifically men's groups, while Sorority is the name applied only to women's Greek organizations. On UNC Charlotte’s campus, approximately 5% of all students are members of a Greek organization.
What is the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life? "Going Greek" is a big step, not only for students, but for their parents as well. The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life is here to answer your questions and provide support. The Fraternity & Sorority Life Office serves as the central coordination point for all programmatic and administrative fraternity and sorority functions on campus. Our office also serves as the hub of information for students, parents, and other stakeholders as it pertains to Fraternity & Sorority Life. The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life is staffed by 2 full-time University professionals that are also a part of the Dean of Students staff. In addition the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life has one full-time administrative assistant and graduate student assistant to aid with customer service and advising of our groups.
Why should my student Go Greek? Membership in a Greek organization is a life-changing experience for the men and women who choose to join. Chapter members develop a unique bond of brotherhood and sisterhood while sharing their values and goals. These friendships last beyond the collegiate years and are nurtured by alumni/alumnae activities and networking programs that provide opportunities for continued camaraderie, service, and personal development. A recent study completed at the University of Missouri showed that membership in Greek letter organizations increased the likelihood that students would return to college their second year and remain through graduation. Choosing to become part of a Greek letter organization will allow your son or daughter to meet new people and develop a support network in their new environment away from home.
Membership in a Greek organization will give your student the opportunity to participate in many campus chapter, and volunteer service events, and to create a "family" of friends.
What are the long term benefits? Joining a Greek letter organization is a life-long commitment. Post graduation there is opportunities to reap the benefits of membership in these organizations. Some of these opportunities may include scholarship opportunities for post-graduate education, leadership opportunities within alumni groups locally or nationally, and continued interest in volunteer service. One of the most significant long-term benefits is the networking possibilities available to members of Greek letter organizations. Relationships within Greek organizations extend beyond the people met in college. Membership opens the doors to career networking nationally. Most Greek letter organizations have alumni chapters across the country. These alumni groups provide an excellent way to meet new people and find support when a student relocates after college.
What does membership in a Greek letter organization mean for my son or daughter academically? The primary goal of any student attending UNC Charlotte should be to obtain a quality education. This goal places academic achievement as a core value for all fraternities and sororities on camps. Due to such scholastic standards each member must maintain a GPA of 2.5 or greater to remain in good standing with the organization as well as the University. In order to help their members succeed academically, many of the Greek organizations will offer scholarship opportunities, study halls, study buddies, and/or incentive programs for academic achievement. Many chapters have an elected scholarship chair that is responsible for keeping track of members and their academic performance. This chair coordinates recognition activities for high achievers and to seek help for members who are having academic difficulties. In addition, each chapter has a campus advisor who serves as a support for the chapter, specifically including academic achievement. Fraternity and sorority grades at UNC Charlotte are typically on par with the rest of the University. Greek organizations are values based and committed to worthwhile endeavors. Members are expected to maintain the high standards set by their chapter as well as the values of academic success established by our University. For your on reference the cumulative chapter GPA’s for all of our chapters can be found here on our website.
Can my student participate in any other activities/ organizations if they are Greek? Greek organizations help their members to develop strong leadership skills and encourage their members to become involved in leadership roles in other organizations on campus. Greeks are currently represented among Student Government, Campus Activities Board, Orientation Counselors, and Resident Advisors, just to name a few. Fraternities and sororities also participate in other activities collectively. The activities/ service projects each organization is committed to will vary depending on the chapter your student joins. Possible activities may include:
Since the origin of Greek Letter societies, groups have been self-sufficient. Each chapter and subsequent national office collects dues and membership fees from every member. Most groups have a one-time pledge and initiation fee, plus semester dues. During recruitment, each student should ask about specific chapter fees. For most groups, the first semester in the fraternity or sorority may be slightly more expensive than latter semesters due to one-time fees. The one-time expenses include the new member/or initiation fees and possibly the purchase of fraternity/sorority pins or badges. Recurring expenses (annually or per semester) include chapter dues, headquarters fees, and liability insurance payments. Dues are used for chapter programming, operating expenses, philanthropic endeavors, intramural sports, insurance, academic incentives, and parent and alumni functions. They also pay for leadership training, retreat costs, and sponsorship of members for national leadership conferences. The overall total may vary from group to group. Fees vary from chapter to chapter and whether the member lives in the fraternity or sorority housing. Housing arrangements for each fraternity and sorority at UNC Charlotte are determined by the financial and organizational responsibility of the chapter. Some chapters have houses in Greek Village, while other chapters chose to live in off campus apartments. Click here for more information about Greek Village
Who is in charge of the fraternity or sorority?
Recruitment is a time of membership enrollment through mutual selection. This provides an opportunity for the Greek organizations to select new members, and extend the luxury for prospective members to elect the chapter with which they wish to be affiliated. For potential recruits, this is an opportunity to join one of the strongest forces on campus, or just make friends. In most cases, the probable candidates have the advantage with more than one chapter extending a bid to a student. Recruitment for fraternities and sororities is "dry," meaning alcohol free, at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Fraternity recruitment for IFC (interfraternity Council) begins at the start of the fall and spring term. Recruitment for NPHC (National Pan Hellenic Council) and DGC (Diversified Greek Council) fraternities may vary based on chapters. Sorority recruitment for NPHC (National Pan Hellenic Council) and DGC (Diversified Greek Council) sororities may vary by chapter. However recruitment for the Panhellenic Association begins the second week in September and in some instances informal recruitment may take place spring semester. Recruitment for the PHA is formal or structured; therefore everyone who wishes to participate must register in advance. Sorority recruitment is designed to have every potential member see every chapter. Students who choose to participate in recruitment are under no obligation to join. At the end of the recruitment period, the fraternities and sororities extend bids, or invitations to join their organizations. If the student accepts the invitation, then and only then, have they joined the organization. Is Hazing a part of tradition?
Physical, emotional, and mental hazing illegal and violates the
policies of UNC Charlotte, all of our recognized organizations,
and by the laws of the State of North Carolina. Fortunately,
Greeks on the campus recognize that hazing has no place in their
organizations. Hazing will not be tolerated at The University of
North Carolina at Charlotte.
As a parent what should I
do? You should discuss with your son or daughter what he/she would like to do and then support his/her decision. If your student decides that joining an organization is the right decision, make sure he/she thoroughly researches the different councils and chapters located on UNCC’s campus.
Please visit our office web site (www.greeklife.uncc.edu), individual chapter web sites, or feel free to call the Fraternity & Sorority Life Office at (704) 687-2635. We are here to help you!
CONTACT US! 704-687-2635
Council contacts:
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| IFC: interfraternity@uncc.edu | NPHC: nphc@uncc.edu |
| PHA: panhellenic@uncc.edu | DGC: diversifiedgc@uncc.edu |
