Greek Life Info for Families

All chapters meet once a week, usually on Sunday afternoon or evenings. In addition:

• New members of organizations undergo a mandatory educational process designed to learn the history, values, and inner workings of the organization to which they have joined. Generally, this period lasts anywhere between 6-8 weeks. This culminates with an initiation ceremony at the end of this period.
• All chapters are required to perform philanthropic and community service initiatives as part of university and national guidelines.
• Students choosing to become executive leaders may have committees to which they manage, requiring meeting more frequently.

A good rule of thumb is that you get out of the experience what you put into it. The more engaged you are, the more benefits you reap. The overwhelming number of Greek-affiliated students successfully manage the time management aspect of membership, just as they balance classes, work commitments, sleep, meals, and exercise.

Balancing academics and organization involvement is a key part to successful time management.

Many chapters have scholarship chairpersons who design academic plans to ensure all members are performing well:

• Chapters may host study hours or library hours.
• Chapters employ early warning systems to address students receiving failing mid-term grade reports.
• Chapters maintain resource libraries to successfully navigate most class coursework.

Most chapters reward academic success through scholarship programs, gift cards, drawings for prizes and more to maintain high levels of engagement.

Most Greek-Letter organizations are social in nature, so it is natural to host events. All organizations are required to meet ESU, local, state, national rules/regulations, and laws regarding social events.

Most chapters maintain risk management positions and are versed in national organizational and ESU policies applicable to social events.

No organizations are permitted to host social events of any kind during the final exam period.

Hazing is an unacceptable practice that runs contrary to the organizational values of fraternities and sororities upon which they were founded. Hazing is a violation of university policy and is against state and federal law. Individuals or organizations that are alleged to have participated in hazing activities will be investigated and adjudicated accordingly. See ESU’s Hazing Prevention Policy.

In 2018, Pennsylvania signed into law Anti-Hazing legislation that, among other things, requires reporting of hazing findings publicly. You may visit our website for more information.

Most ESU fraternities and sororities do not own or maintain chapter houses. A small number that do are owned/operated by an alumni house corporation. ESU does not require students to live in chapter houses, nor regulate off-campus properties. Depending upon the organization and its internal policies, it may require members to live in a chapter house. If you do not wish to have your student live in a chapter house, please work with the undergraduate leadership and/or alumni boards.

Each recognized organization establishes its own membership fees and dues structure.

• New member of 1st semester dues are generally the highest and decrease overtime;
• Dues are paid to the local chapter for operational expenses and to the National organization for dues and insurance fees.
• Some chapters may charge additional fees to cover the costs of social events.

In order to offset these costs, there are limited scholarships available by national organizations to assist with tuition and books.

• Some organizations, through the generous support of alumni donations, have established a scholarship program to reward academic performance.
• Many organizations offer payment plans to break up the costs of dues.

Fraternities and sororities, as private organizations maintain the right to choose who may be eligible to be extended a bid for membership.

• Please note – if your student participated in the membership intake process of a culturally based fraternity or sorority, there is no such thing as the organizations offering bids. Rather, the student is informed if the organization has not been selected for membership.

Individuals not given bids for membership may explore these options:

For Men’s Fraternities

• Boost their GPA to meet membership requirements more closely in future semesters.
• Wait to join in the fall semester in the informal recruitment cycle.
• Consider exploring other involvement opportunities outside of the Greek system that more closely align with their interest and values.

For Women’s Fraternities and Sororities

There are unanimous agreements and standards by which sorority recruitment functions.

• Students who participate in the process and voluntarily withdrew prior to bid day may be eligible to join a sorority in the same semester or future semesters, if there are open spots remaining.
• Students who were released from the process prior to bid day may be eligible to join a sorority in the same semester or future semesters, if there are open spots remaining.
• Students who sign a bid card and decline a bid offered to them are ineligible to join another sorority for one calendar year.
• Students who sign a bid card, accept a bid, and choose to drop out before becoming a fully initiated member are not permitted to join another National Panhellenic Council sorority for one calendar year.
• Students who sign a bid card, accept a bid, become initiated and disaffiliate voluntarily or due to disciplinary action on the part of the sorority are ineligible to join another National Panhellenic Council sorority.