FAQs
Sororities and fraternities are rooted in founding principles that foster academic achievement, student involvement, community service and lifelong friendships. Greek organizations are groups of students who come together to form a personal network of individuals with similar ideas, interests, values and a mutual pursuit of a well-rounded college education. Advantages include:
- Being part of a support group to help make the adjustment to college easier
- Scholastic resources to help students achieve their academic goals
- Leadership skills acquired through hands-on experience
- Encouragement to get involved and maximize students’ potential on campus
- Opportunities for active participation in community service projects
Sorority recruitment takes place during the fall semester each year. Students seeking to join a sorority must register online before beginning the recruitment process. Recruitment takes place over the course of one weekend and it is crucial that students be in attendance for the entire weekend. During this time, students will attend events hosted by the sororities during which they will have the opportunity to meet each sorority. Through a mutual selection process, participants will determine which organization is the best fit. The National Panhellenic Council and Fraternity & Sorority Life will also sponsor a number of pre-recruitment events for interested students who wish to meet some members of each organization prior to the formal recruitment weekend.
Fraternity recruitment takes place during both the fall and spring semesters. During each semester, all interested students must register to participate in recruitment. Fraternity recruitment always starts with one formal event called The Fraternity Fair. During this event, interested students will have the opportunity to speak with members from each organization. Students can then choose to attend the individual recruitment events for the specific chapters that interest them.
You can join a fraternity or sorority as early as your first semester freshman year. You must be a full-time undergraduate student with a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA.
Like any opportunity for involvement in college, there is a financial commitment associated with joining a fraternity or sorority. The costs go toward the International/National fees, chapter operating expenses, social functions and philanthropic endeavors. Financial obligations differ among individual chapters. New members can expect to pay higher dues their first semester than in subsequent ones due to one-time costs such as initiation fees. Most organizations have payment plans available for students. While your student is participating in the recruitment process, make sure they ask about the financial obligations of membership.
No, there is no dedicated housing on or off campus. However, students within fraternities and sororities tend to choose to live together when they have the opportunity.
Sacred Heart University, along with the state of Connecticut, has a zero tolerance hazing policy for all student organizations. According to Connecticut law Section 53-23a, "‘hazing’ means any action which recklessly or intentionally endangers the health or safety of a person for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization.” Hazing is not tolerated. If you are concerned your student may be participating in inappropriate activities as a result of membership in a fraternity or sorority, you should contact Kathryn Ionta within Fraternity & Sorority Life. Calls will be handled in an immediate and discreet manner.
When students join fraternities and sororities, it is not just for their time at Sacred Heart University. The lifelong friendships you will make in a chapter can last well into post-college years. Affiliated students have national networks for members to use for securing jobs and advancing careers. Membership in a fraternity or sorority is a lifelong experience that the member and the fraternity/sorority enjoy together. Joining now is an investment in your future. Wherever a member ends up after college, chances are they will be able to find other members of the same fraternity/sorority.