ACTIVE PHILANTHROPIC
YOUR GUIDE TO UMSL’S FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
Fraternity & Sorority Life Mission Statement Fraternity & Sorority Life at the University of Missouri – St. Louis seeks to encourage members to become contributing and productive members of the campus and community. Our purpose is to cultivate scholastic excellence, develop leadership skills, and provide opportunities for community involvement and philanthropic pursuits while forging lifelong brotherhood and sisterhood.
For more information about Fraternity and Sorority Life at UMSL, please visit umsl.edu/studentlife or call the OfďŹ ce of Student Life at (314) 516-5291
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HOW TO JOIN UMSL is home to fifteen fraternities and sororities and many different options for joining. The Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the governing body for 3 of our men’s fraternities. The Panhellenic Association (PHA) is the governing body for 3 of our women’s sororities. The Multi-Greek Council (MGC) is the governing body for our multicultural organizations. All Panhellenic sororities participate in formal recruitment at the beginning of the fall semester. This is a structured process where women have the opportunity to interact with all three of the chapters and narrow down their choices to ultimately find the best fit for them. The IFC fraternities hold recruitment in both the fall and the spring semesters. Men interested in joining these organizations have the opportunity to attend events for one or more fraternities according to their own schedule and availability. MGC organizations host a rush or informational for their respective organizations. Interested men and women use this opportunity to express their interest in a particular organization. Prospective members are selected by the organization and invited to be a candidate for membership. Once invited for membership, a person will participate in the membership intake process and learn about the organization history and national programs/initiatives. All of our recruitment methods are mutual selections processes: the men and women decide which organization they would like to join and the chapters decide which individuals they will invite for membership. Although participating in any of the three processes does not guarantee membership in a fraternity/sorority, you will undoubtedly meet many new and distinctive people. If you do join a fraternity or sorority you will be a part of an active community with bonds that last a lifetime.
All men and women interested in recruitment must register online at
umsl.edu/go/recruitment
THINK GREEK It’s not 4 years. It’s for life.
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PILLARS Scholastic Excellence
• Academics are the top priority for UMSL fraternity and sorority members. • Our community strives for scholastic excellence and regularly achieves an all-fraternity/sorority GPA higher than the all-campus GPA. • Chapters also have a leadership position dedicated to scholastic achievement and ensuring that members are staying focused on academics. • Fraternities and sororities offer incentives for good grades, provide opportunities to study with brothers or sisters, and have awards or scholarships for high academic achievement. • Chapter involvement maintains a healthy balance between academics and cocurricular activities.
Community Service & Philanthropy
• Fraternity and sorority members are highly involved with community service and philanthropic efforts throughout the community and the country. • Chapters participate in individual chapter events and large events such as the Big Event or the MLK Day of Service. • Each organization supports at least one charity on a local and/or national level. Members also participate in other chapters’ service and philanthropy projects whether that means travelling to Joplin, MO for tornado relief or attending a trivia night benefiting Autism Speaks. • The chapters also participate in an annual food and shoe drive competition for Greek Week. In 2015, the chapters collected over 2,446 pieces of food and 943 shoes in three days. • Overall the UMSL Fraternity & Sorority Life community contributes over 4,000 community service hours donates $20,000 for philanthropic efforts each year.
Brotherhood & Sisterhood
• Brotherhood and sisterhood means more than wearing Greek letters, attending meetings, and going to social events. It is a sense of belonging and being respected for individuality. • Chapters host events to give members an opportunity to grow close to each other and develop lifelong relationships. • Events include movie nights, dinner together, attending events on campus, playing video games, and much more! • Membership also offers a lifetime network of support during the transition to college life and for many years to come.
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Housing
One exciting benefit of fraternity/sorority membership is the opportunity to live with your brothers and sisters and be close to campus. At UMSL, our IFC and Panhellenic fraternities and sororities have houses that are either owned by the University or owned by alumni in the area. Each chapter has its own requirements for living in the chapter house. For more information about a specific chapter house, contact the Office of Student Life.
Did you Know... UMSL HAS 14 TOTAL CHAPTERS WITH 260+ MEMBERS
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Philanthropy
6 Fraternity and Sorority Houses home to over 30 members
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CAMPUS-BASED SORORITIES
Dollars Raised
4,000+
Community
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$22,000
CITY-WIDE FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES
CAMPUS-BASED FRATERNITIES
GOVERNING COUNCILS
Service Hours
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50% OF MEMBERS CARRY 3.0 GPA OR HIGHER
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2.889 GPA
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ALL FRATERNITY & SORORITY LIFE
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Leadership and involvement Many members are involved in organizations and activities outside of the fraternity and sorority community. Some of these include leadership positions in Student Government Association, Associated Black Collegians, and the University Program Board.
Order of Omega Order of Omega is an honor society for members of social fraternities and sororities. The purpose is to recognize those fraternity men and women who have attained a high standard of leadership in inter-fraternal activities.
Greek Week UMSL GREEK WeEK
Greek Week is an annual series of events for the UMSL fraternities and sororities to showcase their pride and unity. Throughout the week the chapters compete in sporting events, trivia, window painting, community service, and philanthropy to see who will be crowned Greek Week Champion. 2016
Hazing Prevention Week Each September the fraternities and sororities participate in National Hazing Prevention Week, bringing awareness and education on the dangers of hazing to the rest of campus. During this week the chapters host roundtable discussions, lunches, and collaborate with other campus departments. Organization members are able to have honest conversations about safe new member education practices and the consequences of hazing.
New Member Institute The New Member Institute was started to create a sense of solidarity among UMSL’s fraternities and sororities. Members take part in breakout sessions, team building exercises, and leadership-based discussions. The entire day is geared toward introducing new members to the policies, procedures, and expectations of a fraternity man and sorority woman, allowing them to realize their potential to be a leader. Epsilon Class
Senior Summit As older members are gearing up for graduation, Fraternity & Sorority Life works to connect them with alumni from around the area. This event offers networking opportunities and a hands-on way to connect their membership in a fraternity or sorority to life after college. During the event, members have a chance to learn from alumni how to sell their experience to employers, how to utilize skills gained through membership, and how to adjust to life after college.
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IFC Fraternity Recruitment Register Online:
umsl.edu/go/IFC Chapters:
Pi Kappa Alpha
Sigma Pi
Sigma Tau Gamma
Benefits of Membership: Fraternities are not just social groups. They are values-based organizations dedicated to providing opportunities for their members to develop the academic, leadership, social, and professional skills they will need to be successfully beyond their collegiate years. Members are challenged to reach new levels of personal development and enhance their UMSL experience.
Events: • Greek Freeze August 21 • Meet the Greeks September 2 • Fraternity Life 101 September 3 Chapter Events Chapters host their own recruitment events throughout the first several weeks of the semester. There are a variety of events such as watching a baseball game, playing basketball at the rec center, or barbequing out the house. No matter what, the events are designed to give potential members and chapter members a chance to get to know each other and decide if membership is right for you. For more information about fraternity recruitment, visit umsl.edu/go/IFC
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Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment Register Online:
umsl.mycampusdirector.com Chapters:
Alpha Xi Delta
Delta Zeta
Benefits of Membership: Panhellenic sororities encourage women to be the best version of themselves through sisterhood and shared values. Through membership, women maintain a high level of accomplishment and involvement on campus, promote superior scholarship, and hold themselves to high social and moral standards. At UMSL, all of the sororities participate in activities with their fellow Panhellenic chapters as well as the fraternities on campus. They also place a strong emphasis on philanthropy and community service holding large events each semester.
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Zeta Tau Alpha
Events: • Greek Freeze August 21 • Meet the Greeks September 2 • Formal Recruitment September 9-12 • Orientation & Open House September 9,10,11 • Invitation September 11 • Preference September 12 • Bid Day September 13
ΚΑ Ψ
ΑΚΑ Α Αφ
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ΙΦΘ
umsl.edu/go/MGC
ΣΓΡ
Register Online:
ΦΒ Σ
Β ΖΦ
Multi-Greek Council
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Φ ΩΨ
Questions? Contact mgc@umsl.edu
The Multi-Greek Council (MGC) was established to facilitate the presence of social, Greek – lettered organizations which are not already represented by a governing council or do not have a national charter solely for UMSL’s campus, specifically the fraternities and sororities which belong to the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). The goal of the MGC is to showcase the opportunities that these organizations have to offer. The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is the umbrella organization of the nine historically, though not exclusively, African-American fraternities and sororities, also known as the Divine Nine. In St. Louis, most of our Divine Nine organizations are city-wide chapters, meaning they function and have members from all of the universities throughout St. Louis. The MGC serves as the liaison between the citywide chapters and the UMSL campus.
Events:
Unlike the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils, MGC chapters recruit through a process known as membership intake. Intake varies by organization but is strictly dictated by each inter/national headquarters and the graduate chapter in St. Louis. Prior to starting the intake process, chapters will host a rush or informational where students can express their interest in the specific organization. Once invited for membership, a person will begin the membership intake process learn about the organization history and national programs/initiatives.
• Greek Freeze August 21 • Meet the Greeks September 2
Chapters: Alpha Kappa Alpha – ΑΚΑ Alpha Phi Alpha – ΑΦΑ Delta Sigma Theta – ΔΣΘ Iota Phi Theta – ΙΦΘ Kappa Alpha Psi – ΚΑΨ
Omega Psi Phi – ΩΨΦ Phi Beta Sigma - ΦΒΣ Sigma Gamma Rho – ΣΓΡ Zeta Phi Beta – ΖΦΒ 9
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Fraternity & Sorority Life Glossary Active: A member who has been initiated into lifelong fraternity or sorority membership and is active at the collegiate level.
Alumna/ Alumnus: An initiated sorority member who is no longer in college. Bid: Formal invitation to join a sorority or fraternity. Chapter: A collegiate/local branch of a national fraternal organization. Formal Recruitment: The period of time set aside by IFC and PHA for meeting potential new members
Initiation: Formal ceremony that brings a new member into full membership Intake: The process by which NPHC or MGC organizations recruit new members. Interfraternity Council (IFC): A collegiate representative governing body of greek social fraternities.
Legacy: A potential member whose immediate family member or grandparent is in a fraternity or sorority.
Line: A group of new members in a specific NPHC chapter that were initiated during the same semester; also referred to as “Ship”
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): A governing body composed of nine national, historically African American sororities and fraternities.
Neophyte (Neo): New member of an NPHC organization; also referred to as “Neo”
New Member: A woman or man who has accepted a bid to join a sorority or fraternity but has not been initiated.
Order of Omega: National Greek leadership honorary organization. Panhellenic Council: The governing body for the social sororities. Philanthropy: A charitable/fundraising sponsored event. Potential New Member (PNM): Any man or woman interested in becoming
a member of a social Greek-letter organization who is eligible to join according to specific council requirements.
Prophyte: Veteran member of an NPHC organization. 11
Recruitment Coach: An initiated member of a sorority who completely
disaffiliates from her chapter in order to guide potential new members through the recruitment process
Ritual: The traditional beliefs, ceremonies, and oaths of a fraternity or sorority. Sister/Brother: A term used by members of a sorority or fraternity when referring to other members.
The Greek alphabet Α Β Γ Δ Ε Ζ Η Θ Ι Κ Λ Μ 12
ALPHA BETA GAMMA DELTA EPSILON ZETA ETA THETA IOTA KAPPA LAMBDA MU
al-fah bay-tah gam-ah del-ta ep-si-lon zay-tah ay-tah thay-tah ee-o-tah cap-ah lamb-day mew
Ν Ξ Ο Π Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω
NU XI OMICRON PI RHO SIGMA TAU UPSILON PHI CHI PSI OMEGA
new zzEYE omm-i-cron pie roe sig-mah taw opp-si-lon fie kEYE sigh o-may-gah
Alcohol and Recruitment • Alcohol use is strictly prohibited at any and all fraternity or sorority recruitment activity. • Each fraternity and sorority at UMSL abides by Missouri State Law and forbids all alcohol use by members under the age of 21 years at any and all chapter functions. • Any student or chapter found in violation of this policy will be dismissed from the recruitment process and face additional repercussions.
Anti-hazing Policy
Hazing, defined by the Fraternity Executive Association and accepted by the University of Missouri St. Louis, is any intentional action taken or situation created, whether on or off University or chapter premises, that produces mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. This includes but is not limited to: paddling in any form, creation of excessive fatigue, physical or psychological shocks, wearing apparel in public, stunts and buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities, involuntary labor, or any activity not consistent with the University Of Missouri Board Of Curators Standard Of Student Conduct. The University of Missouri-St. Louis does not condone nor tolerate hazing of any type by any organization, or by an individual against another individual. The University of Missouri-St. Louis and the Office of Student Life will investigate any incident in which a charge of hazing has been made. University recognition may be temporarily withdrawn pending hearings and due process procedures. Should it be determined that a student organization or any of its members is guilty of hazing as previously defined, university sanctions may include but are not limited to: 1)Automatic and indefinite suspension of campus recognition with an accompanying loss of all campus privileges, (i.e. use of facilities, student services, etc.) 2)Disciplinary action against those members involved in the incident(s) including suspension or expulsion from the University.
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For Parents Fraternities and sororities are Greek-letter societies for men and women that encourage high academic standards, community service, and assisted young people with character and leadership development. These organizations have existed on college and university campuses since 1824. Hundreds of thousands of college students choose to join a fraternity or sorority for a variety of reasons including hands on leadership experience, interacting with faculty and administrators, academic support systems, and the chance to be a part of something larger than themselves. If you have questions or concerns about your student’s collegiate experience, please do not hesitate to contact the University:
Colleen Pace Fraternity & Sorority Life and Student Organizations Coordinator pacect@umsl.edu (314)516-5291
Office of Student Life 366 Millennium Student Center studentlife@umsl.edu (314)516-5291 www.umsl.edu/studentlife
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Frequently Asked Questions How much does it cost to be in a fraternity or sorority? Each chapter at UMSL costs an average of $300 per semester. Other costs include pledging and initiation fees, which are one-time only fees to be paid before you initiate. These fees are mandated by and paid to the national headquarters of the individual chapter. All fraternities and sororities at UMSL have finance plans that will help cater to your financial needs.
Will my student’s academics suffer because he/she joins a fraternity or sorority? Absolutely not! Each chapter has its own scholastic program and mandates that each member maintain a minimum grade point average to remain active in the chapter. Older members are willing to help younger members in any subject that they may need assistance and most chapters have awards they give out to the members with the highest GPA. Scholastic excellence is one of the pillars of Fraternity & Sorority Life and the chapters do everything that they can to support each other and their members.
What are the advantages of being in a fraternity or sorority? Along with the benefits of support, encouragement, and friendships that last a lifetime, fraternity and sorority membership offers many practical benefits to its members. All groups offer scholarships, loans, and other financial aid to members. Members of fraternities and sororities have numerous opportunities to develop leadership skills by attending seminars, holding officer and committee positions within the chapter, and serving as a role model for younger members. Through volunteering in the community and on campus, members of fraternities and sororities develop the self-worth that comes from serving others. They also offer a lifetime of networking opportunities with alumni.
What will I get from Fraternity & Sorority Life that I would not get out of any other college organization? Coming to college is one of the major life changes that you will go through. Joining a fraternity or sorority chapter will help make the transition easier. Developing life-long friendships with the members in the chapters helps make the campus seem smaller. For many members, these chapters become a home away from home. In addition to the brotherhood/sisterhood, every chapter is dedicated to enhancing leadership, scholarship, and philanthropy/community service.
START YOUR JOURNEY TODAY! umsl.edu/go/recruitment 15
For more information about Fraternity and Sorority Life at UMSL, please visit umsl.edu/studentlife or call the OfďŹ ce of Student Life at (314) 516-5291