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THE OFFICE OF Fraternity and Sorority Life works to promote the values of scholarship, leadership, service and friendship among the 47 Greek organizations and four councils — College Panhellenic Association (CPA), the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) — that reside on USC’s campus. The office advises the organizations on various topics, such as safety, and staff act as guides to help grow the community.

“Keep an open mind and explore your options,” Associate Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life Josh Schuman said. “We have so many fantastic fraternity and sorority organizations, each with their own personality, that we are confident you’ll find a fit.”

While each of the 47 Greek organizations upholds the four main pillars of scholarship, leadership, service and friendship, each has its own values, beliefs and philanthropies it cherishes. Joining a Greek organization can make the university feel more like home since members gain a group with similar values early on in the college experience.

“Going through recruitment exposed and introduced me to so many people. I made friends through my Pi Chi group and when I ran home to Alpha Gamma Delta,” said President of Alpha Gamma Delta Katie Hiner. “These girls have become my support system and my best friends. My sisters show me unconditional love every single day. They have shaped me into the woman I am today … I am also so proud to be part of the Panhellenic community. The community is so open and welcoming. I am so thankful for the positive influence on my college experience that the Greek community has given me.”

The CPA supports 13 sororities on the Carolina campus, while 22 fraternities are part of the IFC. Twenty of these organizations are housed in Greek Village on the edge of the west side of campus. This serves as housing for approximately 700 Greek students and as a hub for building connections among the chapters.

The MGC is composed of five culturally based Greek-letter fraternities. This community focuses on promoting diversity and unity amongst other multicultural organizations.

By Madison Lee

The NPHC is composed of historically Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities. The NPHC is also commonly referred to as the Divine 9. The University of South Carolina is home to eight of the nine organizations, and these groups promote the well-being of their members and leadership opportunities.

“During the Fall of 2021, I joined the best fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.,” NPHC President Brandon Vereen said. “I am proud to be a member of the Zeta Epsilon chapter and to have been able to see it grow tremendously since my initiation. I believe that others within the NPHC have also contributed to my experience as they have helped me learn and grow as a person.”

All Greek organizations come together for multiple events and conferences throughout the year, with the most notable being Homecoming. In pairs or larger groups, the Greeks will participate in Trick or Treat with the Greeks and Spurs and Struts, a dance competition held in the Columbia Convention Center.

In addition to Homecoming, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life offers a variety of resources to the councils throughout the year. These include New Member Summits at the beginning of the new member process and the Greek New Member Experience, which helps newly initiated members build connections with other students. The Leadership Conference and the President Retreat help the leaders in the chapters connect with one another and become more educated on strategies and relevant training for their respective positions.

Recruitment looks different from council to council. The CPA chapters participate in primary Panhellenic Recruitment in August before classes start and the IFC intake starts after classes begin. While joining MGC and NPHC, students should look for the Intake Orientation hosted by each chapter.

The Greek life student population makes up almost 30% of the undergraduate body at the university. According to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, the average GPA of a Greek student is 3.46 and 21% of the