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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of joining?
The benefits include building leadership skills, academic support, and service opportunities. The sorority and fraternity experience is excellent training for aspiring leaders. Many chapters organize tutoring programs, provide networking opportunities and offer a variety of educational resources. Membership also brings students a support system that can last a lifetime.
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What is recruitment? Rush? Intake? When do students typically join?
Recruitment/rush/intake is defined as any sorority or fraternity activity that seeks to add new members to a chapter. This could include info sessions, social gatherings or a casual meal on or off campus. Some Greek-letter organizations host recruitment throughout the year, while others recruit during a specified time period each semester/year. Whenever it occurs, any chapter activity for the purpose of adding new members constitutes recruitment and must be in compliance with organizational policies, institutional rules and state laws.
90 percent of the students that join a sorority or fraternity at UT Austin do so during their first semester in college. However, some organizations require that students have a UT Austin minimum GPA and credit hours before joining. Students, including transfer students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, also have the opportunity to join the sorority and fraternity community.
How will joining a sorority or fraternity affect my student academically?
Academic success is important to each sorority and fraternity. Chapters organize study hours, schedule study skills workshops, and encourage the use of faculty office hours. All organizations have a GPA requirement to remain a member in good standing. Some chapters offer scholarships and awards to celebrate the academic success of members and non-members.
Which sorority and fraternity is the best to join?
There are more than 60 Greek-letter organizations on campus. Each organization provides unique experiences, values, service, philanthropy and leadership opportunities in the community. Who is the “best” is a personal choice and should be based on where a student feels most comfortable. Do sororities and fraternities haze?
What does it mean to be a new member?
The new member period is a time for students to bond with other new members and active members and learn about the organization’s history and values prior to being initiated into the organization. Many new member classes will attend weekly meetings, participate in study hall, and plan activities as a group. Some chapters even elect new member officers and encourage leadership from the beginning.
Hazing is not tolerated and all students should feel safe joining and maintaining membership. However, hazing can occur in any student organization, including sororities and fraternities. To learn more about the definition of hazing, hazing prevention initatives, and how to get involved, see the following pages.
Campus Resources
University Healthy Services
(512) 471-4995 healthyhorns.utexas.edu
Counseling and Mental Health Center
(512) 471-3515 cmhc.utexas.edu
Sorority and Fraternity Life
(512) 471-9700 deanofstudents.utexas.edu/sfl
Texas Leadership Education and Development
Student Emergency Services
Student Conduct and Academic Integrity
(512) 471-2841 deanofstudents.utexas.edu/conduct
Title IX
(512) 471-0419 titleix.utexas.edu
