Family Guide

Congratulations and welcome to The University of Texas at Austin. Being on our campus is a life-changing adventure, filled with opportunities to learn, grow and fuel your future success. As a member of a sorority myself, I know that the friendships and skills you develop in a student organization can be a part of your success for the rest of your life. This will be a time when you’ll not only learn about yourself, but also about how to participate as a member of a global community.

Joining a sorority or fraternity is one way to start living the Longhorn life. The seven council communities represented in this guide each have their own history, values, and culture. They represent the diverse opportunities for joining our Greek-letter community.

This guide is an introduction to a thriving community of student leaders representing 15% of the undergraduate population. If you have questions, our talented staff in the Office of the Dean of Students can also provide information and support to help you explore the membership process.

Hook ’em!

Soncia Reagins-Lilly

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students

Not only is this guide an important resource for students exploring sororities and fraternities, it’s also a great tool for parents, guardians, and family members. We hope the following pages will answer your questions and provide helpful information.

The sorority and fraternity experience promotes individual, organizational, and community development for your student. Many sororities and fraternities are steeped in a great deal of tradition and have been founded with espoused values, ethics and standards. To begin, many sororities and fraternities designate their organizations by using letters from the Greek alphabet, which actually have special meaning to members. Similarly, every sorority and fraternity has a unique motto, Ritual, and creed that unite the members in sisterhood or brotherhood, or siblinghood.

As a student is exploring and examining the potential in joining a sorority or fraternity, we encourage them to look for organizations that align with their personal values both in word and action, and treat each member with dignity and respect.

Academic Excellence: Every sorority and fraternity wants its members to excel academically. Many promote academic excellence through supervised study halls, incentive programs, study skills workshops, professor dinners, and tutoring. All organizations have GPA expectations for their members to stay in good standing.

Cultural Conciousness: We seek to create a sorority and fraternity community that respects cultural diversity and promotes dialogue around identity, privilege, and bias, as well as educating members to be active contributors to a global society.

Leadership Development: What Starts Here Changes the World! The sorority and fraternity community consistently provides opportunities to develop skills, enhance communication, navigate group dynamics, and understand teamwork. Leadership is at the heart of the sorority and fraternity experience.

Personal Responsibility: Our community values an environment that fosters a safe and responsible community. Joining a sorority or fraternity allows students to develop responsibility around managing their schedules and obligations. Following organizational policies encourages students to align themselves with the values of their chosen organization.

Service and Philanthropy: Giving back is a cornerstone of the sorority and fraternity experience. Whether through direct service, philanthropy, or a combination of both, each organization gives back in its own unique way.

Sisterhood, Brotherhood, and Siblinghood: One of the most celebrated aspects of the sorority and fraternity community is the people you meet and friends you keep. As a member of a sorority or fraternity, friendships make a large campus feel smaller and offer a home away from home. Take time to find out about the organization(s) your student is interested in. Check out local and national organization websites.

• Know the financial costs. Determine who will pay and what limitations these expenses may impose. For many organizations, one-time national or international dues are paid during the first year, so expect the first year of membership to be the most expensive.

• Be supportive of your student’s choice to join a sorority or fraternity. If you have questions, call Sorority and Fraternity Life.

• Encourage your student to attend leadership programs sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Students or other on-campus departments.

• Expect to see many new t-shirts, photos and sorority/fraternity merchandise.

• Know the names and phone numbers of the organization president, new member educator, big sister/big brother, organization adviser, and house director (when applicable).