What are the benefits of joining a Fraternity or Sorority?
A truly rewarding fraternal experience provides our students with a complement to the academic mission while they are students at Shepherd University and attends to their development, both ethically and academically, by providing them with peer groups, values-based programming, service opportunities, leadership development, social outlets lifelong friendships, and a career network. Our fraternal organizations seek to uphold the tenets of scholarship, leadership, service, and brother/sisterhood. These values based organizations challenge their members to instill these principles into their own lives through their activities and interactions with the collegiate brothers or sisters, and alumni.
What fraternities and sororities are at Shepherd University?
Each Chapter is affiliated with a national or international organization that provides support and guidance for local chapters. Each chapter belongs to the either the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the National Panhellenic Council (NPC), or the Professional Greek Council (PGC).
- Social Sororities: Alpha Sigma Tau (AST), Delta Zeta (DZ), Sigma Sigma Sigma (Tri-Sigma)
- Social Fraternities: Theta Xi, Lambda Chi Alpha (Lambda Chi), Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfornia (PMA)
- Professional Fraternities: Alpha Phi Omega (APO), Delta Sigma Pi (DSP), Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI)
When is Recruitment and how does it work?
All fraternities and sororities on campus welcome new members into their chapter every semester. All recruitment events are listed on chapter RamPulse pages.
For Panhellenic sororities, formal recruitment is a structured process and is held in the fall semester every year. There is a set quota of how many bids the chapters can give out, so they are usually a little more selective than they would be during informal recruitment. However, if a sorority does not meet quota or total they will do what is called Continuous Open Bidding (COB). COB is an informal process where chapters will recruit the week after formal recruitment to reach total or quota. During the spring semester sororities will take part of an informal recruitment process so be on the look out for flyers advertising recruitment events.
Recruitment for the social and professional/service fraternities is an informal recruitment process. Your time as a potential new member should be spent getting to know the students in the chapter and learning about the respective organization you would like to join.
All information about recruitment will be posted here and on our Instagram pages.
All Greek Council Instagram
Panhellenic Association Instagram
How does the new membership process work?
Most chapters have a period of time, normally no more than eight weeks, where their newest members learn the history, traditions, and values of the organization. New members will typically be involved in leadership training, community service projects, and other activities that will often offer them opportunities to better know the organization and its other members.
Will I have to worry about hazing being a part of the new membership process?
No. “Shepherd University unconditionally opposes any action taken or situation created, intentionally or unintentionally, whether on or off premises owned or leased by the organization, which has the effect of producing psychological or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.”
For more information on Shepherd University’s Anti-Hazing Policy, click here
What are the costs involved in belonging to a fraternity or sorority?
As private organizations, fraternities and sororities are self-sufficient entities that require membership dues. Membership dues are used to sponsor social events, membership recruitment, and programming in support of scholarship, leadership, and philanthropy projects. Financial obligations vary by chapter and many chapters provide their members with several payment plan options. If you’re worried about the financial commitment, you should speak with the chapter treasurer to find a solution prior to accepting a bid because your first semester and initiation fees can come as quite a financial shock to some students. Each year, chapters provide information about their cost of membership to assure financial transparency.
What is the time commitment involved with membership in a fraternity or sorority?
Students can make their experience as extensive as they like. Some members spend many hours a week being involved with their chapters by participating in intramural athletics, holding an executive office, or attending social functions while others may limit their time to chapter meetings and events. The more time a member spends with the members in their organization and at chapter activities, the more benefits a student will receive from membership. Just like any other activity, the more you put into it, the more you will get out.
Does Shepherd University offer Fraternity or Sorority Chapter Housing?
Shepherd University does not currently offer housing on campus for our Fraternities or Sororities. Any off-campus residences occupied by members of organizations are not recognized by the University as “Greek Housing.”
Who do I contact for more information?
Please contact Rachael Meads at rmeads@shepherd.edu for more information.