FAQs

• What leadership opportunities are available for students?
• What are the philanthropies of each organization?
• What are the values of each organization?
• What are the expenses associated with membership for each organization?
• What type of member is the chapter looking for?
• What other organizations are members of the chapter a part of?
• What do the chapter members do for fun?

There are two types of recruitment: Informal and formal recruitment seasons

Formal recruitment is held at the beginning of the fall semester each year for the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the Panhellenic Council groups. The formal process lasts approximately a week for sororities and two weeks for fraternities.  This process is intended for interested students to attend chapter recruitment events to get to know members of each fraternity and sorority. At the end of recruitment, bids or invitations to membership are distributed and the new member orientation process begins, lasting approximately six weeks before a new member is initiated.

Informal recruitment is also held in the spring semester for the Interfraternity Council groups (IFC) and could occur in the spring for the Panhellenic Council groups depending on the size of each organization.

Participation in the Membership Intake Process is required to join a National Pan-Hellenic (NPHC) Organization. Intake occurs at various times throughout the year at the discretion of each organization.  It is heavily encouraged that students do extensive research into the NPHC fraternity or sorority of interest by visiting their websites and reading about the historical contributions of each group, prior to contacting the organization with interest.

Joining a fraternity or a sorority is a life-long commitment as membership lasts beyond the 4 or 5 years you may be in college.  In such, it is your time to make a self-assured decision without focusing too heavily on the pressures or opinions of others.  In such, take some time of self-reflection to determine what matters most to you.  Are the values and the philanthropy of the organization most important?  Is it the members and the connections you make with possible future friends?  Is it the leadership opportunities and how many connections the chapter has made externally to help you in your career in the future? Whatever it may be, it is specific to you, so take some time to consider what is most important to you and which chapter best fulfills that need for you. Your friends will always be your friends, so the choice of which fraternity or sorority you choose is completely yours.

Often times, students move to college from a highly structured high school environment. Fraternities and sororities can be an opportunity to overcome challenges as they offer programs that aid with study partners, finding study hours, time management and study skills. Often times fraternities and sororities offer to support systems for people and provide resources and the accountability necessary for students to maintain good grades. In such, on average, members of the fraternity and sorority community academically out-perform the all-campus GPA average.

Similar to any other worthwhile co-curricular activity or commitment, the amount of benefit you get out of your membership is relative to the amount of time you put into it.  Time commitment can vary by chapter, however, the amount of involvement you wish to have in any given chapter is up to you. 

New members attend a variety of activities to learn about the organization’s values, history, and story.  In such, new members are expected to attend a weekly chapter meeting, new member educational programs and other fundraising and community service events. These events are planned in advance to time management by allowing members time for work, studying, involvement in other organizations, etc.

Currently, fraternities and sororities on campus do not provide housing options for members. However, members can request to live together in the University suite-style residence halls or off-campus.

Hazing is defined as any action taken that produces bodily harm or danger, mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, fright or ridicule. All national fraternal/sorority organizations and institutions of higher education have banned hazing and SVSU has a strict zero-tolerance of hazing of any kind. 

If you are not permitted to talk to friends or family for extended periods of time, hazing may be an issue, or if you suspect hazing is happening in the fraternity and sorority community at SVSU, you should contact the Office of Leadership Programs at lbdever@svsu.edu.

While there is a social component to fraternities and sororities, alcohol and substance abuse is not tolerated at SVSU. Most organizations mandate educational sessions on the dangers of alcohol and substance abuse, as well as, the precautions needed to ensure a safe environment. 

There are policies in place that fraternities and sororities must adhere too, which include the following:

Possession, sale, use or consumption of alcoholic beverages, while on chapter premises or during a fraternity/sorority event, in any situation sponsored or endorsed by the chapter, or at any event an observer would associate with the fraternity, must be in compliance with any and all applicable laws of the State of Michigan, Saginaw and Saginaw Valley State University, and must comply with either Bring Your Own Beverage or Third Party Vendor Guidelines.

The policy prohibits alcohol at:

• Open parties (parties that non-members of the fraternity/sorority may attend without invitation)
• All recruitment/rush/intake activities associated with any chapter
• Drinking games for members, associate members, new members or neophyte
• Any pledge/associate member/new member/neophyte program, activity or ritual of the chapter

If you suspect that the alcohol policy is being violated by a fraternity or sorority at SVSU, please contact the Coordinator of Leadership Programs at lbdever@svsu.edu.