Joining a Sorority or Fraternity

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Greek life at ECU!  At ECU we are proud of our Greek community, which fosters the development of leadership skills and enhances members’ personal lives.  As your son or daughter starts to settle in and develop interests, he or she will have many opportunities to choose from.  There are more than seventy student organizations registered with the ECU Office of Campus Life and Leadership.  One option your son or daughter may find interesting is joining a fraternity or sorority.  As a parent, this decision deserves your input and careful consideration.

I hope that you will find this website a valuable tool in learning more about Greek life at ECU. As the Director, I strongly support the Greek community and see it as a “learning lab of life,” giving students real-world experience that they can take with them into their professional careers. Being a member of a fraternity or sorority gives students opportunities to assume different leadership roles, from programming and money management.  They not only make friendships that last a lifetime, but also learn how to work with many diverse people toward a common goal - the growth and management of their chapter.

As you and your student discuss participation in a Greek organization, please feel free to contact me at any time with questions or concerns. I can be reached at (580) 559-5231 or at rwillims@ecok.edu.  As an administrator, I am here to serve not only the students of ECU, but also their families. I look forward to being a resource to you both.

Sincerely,

Ron Williams
Director of Campus Life and Leadership
The University Center, Rm. 152
 
What are the benefits to joining a sorority or a fraternity?
Sororities and fraternities have been serving East Central University campus since 1963. These organizations are rooted in founding principles that foster academic achievement, leadership, community service, and life-long friendships. Greek organizations are groups of men and women who come together to form a personal network of individuals with similar ideals, interests, and a mutual pursuit of a well-rounded college education. Advantages include:
  • A support group to help make the adjustment to college easier.
  • Scholastic resources to help students achieve their academic goals.
  • Leadership skills acquired through hands-on experience.
  • Encouragement to get involved and maximize potential on campus.
  • Opportunities for active participation in community service projects.
  • National research has shown that involvement in sororities and fraternities increases students' chances of graduating from college.
  • Membership in a sorority or fraternity is for a lifetime. Many alumni return to campus for football and other special events. Most chapters at ECU have newsletters and special weekends for alumni. These activities promote lifetime friendships that extend beyond individual chapters and include members of the national Greek community.
 
What is the financial obligation?
While the costs involved in being a member of a Greek chapter vary, it is important to know that each organization does collect dues and some have initiation costs as well. The dues go toward (Inter)National fees, chapter operating expenses and social functions. Financial obligations differ for fraternities and sororities and among individual chapters. New members can expect to pay higher dues their first semester due to initiation fees.

Additional costs throughout the semester may go to meal plans, pictures, gifts, social events, T-shirts, etc. Several chapters at ECU offer payment plans and scholarships for members who need financial assistance. While your son or daughter is participating in the membership intake/recruitment process, make sure that he or she asks about the financial obligations of membership.

How much time is involved with being a member of a Sorority or Fraternity?
The time commitment varies from chapter to chapter, but the first semester is the most time intensive because the new member goes through the chapter's new member education/membership intake program.

The time spent in this program will give your student the opportunity to develop his/her leadership and time management skills, learn about the history of the organization, develop friendships with the new member class, as well as the rest of the chapter, and allow them to become involved with other organizations.

Expectations will vary after initiation. Each chapter has weekly chapter meetings and other mandatory events (philanthropic, service, initiation) throughout the year. These events should be planned in advance.

Philanthropies and Service Projects
Throughout the year, each chapter and council spends time fundraising and volunteering to help various service projects and/or philanthropies (not-for-profit causes). The time spent together on philanthropic events is one of the many times that sorority and fraternity members will have to bond while making a difference.
 
Social Activities
The social activities within the ECU Greek community include intramurals, philanthropy/service events, Homecoming, and exchange dinners in addition to parties and socials. The ECU Greek community enforces a proactive approach to managing social events.
 
Studying
Sororities and fraternities serve as a great resource for students academically. Every chapter at ECU is encouraged to have a faculty advisor and scholarship chair that assists members with study hours and academic incentives. Your student can also utilize the network of chapter members, many of whom already know how to access campus resources.

Most chapters require a high GPA for continued active membership in the organization. The average new member and active members GPA for the ECU Greek community maintains well above a 3.0.