F RATERNITY & S ORORITY L IFE F AMILY GUIDE W ELCOME TO SFA! We are so excited to The Greek Community at and sorority life is a welcome you and your SFA has a long history of great way to ensure a student to the excellence and is a well-rounded Lumberjack family. great way for your undergraduate College provides student to enhance his/ experience. amazing opportunities her undergraduate Your student is about to for learning, personal experience. embark on one of the growth, and relationship The Greek Community greatest adventures of building. We hope that provides an immediate their lifetime. Please the next several years connection to a close- consider the Greek are full of enjoyable and knit group of men and experience as a part of memorable moments women. Greek Life also that journey. that you can share with provides opportunities your student. for leadership, At Stephen F. Austin scholastic supports, State University, there community service, and Axe’Em Jacks! are countless ways for philanthropy. Fraternity your student to get men and sorority women Go Greek! involved. While are the most active academic life is certainly leaders on campus and the primary focus of can introduce your your student’s time at student to a multitude of SFA, involvement in other student activities and organizations and organizations is an leadership important part of the opportunities. collegiate experience. Participation in fraternity W HAT IS MY ROLE AS A PARENT ? Take the time to find out every campus, so allow • Discuss the financial more about the Greek your student to choose obligations with your Community at SFA. You the group with whom student. Determine who can visit chapters’ national they feel most comforta- will pay for what and the websites or SFA’s Greek ble. limits. Life website. • Keep an open mind. • Be Involved! If your stu- • Ask questions about Even though you may or dent chooses to join a what the organizations may not have been a chapter, there will be will offer your student member of a Greek or- opportunities for families and allow your student ganization does not to be involved. to make the best deci- mean that it is or is not • Above all, be supportive! sion for themselves. the choice for your son/ Chapters are different at daughter. Page 2 B ENEFITS OF CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP Coming to college is one of sisterhood, every chapter works for member to use the major life changes that is dedicated to enhancing for securing jobs and ad- your student will experi- leadership, scholarship, vancing their careers. ence. Joining a Greek or- and philanthropy/service Membership in a chapter ganization can help make through various programs is a life-long experience the transition easier. The and opportunities. It will be that the members and the Greek experience is multi- up to your student to deter- sorority/fraternity enjoy faceted and offers numer- mine the level of involve- together. Joining now is ous opportunities to your ment they want to have in really an investment in student. They will develop the organization and what your student’s future as life-long friendships with kind of experience it will be they will reap the benefits members in their chapters, for them. now and for a lifetime. as well as the rest of the The friendships your stu- Wherever a member de- Greek community. For dent will make through cides to reside after col- many members, these or- their chapter can also last lege, chances are he/she ganizations become a into post college years. will be able to find other home away from home. In Greeks have national net- members of their sorority/ addition to brotherhood/ fraternity. T IME C OMMITMENT While each chapter differs in what it re- • Study hours quires of its members, there are certainly time commitments for fraternity and sorori- Additionally, Greek organizations host spe- ty affairs. On average, students should cial events during the year which members allocate 2-5 hours per week. normally attend such as: “Fraternity is the Chapters normally have: • Philanthropy Events fuel that allows • Weekly membership meeting • Socials • New members meetings • Recruitment common people to • Executive board meetings • Rituals produce uncommon results.” F INANCIAL I NFORMATION The Greek experience is an investment in We encourage students to ask questions your student’s future. The leadership skills, related to finances during the recruitment academic assistance, and friendship will process. We also encourage you to be benefit your student beyond their college “hands on” in this decision if you have any days. Dues directly support the betterment questions about the obligations regarding of the chapter and the national organiza- finances. Chapter costs will vary. tion. IFC: $400-750 per semester • Many students work to supplement fund- MGC: $200 per semester ing for their dues. NPC: $3,556 (Living in House) / $1,1174 Many chapters have monthly payment • per semester plans. NPHC: $2,000-2,500 lump sum paid upfront Members of Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Delta Zeta and Zeta Tau Alpha have specific requirements for living in the house, typically a year or more. Fraternity & Sorority Life Page 3 P RINCIPLES TO L IVE BY ... S CHOLARSHIP Above all else, your stu- ards. Some chapters even Chapters Above All-University dent’s reason for attending offer scholarships for aca- GPA (2.90) college is purely academic. demic achievement. Your Fall 2020 Each individual chapter student can access the sets its own academic network of chapter mem- • Alpha Gamma Rho (IFC) standards and require- bers who already know • Delta Tau Delta (IFC) ments for its members to how to use campus re- remain in good standing. sources like the library, • Kappa Delta Chi (MGC) Students often find time tutors, computer labs, and • Lambda Theta Alpha (MGC) management difficult academic advisors. • Alpha Kappa Alpha (NPHC) when moving from a highly • Delta Sigma Theta (NPHC) structured high school en- Full Time Undergraduates vironment to the freedom GPA Fall 2020 • Alpha Chi Omega (NPC) of college. Greek member- Male 2.65 • Chi Omega (NPC) ship assists in that transi- Female 3.04 • Delta Delta Delta (NPC) tion by offering scholarship programs that may include Total 2.90 • Delta Zeta (NPC) study partners, mandatory • Zeta Tau Alpha (NPC) study hours, and time Council Fall 2020 GPA management workshops. IFC 2.64 “Letters today, Most chapters elect a MGC 3.03 Leaders tomorrow.” scholarship chair who as- sists with these efforts and NPC 3.21 upholds chapter stand- NPHC 2.73 L EADERSHIP Greek life abounds with opportuni- these different areas will provide ties to get involved in leadership your student with a well-rounded roles within each chapter, as well college experience, a benefit that as on campus. Officer positions will last far beyond graduation. are available within each chapter, but chapters also encourage their members to get involved as lead- ers in other campus organizations such as service groups and stu- dent government. Involvement in F RIENDSHIP Being in a sorority/fraternity is about making friendships that will last far be- yond your student’s college years. Their sorority sisters or fraternity brothers are there to support and mentor, to help make the transition to college both easy and fun. Sisterhood and brotherhood mean more than wearing letters, attend- ing meetings, or going to socials. It is a feeling and sense of belonging. It is be- ing respected for individuality and know- ing your sisters and brothers will be there to help out along the way. Page 4 S ERVICE Membership in a Greek organization provides an opportunity to give back to the community. Most sororities/fraternities sponsor philanthropic events to raise money for a number of philanthropies. Additionally, many chapters par- ticipate in service projects in and around Nacogdoches area such as The Big Event, MLK Day of Service, Habitat for Humanity, and have sponsored high- ways. “First you’re a part of it, then it becomes a part of A LUMNI you.” The undergraduate executive board for each chapter is overseen by volunteer alumni advisors that assist with chap- ter operations and proce- dures. Chapters hold events every year to stay connected with alumni and honor them for their past service in their fraternity or sorority. A LCOHOL & A NTI - H AZING P OLICICES Hazing Alcohol SFA is unequivocally opposed to SFA provides alcohol/drug abuse any activity by an organization prevention service which is avail- or individual(s) within the organ- able to all students. Services in- ization that is herein defined as clude assistance in abstaining hazing. Hazing is considered as from the use of chemical sub- any intentional, knowing or stances, early intervention when reckless act occurring on or off chemical abuse is detected, and campus by one person alone or referral to a campus support sys- acting with others, that endan- tem and/or a community referral gers the mental or physical for inpatient/outpatient services health or safety of a currently not available on campus. enrolled or prospective student for the purpose of new member intake, being initiated into, affili- ating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in that organization. Fraternity & Sorority Life Page 5 G REEK C OUNCILS : • Alpha Gamma Rho • Pi Kappa Phi I NTERFRATERNITY C OUNCIL • Alpha Tau Omega • Sigma Alpha Mu • Delta Tau Delta • Sigma Chi The Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the governing body of 14 national fraternities on campus. IFC seeks to provide active, educational pro- • Kappa Alpha Order • Sigma Nu gramming, scholarship initiatives, philanthropic and service events, • Kappa Sigma • Sigma Tau Gamma and social activities for member chapters. IFC is also responsible for • Phi Kappa Psi • Tau Kappa Epsilon organizing formal recruitment in the fall.