Fraternity & Sorority Life

Prospective Members

With 40+ organizations to choose from, you can join a fraternity or sorority which best suits you! The process of joining varies from each Council. Click below to read more.  

How To Join

Interfraternity Council (IFC) (click to expand)

Recruitment takes place each Fall and Spring semester, typically around the 2nd or 3rd week of classes, and lasts no more than 10 days total.

Step 1: Sign up for Recruitment at https://ifcusf.mycampusdirector2.com and pay the registration fee.

Step 2: Day 1 - Attend Orientation and Open House. There will be a presentation from the IFC Executive Board (Orientation) and afterwards will be an opportunity to go from room to room to meet each of the chapters (Open House).

Step 3: Days 2+ - Potential New Members (PNMs) can attend any of the chapters' Open Events throughout the next few days. These Open Events are an opportunity to explore more of the different fraternities, get to know them more, and ask questions.

Step 4: Potential New Members (PNMs) may be extended an invitation to attend chapters' Closed Events. These Closed Events are an invite-only event to explore the chapter more deeply, of which some chapter's may have Alumni in attendance, and is usually more formal/business casual attire. 

Step 5: Final Day - Bid Selection and Bid Rally. Potential New Members (PNMs) may be extended a membership invitation/bid to any of the fraternities. PNMs can be extended more than one (1) bid. After meeting with IFC to select a bid, Bid Rally is an event which congratulates everyone on joining the IFC community.

Please note: not everyone receives a bid. Receiving a bid is contingent upon grades, the conversations taking place between PNMs and chapter's, and whether the PNM matches a fraternity's membership criteria.

Step 6: Week 1+ - Potential New Members (PNMs) now become New Members of the chapter and begin and finish the education process. 

If you have additional questions, please visit the Councils and Chapters page for contact info.

Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) (click to expand)

The MGC DOES not coordinate each organization's membership growth events – this is done by each particular fraternity or sorority.

  • Some organizations allow first time in college (FTIC) and transfer students to join right away, but other organizations require a student complete at least 12 credit hours at USF before joining.
  • Some organizations do membership intake every semester, and others do it only once per year. This decision is made by each individual fraternity or sorority in conjunction with the national organization and the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff.

Step 1: Attend the MGC/NPHC Convocation. Convocation is an event to learn about the community and which organizations we have to offer. It is typically held in the first two (2) weeks of each Fall and Spring semesters. Check out our FSL social media pages for more details (@usf_fsl)

Step 2: Attend an organization's Informational session, Interest Meeting, or intake/Recruitment event. These meetings/events will provide an overview of their organization as well as the requirements and additional steps needed to join. Ways to find out about these events:

  • Ask the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff
  • Attend the particular organization's Week of Welcome (WOW) or other events
  • Attend the Council's Informational Session
  • Look out for flyers on bulletin boards across campus
  • Look at the respective organization's social media pages
  • Contact the individual organization
  • Look for information on each organization's local or national websites

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) (click to expand)

The NPHC DOES not coordinate each organization's membership growth events – this is done by each particular fraternity or sorority.

  • Some organizations allow first time in college (FTIC) and transfer students to join right away, but other organizations require a student complete at least 12 credit hours at USF before joining.
  • Some organizations do membership intake every semester, and others do it only once per year. This decision is made by each individual fraternity or sorority in conjunction with the national organization and the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff.

Step 1: Attend the MGC/NPHC Convocation. Convocation is an event to learn about the community and which organizations we have to offer. It is typically held in the first two (2) weeks of each Fall and Spring semesters. Check out our FSL social media pages for more details (@usf_fsl)

Step 2: Attend an organization's Informational session, Interest Meeting, or intake/Recruitment event. These meetings/events will provide an overview of their organization as well as the requirements and additional steps needed to join. Ways to find out about these events:

  • Ask the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff
  • Attend the particular organization's Week of Welcome (WOW) or other events
  • Attend the Council's Informational Session
  • Look out for flyers on bulletin boards across campus
  • Look at the respective organization's social media pages
  • Contact the individual organization
  • Look for information on each organization's local or national websites

Panhellenic Association (PHA) (click to expand)

Formal Recruitment takes place in the Fall semester, usually around Labor Day weekend, and lasts 5 days in total. 

Step 1: Sign up for Recruitment at https://usfpanhellenic.mycampusdirector2.com and pay the registration fee.

Step 2: Attend Orientation. The PHA Executive Board will provide a presentation covering an overview of the community, expectations, and an overview of the days of reecruitment. The Orientation is also where Potential New Members (PNMs) meet their group's Recruitment Counselors, or Rho Gamma's. Rho Gamma's are initiated members of sororities who have temporarily disassociated from their organization in order to serve as guides for the entirety of Recruitment.

Step 3: Day 1 to Day 4 - Recruitment Rounds. All Potential New Members (PNMs) must attend the Recruitment events they are invited to over the course of each day.

Step 4: Day 5 - Bid Day. This day is when all Potential New Members (PNMs) may receive a bid and celebrate joining the PHA community.

Please note: not everyone receives a bid.  Receiving a bid is contingent upon grades, the conversations taking place between PNMs and chapters, and whether the potential member matches a sorority's membership criteria.

Step 5: Week 1+ - New Member Education. Once a Potential New Member (PNM) accepts a bid, they become a New Member of the chapter, then begin and finish the education process.

If you have additional questions, please visit the Councils and Chapters page for contact info.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does Fraternity and Sorority Life provide that no other college organization can offer?

College is one of the biggest transitions in a student's life. Joining a fraternity or sorority will help ease the transition by finding others with similar goals and values. Fraternity and Sorority Life provides a convenient opportunity to create lifelong friendships with members of all ages, including alumni/ae. Fraternities and sororities promote brotherhood, sisterhood, siblinghood, leadership, scholarship, philanthropy, and service.

Can only first year students join a fraternity or sorority? 

Our community is open to members of all ages. The minimum membership requirement is to be enrolled as a matriculted undergraduate student at USF from any of three campuses - Tampa, Saint Petersburg, or Sarasota-Manatee. Graduate students interested in joining must contact the respective orgnization's inter/national headquarters for eligibility requirements. Each chapter may have their own additional eligiblity requirements such as, but not limited to, minimu GPA requirement, credit hours, or a resume. Check with the specific organization(s) on any additional requirements.

Can students from the Saint Petersburg or Sarasota-Manatee campus join?

Yes, you can join! As OneUSF, any student who is enrolled as a matricuted undergraduate student on any of the three (3) campuses (Tampa, Saint Petersburg, or Sarasota-Manatee) can participate and join one of our FSL chapters. The activities and programs, including intake and recruitment, will primarily occur on the Tampa campus, but you are still eligible to participate from another USF campus.

How much time will a fraternity or sorority take?

There is no minimum or maximum time a student must spend with a fraternity or sorority. Through involvement with the chapter, students will learn time management to balance academics, work, and other commitments. FSL members who are active in a fraternity or sorority find their time is well spent on what they put into it.

What are the financial obligations?

There are monetary costs to membership, called Dues, and will vary by chapter and council. Examples of where dues could go: Headquarters' fees, insurance, apparel, activities, events, etc. Feel free to inquire about a chapter's financial obligation during an informational session or during intake/recruitment.

What is the Greek Village?

USF currently houses 14 buildings on campus in Greek Village, which is in the northeast part of campus, of which some fraternities and sororities are housed. The Greek Village Housing is open to individuals who are current members of these fraternities and sororities. Each organization resides in a two- or three-story house comprised of double bedrooms with a community kitchen, common restrooms, and a living room. Residents are required to sign a Housing contract provided by Housing & Residential Education and any additional contracts pertaining to individual organizational membership.

What about hazing?

Hazing is strictly prohibited by all fraternities and sororities at USF, and is not tolerated. USF, each individual inter/national headquarters, and the State of Florida have strict anti-hazing policies and laws to which all chapters must adhere to.

As a parent or relative, how can I support my student's involvement in a fraternity or sorority?

Research each inter/national organization, including their history and core values. Determine whether the organization have a friends and family club, or events for friends and family. Once your student joins an organization, encourage them to seek leadership positions. You can also get to know their close friends within the organization, support their chapter's philanthropic or community service events, and attend their local events.

 

Why join?

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

The Fraternity/Sorority Community is dedicated to building future leaders for our society by providing a wealth of leadership opportunities for its members. From social issues to academics, career preparation to community service, the leaders of tomorrow are gaining their leadership edge in their fraternal experiences today. Membership in a fraternal organization is one of the most outstanding means of discovering and refining your leadership potential. Within each chapter, members have the chance to assume a wide spectrum of leadership roles. These roles range from recruitment chair to academic chair, and treasurer to president. Within each chapter, there can range from five to twenty-five different leadership positions, all requiring different degrees of skill and investment. Opportunities to learn and practice leadership roles stretch beyond just your chapter involvement. There are also numerous positions for fraternal men and women in campus-wide areas such as one of the Greek councils, Student Government, and nearly every registered student organization on campus.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Academic achievement is the first and foremost reason you will attend college and should remain your priority. Scholastic success is also central to the mission of all fraternities and sororities. Each organization places strong emphasis on creating an atmosphere conducive to academic performance, as well as challenging each individual to live up to his own academic potential. Fraternities implement various programs designed to assist members with their academic pursuits including tutoring, advice with course scheduling, test and note files, quiet study hours, and incentives for good grades. Most organizations also provide some sort of financial scholarships, often supported by their national organizations and local alumni groups, recognizing outstanding academic performance.

PHILANTHROPY/COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

Philanthropy projects are events in which members of the Fraternity/Sorority community donate their time and energy to raise money for local or national charitable organizations. Some of these projects may be All-Greek or All-Campus, while others may be sponsored by a specific chapter or pair of chapters. It is estimated that more than $50,000 and 4,000 hours were donated by USF Greeks last year alone in their many philanthropic activities. Giving back to the campus and local communities will always be a priority of USF's Greeks. If you are already accustomed to doing community service and want to continue it during college, fraternal involvement offers many opportunities to organize and implement philanthropic and community service activities for the chapter, the Fraternity/Sorority Community, or the entire school.

ATHLETIC OPPORTUNITIES

Fraternities and sororities participate in a campus intramural system that includes nearly every sport imaginable. Athletes of all skill levels will find a place where they can both have fun and enjoy competitive athletics and physical challenge. In each team category, chapters compete for point totals that are tallied year-round, and organizational winners are recognized annually with the All-Sports Trophy. Other sports such as golf and tennis also recognize individuals for their athletic abilities. Whatever your skill level at whichever sport you want to play, you will always find an opportunity to participate in it through USF's Greek Intramural League.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

In addition to the number of scholastic support programs, leadership development opportunities, community service initiatives, and competitive athletic experiences available to you, Fraternity/Sorority membership also provides balanced social programming for affiliated students. The first and foremost goal of every fraternity and sorority is to bring together a group of men and women of similar values and beliefs and share with them the history of their organization, its traditions, and symbols...all while building life-long friendships. For many years unfortunately, Greeks across the country have had to deal with the "Animal House" image of reckless and irresponsible behavior. At the University however, each chapter supports the responsible social policies of their governing council, the University, and their own national organization. Today, a fraternity chapter like the "Animal House" stereotype would be the exception rather than the norm.