Why go Greek?

What is “Greek Life?”

Greek-letter organizations (fraternities and sororities) are values based organizations that are committed to high ideals including scholastic achievement, philanthropic support, and developing strong and confident leaders. They exist primarily to offer support and brotherhood/sisterhood to their members during their time in college and beyond.

What do fraternities and sororities do?

Fraternities and sororities take part in many different activities including:

• Brotherhood/sisterhood events such as movie nights, game nights, dinners, and more, which provide a time for members to interact and take a break from the stresses of college life. 
• Philanthropies and Community Service. All fraternities and sororities raise money toward the philanthropy (charity) that their national organization supports. In addition, they help other fraternities and sororities to meet their philanthropic goals. Fraternity and sorority members also devote hundreds of hours each year to bettering their community through hands-on service.
• Scholarship/Academics. Greek organizations require members to maintain high academic standards. Chapters support their members academically through organizing study hours, study groups, and academic-based programming. Fraternity and sorority members have consistently maintained a higher grade point average than the all-university grade point average.
• Leadership. The Greek system develops leaders through the abundant leadership positions available both within the chapter, across campus, and nationally. Most fraternities and sororities also provide leadership seminars both as a local chapter and as a national organization.
• Alumni/Alumnae support, including a national network of brothers/sisters that can help members when they are searching for a job or internship, or if they move to a new city.
• Chapter Meetings, which are held once a week in order to discuss business of the fraternity or sorority.
• Social Events, such as formals, mixers, and socials (following risk management guidelines set forth by the university and their national organization.)
• Housing. The opportunity to live with a member’s brothers or sisters in a controlled University environment, staffed with Residence Life professionals, is one that many fraternity and sorority members cherish. Greek Housing is located next to Towers Complex.

When can you “go Greek”?

At Southeast, you can choose to "go Greek" (join a social sorority or fraternity) as early as your first semester on campus. While most Southeast students join a fraternity or sorority in the first half of their freshman year after participating in fall recruitment, many others wait until later in their college careers to join. Criteria for membership in individual sororities and fraternities varies based on their national guidelines; however, the University and local governing councils have created a minimum set of criteria for our campus. The minimum criteria are as follows:

1.  Each organization has a minimum grade point average and credit hour requirement specific to their chapter for membership. 
2. Must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University.
3. Eligibility to join/affiliate/intake must be verified by the Campus Life.

Questions About Greek Life