Do more than just get involved, find your home: you’ll do that here. 

What is “Greek Life?” 

Greek-letter organizations (fraternities and sororities) are values-based organizations 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, 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 for the charity that their national organization supports. In addition, they help other fraternities and sororities meet their philanthropic goals. Fraternity and sorority members also devote hundreds of hours each year to bettering the 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 who can help members when they are searching for a job or internship, or if they move to a new city. 
  • Chapter Meetings are held once a week to discuss the 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 the Towers Complex.

What different types of organizations are there? 

At Southeast, there are three Greek councils, which are referred to as the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the Panhellenic Council, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). The IFC governs and represents the 10 fraternities at Southeast that are part of the National Interfraternity Council. The Panhellenic Council governs and represents the seven sororities at Southeast that are part of the National Panhellenic Conference. NPHC governs and represents the six active, historically African-American fraternities and sororities that are recognized at Southeast. Each chapter has different eligibility requirements and is unique in its membership, tradition, scholarship, and social activities. 

IFC Fraternities 

Panhellenic Council Sororities 

NPHC Fraternities and Sororities 

National Links 

How to Join

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: – Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 from high school or college for most NPHC and IFC organizations, and a 2.75 for NPC. – Must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University. – Eligibility to join/affiliate/intake must be verified by Campus Life.

Greek Week

Greek Week is an opportunity to shed the stereotype that Greek life is all too familiar with. It is about showing loyalty to others beyond our own chapters and having the personal courage to help our community, while celebrating our Southeast Greek community. 

Greek Connections 

The Greek Connections program, formally called "Minimum Standards" for Fraternities and Sororities improves the management and the quality of the fraternity and sorority experience at Southeast Missouri State University. The agreement is between the member chapters of the Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, and Panhellenic Conference as a condition of registered status as a Greek organization through the Office of Greek Life. These shared standards will be implemented and documented by the chapters and governing councils in coordination with the Office of Greek Life. Any Greek Connections program must be approved by the governing council and/or the Office of Greek Life. 

Greek Life Updates

Multiple times each semester, the Office of Greek Life shares with our chapter presidents, alumni advisers, and governing council officers an update on various fraternity and sorority events, university processes, and chapter milestones. Listed below are the Greek Life updates provided by the office.

Questions about Greek Life?
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