Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the benefits of joining a chapter?
Joining a fraternity or sorority at IWU gives your student with a college family and a sense of having a “home away from home”. Involvement in Fraternity and Sorority Life provides a local and national support network for each student to be used for financial, emotional, scholastic, leadership and career development, and networking support.
Does being in a fraternity or sorority affect academic performance?
Involvement in a fraternity or sorority can affect academics in a positive way. Our sororities typically have higher average GPAs than non-sorority women. Our fraternity average GPAs are competitive with non-fraternity men. Over 50% of our fraternity and sorority members achieve semester GPAs above the non-Greek students.
How much does it cost?
Financial obligations vary from chapter to chapter, so we advise you to encourage your student to ask current members about the realities of their financial obligation. Information is listed about each chapter in the individual chapter profiles located in this section of the website.
What about hazing?
At IWU, your student’s safety is of the highest importance. The University has a zero-tolerance policy with regard to hazing and all other activities that interfere with the personal liberty of an individual. IWU defines hazing as "any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off campus premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, intimidation, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: forced use of alcohol; paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and buffoonery; morally degrading or humiliating games or activities; deprivation of sleep; and any other inappropriate activities which are not consistent with the institutional mission and governing policies. Furthermore, the institution will treat the hazing action of even one member of a group as constituting hazing by the group."
What is pledging?
Pledging is an outdated term used for the new member education process. This period of time usually lasts 6-8 weeks and is designed to educate new members on chapter operations, fraternity and sorority culture on campus and the values of the organization
Does being Greek end at graduation?
In addition to the numerous benefits during college, fraternities and sororities provide a many opportunities to their members after graduation. Fraternities and sororities provide a strong network for your student locally, nationally and abroad for career development and advancement. Furthermore, the leadership and organizational skills members learn in college will be invaluable in their future careers, and the friends they make will surely last a lifetime
What is the time commitment?
Time commitments will vary from chapter to chapter, but the first semester will likely be one of the busiest times. After initiation expectations vary, but each chapter has weekly required meetings as well as other mandatory events (community service, initiation, etc.) that are scheduled well in advance. As with any commitment, the more time you put into being involved in your chapter, the more you will get out of the experience
What is philanthropy?
Philanthropic events are events in which fraternity and sorority members will raise money for a particular charitable cause. Many chapters hold events to raise money for campus-wide events, such as Dance Marathon, and most have particular charities associated with their inter/national headquarters.
How do I get involved?
IWU Fraternity and Sorority Life takes part in a “delayed recruitment”, which means that first-year students are not able to be extended bids from chapters until the beginning of the third week of their first semester of classes. This delay is intended to give first-year students the opportunity to get acclimated to college life and to have time to get more information about Fraternity and Sorority Life prior to going through recruitment. Students wishing to take part in recruitment are encouraged to attend events sponsored by the Office of Student Involvement as well as the governing councils and individual chapters.
Are there staff members supervising the chapters?
At IWU, the Office of Student Involvement is staffed by a Director, Assistant Director, Graduate Assistant, and Administrative Assistant. In addition to the support and structure the office provides for the students, chapters also elect undergraduate chapter officers to run the day-to-day operations, have alumni advisors, and are responsible to report to a inter/national headquarters.
Do members have to live in the chapter house?
All fraternities and sororities at IWU have housing. The University requires six semesters of University-approved housing, the first two of which are in first-year halls. Most chapter members will live in their chapter house for the next four semesters, however individual chapters have their own live-in guidelines. This would be an excellent question for your student to ask the chapter members before joining an organization.