The Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life is a great resource for information about the history and tradition of the Greek community and how to become an active and successful member of the fraternitity and sorority community at OSU.
The OSU Greek community has 21 fraternities 19 sororities. There are 4 fraternities and 8 sororities without Greek houses at OSU. In total, more than 2,400 students within 42 fraternities and sororities (and growing) are in our community.
Recruitment information varies by council and by fraternity or sorority chapter. See the link directly below for general information regarding recruitment.
Guidelines and forms related to alcohol policies, fire safety, fire drills, crown control plans, and Police Liason Officers can be found on the Risk Management page.
Scholarships are available for students to apply, and are listed on the scholarships page.
This Greek calendar is continually updated with important dates for Greeks as well as the OSU community as a whole. If you have an event planned for a certain date, this is the place to inform the community. To create a new calendar event, please follow these steps to ensure it shows up on the calendar.
Are you interested in learning the Greek alphabet and other terms widely used within the Greek community?
The CFSL provides a wealth of support for the Greek community in a wide range of areas: academic development, event planning, community-building, leadership, philanthropy, communications, advising, crisis management, and more. Wel also maintain a library of videos and publications on a wide range of subjects, including leadership, community-building, diversity issues, the rush process, OSU matriculation ceremonies, hazing, substance abuse, and sexual assault. National directories and publications related to the Greek system policy and laws are also available.
This calendar is continually updated with important dates for Greeks as well as the OSU community as a whole. If you have an event planned for a certain date, this is the place to inform the community. Submit your event below, or contact the CFSL at 541-737-5432 or bob.kerr@oregonstate.edu to add an event to the calendar. If you submit your event yourself, you must wait for it to be approved by Bob Kerr.
Plan your events as far in advance as possible. You need to register your events at least two weeks in advance. This will make it a much smoother process and you will not have any last-minute problems. Fill out the registration form completely. Make sure you put in the correct contact e-mail address so a reply may be sent to you when the registration form is received in the Corvallis Fire Department.
If alcohol will be involved in your event, review the Guidelines for Responsible Use of Alcohol, which includes a form. You do not have to complete the form below. It is only for your information and education.
If the event is a philanthropic or fundraising event, you will need to schedule an appointment as far in advance as possible with the CFSL. There will be a philanthropy counseling session with you to help you plan the event.
Please completely review information related to risk management.
Social event guidelines are an integral part of the event registration process and shall be followed as part of a recognized social function where the occupant load is expected to exceed 50 guests.
Active: A fully initiated member of a fraternity/sorority.
Alumna: A member of a women’s fraternal organization who is no longer an undergraduate. Plural: Alumnae.
Alumnus: A member of a men’s fraternal organization who is no longer an undergraduate. Plural: Alumni.
Associate Member: A person who has accepted a bid but is not yet initiated into a sorority or fraternity. See also “New Member”
Badge: A “pin” worn by fully-initiated members of each fraternity or sorority that carries its official insignia.
Bid: An invitation to join a sorority or fraternity.
Big: Nickname for big sister or brother, a mentor assigned to a new member. Many organizations have special names for these pairings.
Brother: An active or alumni member of a fraternity.
Brotherhood: The common term for the bond between members of the same fraternity.
Call: A yell used mostly by historically black National Pan-Hellenic organizations (although some National Inter-fraternity Council, National Panhellenic Council, and local organizations have calls as well). Used to promote pride in their organization and identify and greet brothers and sisters. These are to be used only by members of the organization.
Chapter: An established membership unit of a national or international sorority or fraternity.
Chapter House: A physical structure where members live. Chapter houses are typically owned and operated by private corporations or organizations.
Charter: The official document drafted by an Inter/National fraternity or sorority that allows for the creation of a local chapter that is affiliated with a college or university campus.
Class or “New Member Class”: A term used to name new members of a Panhellenic Council or Interfraternity Council organization who all joined during the same semester.
Colony: Known as a “trial period” for a new organization that is awaiting official Chapter Status recognition from their national to establish a letter chapter on their campus.
Crest: Insignia used by sorority and fraternity members. Most Greek organizations reserve the crest for initiated members only. Each crest has hidden, secret meanings behind it. Also known as a coat or arms, shield or armorial bearings.
Crossing: Ceremony during which new members of culturally-based and historically black Greek-letter organizations become active, life-long members of their organization.
D.A. or Deactivate: A student who for some reason removes himself or herself from association with the fraternity and drops membership completely.
Depledge: A student who withdraws from an organization after accepting a bid, but before the student is initiated by a chapter.
Dry: A fraternity which does not permit alcohol on the premises and in very rare cases, does not allow the organization to host a party involving alcohol. Some fraternities are going dry at the national level, and all sororities have different levels of "dry". For example, one may allow the sorority to attend a function hosted by a non-dry fraternity, while another sorority may not.
Dues: The monetary costs of membership in a fraternity or sorority. These fees are used to cover the costs of operation, formal events, social activities, and other events, depending on the organization.
Expansion: When an organization is looking to expand and open a new establishment of a Greek-letter organization at a college or university.
Founder’s Day: An event celebrated by fraternities and sororities to highlight the founding of their organization and celebrate its history. It's not necessarily held on the day the organization was founded.
Fraternity: The name applied to Greek organizations including both men’s and women’s organizations. There are several types of fraternities at OSU, including social fraternities, service fraternities, professional fraternities, and honorary fraternities. The Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life workswith governing bodies directly; Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Panhellenic Council (NPC), Unified Greek Council (UGC.)
Formal Recruitment: A designated recruitment period during which a series of organized events are held by each NPC sorority or IFC fraternity. At OSU, this is organized and implemented by the Panhellenic Council or Interfraternity Council.
Founders: The founding members of a Greek Letter organization.
Governing Council: Also known as an umbrella council, generally supports and acts as a voice for organizations within it, including being the official sponsored student organization as liaison between the university and the members of the member organizations.\
Greeks: Members of a fraternity or sorority. The term "Greek" is used because a majority of fraternities and sororities use Greek letters to distinguish themselves.
Hazing: Any willful act or practice by a member, directed against a member or new member, which, with or without intent, is likely to: cause bodily harm or danger, offensive punishment, or disturbing pain, compromise the person's dignity; cause embarrassment or shame in public; cause the person to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule; cause psychological harm or substantial emotional strain; and impair academic efforts. In addition, hazing is any requirement by a member which compels a member or new member to participate in any activity which is illegal, is contrary to moral or religious beliefs, or is contrary to the rules and regulations of the sorority/fraternity, institution of learning, and civil authorities.
IFC: The abbreviation for the Interfraternity council, which is the governing body of the fraternities who belong nationally to the North American InterfraternityConference (NIC).
Informal Recruitment: A period of time after formal recruitment where Greek organizations who are not at quota can hold events to recruit new members. It is called informal because potential members need not follow a designated schedule.
Initiation: A ceremony during which new members receive lifelong membership privileges into the organization they have chosen to be a part of.
Intake: Term for the process by which Independent Greek Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council members are selected to become new members of an organization. This is generally much more secretive than recruitment or rush for Panhellenic Council of Interfraternity Council members, but generally includes an application and an interview process, followed by an educational program done at the regional level conducted by alumni, then an initiation (generally known as “crossing”).
Interest Group: A group of individuals on campus in the first stage of the process leading to installation as a Greek-letter organization.
Interfraternity Council (IFC): The OSU-based “chapter” of the North-American Interfraternity Conference. A student-led governing body that supports 18 of the men’s fraternities who are part of the NIC. IFC strives to provide communication between the fraternal organizations and connects organizations to the local Corvallis and OSU community.
Legacy: Each organization has its own definition of a "legacy." It is generally defined as an immediate family member of an initiated member, such as a sister/brother or daughter/son. Some sororities also recognize extended family members as legacies as well.
Letters: The first Greek letter of each Greek word that makes up the motto of a particular fraternity or sorority; these are generally displayed on clothing and other Greek paraphernalia.
Line: A term used by culturally-based and historically black organizations to name a group of new members who all joined during the same term, semester, or pledge class (similar to the term to “class” which is often used by Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council organizations). They are the potential new members of the organization. Lines are often given names.
National Order of Omega: This is a National Honor Society for Fraternity or Sorority members who maintain a grade point average above the All-Greek average, have distinguished themselves as leaders in the OSU Greek community, have exemplary character, and are either juniors or seniors.
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): The governing body of the nine traditionally African American fraternities and sororities, also known as the "Divine Nine."
National Panhellenic Council (NPC): A national organization comprised of 26 women’s fraternities and sororities, each of which is autonomous as a social, Greek- letter-society of college women.
Nationals: Fraternity and Sorority members often refer to their national/international headquarters or offices as "Nationals". These offices are responsible for making policies for the individual organizations at all of colleges and universities where their organization recruits members.
Neo or Neophyte: A new member of a culturally-based or historically black organization which usually defines that stage between the completion of new member/pledge requirements and being initiated
North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC): A national organization comprised of 69 fraternal organizations (mostly for men), each of which is autonomous as a social, Greek-letter-society of college men.
New Member: A person who has accepted a bid but is not yet initiated to a sorority or fraternity.
New Member Educator: The liaison between the new members and the chapter, they are responsible for implementing and monitoring the new member program and preparing the new members for initiation.
New Member Program: The time period where the new member learns about their new sorority and fraternity before initiation. This time frame lasts from Bid day until Initiation. Formerly called pledge period (and still called this in some fraternities).
Officers: Initiated members who currently hold positions within their Greek organization or governing body.
“On the Yard”: A phrase used by culturally-based and historically black organizations meaning that a fraternity or sorority is currently chartered and able to recruit new members on campus.
Open Recruitment: A designated recruitment period during which each of the men’s fraternal organizations in the IFC host recruitment events at their own houses. This type of recruitment is considered “informal” because potential members need not follow a designated schedule.
Panhellenic Council: An umbrella council comprised of the NPC women’s housed sororities. A student governed council at Oregon State University which strives to provide communication between the organizations and connects organizations to the local Corvallis and OSU community through academic, social, and service events.
Philanthropy: This is a community service project/s held by a fraternity, sorority, or both. OSU Greek students perform a number of these projects each year, and most Inter/National Fraternities and Sororities require their organizations to do one large project per year. Our chapters are extremely involved in university and community service participating in such events as Relay for Life, canned food drives, clothing drives, and many more.
Pin: (2 types) the active pin or badge, a distinctive insignia worn on the chest designating an active member of a particular fraternity. The pledge pin, an insignia used to designate a pledge of a particular fraternity.
Pledge: A person who has accepted a bid but is not yet initiated to a sorority or fraternity. This term is believed to be outdated by some and can be offensive. See also “New Member”
Potential New Member: A person who is interested in joining a Greek-letter organization, and will participate in rush, intake, or recruitment; often abbreviated to PNM.
Preference: The final parties held by Panhellenic Council organizations during Recruitment. These events are more formal than the previous parties and usually include a ritual that potential new members can participate in. Also known as Pref, or Final Dinners
Preference Cards: Potential New Members sign this after preference, indicating in order, which sororities of the ones whose parties they attended they liked the most. These cards, along with the organizations’ lists of members they would like, are used to match the PNMs and sororities with one another in a mutually selective process.
Probate: An official public presentation of initiation used by culturally-based and historically black organizations. The presentation may consist of knowledge learned, skills gained, and values understood. This is a proud moment of historical significance for new members of these organizations. In most cases, this is the first time when newly initiated members of each fraternity/sorority are revealed to the rest of campus.
Quota: A specific number of women to which each Panhellenic Council sorority may extend membership during a formal (fall) recruitment period. This number is determined by the Panhellenic Council each year in conjunction with the National Panhellenic Conference.
Recolonize: A process where a fraternity or a sorority that was previously on campus receives another charter to recruit members on the same campus. Recolonization can happen because a chapter died out due to low numbers, or had their charter revoked.
Recruitment: The process through which sororities and fraternities get new members. Potential New Members tour each house, are invited to different events and choose the new members for their organization (students seeking membership in a fraternity or sorority “rush,” while the Greek organizations “recruit” new members).
Rho Gamma: A Panhellenic representative who has no contact with her own chapter during formal membership recruitment and is available to guide women through the recruitment process and answer questions.
Ritual: The traditional rites and ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority; these are almost always private and known only to initiated members of a fraternal organization.
Rush: The process of attending recruitment events held by houses with the intent of meeting people and participating in a particular fraternity or sorority (students seeking membership in a fraternity or sorority “rush,” while the Greek organizations “recruit” new members).
Sister: An active member of a sorority.
Sisterhood: The common term for the bond between members of the same sorority.
Step Show: A show often performed by National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations. Also called stepping.
Stroll: A dance, normally done in a line of active members that displays pride and knowledge of their organization and its values. Organizations usually have national strolls and local strolls that incorporate a variety of different moves and hand signs that are unique that organization.
Total: The maximum number of members a Panhellenic Council sorority can have on a given campus. Groups can only exceed total during formal recruitment if in the process of extending bids to quota, the chapter size grows beyond this number. Conversely, if a sorority has obtained quota during recruitment and is still below total, that sorority may continue to ask new members to join, but only up to total.
Unified Greek Council: An umbrella council which is a fusion of culturally rich and distinct Greek Letter Organizations at OSU, including but not limited to those focused on the celebration of race, ethnicity, nationality, career and professional advancement and sexual orientation. It is a student governed council at Oregon State University. UGC strives to connect our organizations and the local Corvallis and OSU community through academic, social, and service events.
Here you will find current and past editions of the Greek Life Monday Morning note, the method which the office of Greek Life uses to relay information to Greek presidents for the week. This is in supplement to our facebook page. Please fan the Office of Greek Life to get connected for daily updates.
Fall Term 2011 |
| Week 1 - September 26, 2011 (NEW) |
Spring Term 2011 |
| Week 8 - May 16, 2011 |
| Week 5 - April 25, 2011 |
| Week 3 - April 11, 2011 |
| Week 2 - April 4, 2011 |
| Week 1 - March 28, 2011 |
If you have anything you would like to contribute to next week's Monday note, please contact Mike Shingle, Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Office of Greek Life at mike.shingle@oregonstate.edu.
Fraternity and sorority recruitment varies depending on the organization and its council. The information below is general, but should you give you a good idea about the recruitment process for each group.
Housed fraternities: Interfraternity Council (IFC)
Non-housed fraternities: Unified Greek Council (UGC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine Nine)
Housed sororities: Panhellenic Council (PHC)
Non-housed sororities: Unified Greek Council (UGC) and National Pan-Hellenic Council (Divine Nine)
This describes the structured activity of IFC and Panhellenic. IFC concludes their activities with JUMP and Panhellenic concludes their program with the Introduction to Panhellenic. Please check out the Recruitment Section of this website for details and dates of Fall Formal Recruitment for both fraternities and sororities.
If you are interested in joining a National Pan-hellenic Council (Divine Nine), Multicultural, Service-based, or Academic-based Greek organization, please browse the Chapter Profiles above and use the contact information provided from these organizations.
Yes. There is Informal Recruitment for IFC and Continuous Open Bidding (COB) for Panhellenic the remainder of the academic year. Please contact the Unified Greek Council or NPHC (Divine Nine) organizations to get specific recruitment information.
No. Greek organizations within the Unified Greek Council and the National Pan-hellenic Council pride themselves by having students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds including, but not limited to, students who identify as White, Caucasian, Latino/a, Chicano/a, Hispanic, Southeast Asian, Asian-American, African American, Black, Native American, bi-racial, multi-racial, mixed race, and all racial and ethnic identities.
The answer to this question is completely subjective. Before joining, a person should look at the academic performance of the chapter, housed or un-housed status, alcohol status, and philanthropic contributions, along with any other qualities deemed important.
Oregon State University, IFC, UGC, NPHC, and Panhellenic all agree that hazing is unacceptable in the Greek Community. Should hazing be reported, it will be dealt with through the judicial processes of the Greek Community and OSU.
The Greek Experience is an investment in your student's future. The leadership skills, the academic assistance, and friendships will benefit your student beyond their college days. The perception that fraternities and sororities are only an option for the "rich" students is widespread and false. Greek organizations are quite affordable and fees go to services that will positively impact your student. To assist members, chapters may offer scholarships and grants. The cost to join will vary from chapter to chapter. There are three kinds of costs: one time costs (pledge & initiation fees), recurring costs (membership dues, room and board rates) and special costs (tee shirts, social functions, etc). Ask the various chapters specific questions about each area. You may also refer to the "Financial Information" section of this website for cost information on the various fraternities/sororities. We encourage all interested students to ask for financial information prior to joining.
Coming to college is one of the major life changes that your student will go through. Joining a fraternity or sorority can help make the transition easier. Developing life-long friendships with the members in their chapter helps make the campus smaller. For many members, these chapters become a home away from home. In addition to the brother/sisterhood, every chapter promotes the values of enhancing leadership, scholarship, philanthropy/service, and financial responsibility in their members.
Academics are a priority in the Greek Community. When students join, they become part of a larger group of students who value their academic goals at OSU. This group understands what the new member is facing and can provide support in many areas. Each chapter on campus has a scholarship officer who initiates programs within the chapter to encourage high academic achievement. There are various resources for members on campus such as time managment workshops, academic advisors, the career center, etc. Specific academic information about the chapters may be found elsewhere on this website under "Academic Achievement".
The number one priority is to achieve academically. Secondly, associate members are expected to learn the local chapter history and national history as well as to get to know the current membership. The length of the associate membership period varies from chapter to chapter.
The time commitment varies from chapter to chapter but the first semester is the most time intensive as the new member goes through the chapter's education program. The time spent in this program will give your student the opportunity to develop their leadership and time management skills, learn about the history of the organization, develop friendships, and allow them to become involved with other organizations. After the initiation into the chapter, expectations will vary. Each chapter has weekly chapter meetings and other mandatory events (philanthropies, service, and initiation) throughout the year, but they are planned well in advance. In addition to the weekly meeting, the more your student puts into the chapter, the more they will get out of being a member.
Greek members take it as part of their mission to support their national philanthropies (not-for-profit causes) financially and physically. Throughout the year, each chapter spends time fundraising and volunteering to help their particular philanthropy. The time spent together on these events is one of the many times that fraternity brothers and sisters can bond, while making a difference in someone's life.
There is a social aspect to the Greek Community and these "social" events include education programs/workshops, community service events, intramural sports, Dad's Weekend, Mom's Weekend, Homecoming, and dinner exchanges in addition to parties and socials. Today's Greek Communities across the nation have adopted a stringent approach to socializing thereby creating a safer, more beneficial environment for members. Each governing council has a risk managment and alcohol policy. In addition, each organization may have national rules to follow regarding the hosting of social events. All organizations sponsor education on alcohol misuse and abuse. Housed sororities do not permit alcohol in their facilities.
Your parents can take the time to find out more about the Greek Community at OSU. Ask questions about what each organization will offer your student and allow them to make the best decision for themselves. Check out any information your student gets in the mail over the summer related to Greek Life. Once your student joins a Greek organization, there will be opportunities for your involvement as a parent such as Mom's and Dad's Weekend activities, or joining the chapter's Mom's Club, etc.
Your student may receive information about Recruitment in the mail. Please browse the different fraternity and sorority chapters pages to get a feel for which organization you would like to join. At the START sessions, there will be an interest session on Greek Life for students and parents. Check out the websites listed above. Recruitment and Membership Intake are mutual selection processes with the hope there is a place for everyone.
This is a list of questions that potential student members should ask the fraternity or sorority that they are looking at joining.
M. Hayes, 1995
AFA President
Director of Alumni Affairs
Indiana State University
Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe. - H. G. Wells
All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development afforded an individual. - Albert Einstein
No great idea ever entered the human mind through an open mouth. - Unknown
73% of injuries resulting in lawsuits happen in Greek houses.
59% brought by members.
90% of fights, sexual assaults, etc., involve alcohol.
88% of all injuries involve alcohol.
81% of all paralyses involve alcohol.
78% of all psychological damage involves alcohol.
66% of all serious injuries involve alcohol.
ALL ARE MINORS - as reported by HARRIS & HARRIS
Guidelines for the responsible use of alcohol are included in this form, which must be read prior to any function with alcohol. Please note that you do not need to print and fill out this form. It is intended to increase your awareness in good practices related to risk management for events with alcohol involved.
All fraternities and sororites must register their events with the Corvallis Fire Department.
Chapters must report two fire drills per term within the parameters set by the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life. Please register your chapter's fire drill with the Corvallis Fire Department by using the online form below.
These guidelines are an integral part of the event registration process and shall be followed as part of a recognized social function where the occupant load is expected to exceed 50 guests.
A key element in hosting a safe and enjoyable social event is ensuring your house does not get over crowded - creating an unsafe environment for both residents & their guests. The key to ensuring this doesn’t happen is to appoint the right people to maintain the appropriate occupant load & general safety throughout the event. These individuals must be sober at all times and be dedicated to their responsibility throughout the entire event on their responsibilities prior to the start of the event.
The Corvallis Police Department (CPD) assigns a police officer to each fraternity and sorority at OSU. For further information on this program, please contact the Office of Greek Life. The link to the CPD Liaison Program Officers by chapter follows:
Corvallis Police Department: 766-6924
CPD Liaison Program Chair: Officer Nick Hurley
In case of an emergency, call 911
This Event Registration form is required by the Corvallis Fire Department and is being directed to them.
This Fire Drill Report is required by the Corvallis Fire Department and is being directed to them.
FIRE/LIFE SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR SOCIAL EVENTS
These guidelines are an integral part of the event registration process and shall be followed as part of a recognized social function where the occupant load is expected to exceed 50 guests. A representative from the IFC, Panhellenic Council and/or Corvallis Fire Department may visit your function at any time to verify adherence to the fire safety requirements identified within this checklist. Failure to follow any of these requirements may result in social probation and/or civil penalty.
Once a party gets underway, it is sometimes difficult to continue the focus on guest & resident safety. This shall be the responsibility of the sober monitors and hired private security and shall continue aggressively throughout the event. It is also important for resident safety that a sober and responsible team walk through the house after the party to ensure the house remains in a safe condition. A number of fatal fires have occurred in Greek houses hours after a party ended and the residents went to sleep.
Below is a list of safety precautions that shall be rigorously followed throughout any large event that is held in a fraternity or sorority:
Horseplay or malicious activity, to any degree, involving fire play, or fire protection equipment shall not be tolerated by either residents or guests (OFC, Section 109, 2003 ed.)
The total number of occupants in a facility at any time shall be limited to that number established by the Oregon Fire Code. One designated party room/area shall be established and the open/net square footage shall be determined. Based upon that number an occupant load figure can be established. That number will represent the total occupant load for the entire house during a social function. (OFC, Section 1004, 2003 ed.)
The determined occupant load shall be impacted by available square footage, the presence of fire sprinklers & fire alarms, and the adequacy of egress features, e.g. number of exits, exit identification & illumination, door hardware, and door swing.
WARNING! If an area is too crowded for an individual to make their way through the crowd in a reasonable & continual manner, the number of people shall be reduced immediately. A crowd control plan shall be created to manage the number of occupants in a house throughout the event, and all event security staff shall be familiar with the plan (OFC, Section 107.6, & 1004, 2003, ed.).
NOTE: Civil penalties will be issued for fire/life safety violations and range in amount up to $500 per violation for, but not limited to (CMC 7.08.080 2000 ed.):
For any questions regarding these or any other fire/life safety precautions please call the Corvallis Fire Department at (541) 766-6903.