HISTORY
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
For over 185 years, fraternities and sororities on our campus have
Fraternities and sororities provide an environment where:
developed a deep heritage full of tradition, history, success, and
• The principles, values, and ideals of each organization’s rituals
pride. This heritage benefits both our fraternity and sorority
are encouraged on a daily basis
members and the broader university community. The founding
• Personal health, well-being, and safety are encouraged and
of five social Greek-letter organizations here at the University has
promoted
earned Miami University the nickname, “Mother of Fraternities.”
• Academic achievement of the individual and the group is
Today, the University hosts nearly 50 fraternity and sorority
valued and rewarded
chapters. Each chapter is committed to five Community Principles:
• The definition of what it means to be a member of a fraternity
Scholarship and Learning, Service and Philanthropy, Leadership
or sorority is inclusive of all Greeks at Miami
and Values, Community, and Brotherhood and Sisterhood.
• The non-discrimination policy of the University is supported and enhanced
Approximately one third of Miami’s undergraduate student
• The fraternity/sorority experience enhances the quality of the
population are members of the fraternity and sorority community.
undergraduate collegiate experience
events, programs, and student organizations.
For a complete listing of all of our active chapters go to: MiamiOH.edu/FSLL
2026 Armstrong Student Center Oxford, OH 45056
Our members are involved in and are leaders of many University
A GUIDE for PARENTS: FRATERNITY and SORORITY LIFE at MIAMI UNIVERSITY
Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life Miami University
2026 Armstrong Student Center Oxford, OH 45056 (p) 513.529.1462 MiamiOH.edu/FSLL
WHY JOIN?
MIAMI FRATERNITY & SORORITY LIFE by the numbers
The Interfraternity Council (IFC), which governs 24 fraternities, and the Panhellenic Association (PA), which governs 17 sororities, both participate in a Spring Formal Recruitment process. This formal process is a series of planned events that provide interested students the opportunity to visit each chapter and meet the members. Our councils provide a fair process for all students involved but placement is not guaranteed in these organizations if students do not maximize their options through the process.
stand up lead
Miami four-year graduation rates
SORORITY WOMEN 86.9% UNAFFILIATED WOMEN 76.2% FRATERNITY MEN 75.8% UNAFFILIATED MEN 64% FRATERNITY & SORORITY MEMBERS 81.35%
stand together serve
stand for excellence
Fraternity and sorority members served 25,316 hours in the 2015–2016 school year, which is an average of 562 hours per chapter.
The fraternity/sorority community consistently earns a GPA above the all-campus and unaffiliated average. GP top A
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unaffiliated men 87.9%
95.9%
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unaffiliated women 89.1%
97.1%
3.11
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fraternity men
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sorority women
3.05
GP top A
orities sor
3.32 filia naf te
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The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), which oversees five fraternities and sororities, encourages organizations to participate in chapter-based Intake which occurs semesterly and is structured through each national organization. Once recruitment is over, the chapter has offered an invitation to membership, and the student has accepted, he or she becomes a “new member.” Each chapter has different rules, guidelines, and terms for this period that lasts about 6 to 8 weeks. The student will spend time learning about the chapter’s history, its rules, and its traditions. Once the new member period is over, individuals will be inducted into full membership. Be sure to have your son or daughter ask each chapter’s requirements.
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3.25
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first-year retention to sophomore year
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sophomore slump? not here
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3.39 3.10
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3.27
3.12
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3.35
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That’s enough time to bike from Oxford to Youngstown and back 11 times!
How do you become a member? There are many ways to join a fraternity or sorority! Through formal or informal recruitment, each of our three councils has their own recruitment process.
3.02
How about safety? Hazing and Alcohol Policies Hazing can be described as any incident or activity that may or may not cause mental or physical harm to a student looking to join an organization. Hazing is banned by Miami University, the national fraternal organizations, and by the laws of the State of Ohio. For information regarding hazing and Miami University’s No-Hazing Policy please visit: miamioh.edu/campussafety/no-hazing. Today’s fraternities and sororities promote responsible use of alcohol. Each chapter holds seminars on responsible alcohol use. Miami’s Fraternity/ Sorority governing groups have adopted their own Risk Management Policy, to which all chapters adhere. Furthermore, fraternity and sorority community members are expected to uphold federal, state, and city laws. They are also expected to follow policies of Miami University, fraternity and sorority community councils, and those of their inter/national organizations. The staff in the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life work side by side with Oxford law enforcement, the Office of Community Standards, and students in order to enforce alcohol and hazing policies. If you sense your child may be participating in inappropriate activities as a result of membership in a fraternity or sorority, please contact the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at 513-529-1462.
How will this affect my child’s academics? Fraternities and sororities stand for excellence. All Greek organizations expect members to strive to fulfill their academic potential. Each chapter has a grade point average requirement that must be met before a prospective member can join. Fraternities and sororities offer study halls, tutoring programs, grade point requirements, and other assistance to help meet the academic needs of their members. As a result of the commitment to academics, the All-Greek GPA is consistently higher than Miami’s All-Student GPA. What are living conditions like in the fraternity houses and sorority suites? Miami’s fraternity houses are homes. Each house has a living room or common area, multiple bathrooms, expansive kitchens, and dining rooms. Most have computer facilities and have Internet in each room. Miami’s fraternity homes facilitate an environment that promotes learning and friendship, allowing brotherhood and notions of family to flourish. Sororities have suites within the residence halls and some of the membership live in corridors within the particular hall. These living learning communities provide second year sorority members a sororitycentered experience that promotes the five pillars of the fraternity and sorority community, recognizes the unique impact specific issues have on women, and works to advance the position of women on campus. Similar to fraternity houses, Miami’s sorority living learning communities provide an environment that allows sorority women to flourish in sisterhood, learning, friendship, and family. How much does membership in a fraternity or sorority cost? Joining a fraternity or sorority does carry a financial commitment. Dues go towards inter/national fees, social functions, chapter operating expenses, and educational programs and initiatives. The average cost of membership within fraternities and sororities fluctuates from year to year. Please note that payment plans are available for all sororities and fraternities. For more information regarding the cost of membership please visit: http://miamioh.edu/fsll/how-to-join/costs. Parent Involvement As a parent, you can be supportive of your son’s or daughter’s efforts to join a chapter. Learn as much as you can about the fraternities and sororities at Miami. Many groups provide written statements concerning activities, finances, and policies. Allow your son or daughter to make their own choice, especially if you were Greek. Participate in chapter sponsored events for alumni and parents, including Mom’s Weekend and Dad’s Weekend. Come to homecoming and family weekends, if possible. Your support should not end after Recruitment but continue throughout your son’s or daughter’s years at Miami.
Miami’s Fraternity and Sorority Life Community Is….. Student Run: Students elect their own officers from within their membership. These officers deal with the day-to-day operations of the chapter. Alumni act as advisors to the officers and general chapter members. The houses of each fraternity are owned by a “House Corporation” that manages monies, collects rent, and pays bills. All of the sororities have a suite within the residence halls. The Miami Greek community is presided over by three governing councils. These councils include the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the National PanHellenic Council (NPHC), and the Panhellenic Association (PA). These councils conduct administrative duties for each member chapter. Governing council members are elected annually in accordance with council bylaws. Staff and University Supported: Miami University employs the staff members within the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to work directly with the governing fraternity/sorority councils, as well as the individual chapters. The office strives to ensure that the Greek community succeeds in living out the community’s shared values of scholarship and learning, service and philanthropy, leadership and values, brotherhood and sisterhood, and community. Nationally Governed: Each group is governed by a national/international headquarters, which establishes chapter regulations and offers advice and direction through professional staff that visit the chapter at least once a year. I was not in a fraternity or sorority. How can I learn more? The following resources may be helpful: www.aflv.org www.nicindy.org www.npcwomen.org www.nphchq.org
“Greek life has given me a confidence in myself that I didn’t know was possible and an amazing platform on which to stand up for what I believe in. Through my year of service as Chi Omega President, I had the ability to network with senior leaders on this campus and be a part of culture-changing conversations.” —Kelly Rains, Chi Omega