WHY JOIN?

• What does it mean to join a fraternity/sorority at Western Kentucky University?
  • To make the decision to join a fraternity/sorority at Western Kentucky University is to make a lifelong commitment to better yourself and your community.
  • Being involved as a fraternity/sorority member has the benefits of making a campus with thousands of students seem smaller, and the connections shared by our members offer a home away from home. Joining an organization can also open many doors to other opportunities, such as positional leadership, connection to values, mentorship, and more!
• What makes one fraternity/sorority different from another, and how does someone choose?
  • Our fraternities and sororities are multifaceted in membership, and structurally each one looks for members that are committed to the values and ideals of the organizations.
  • Some organizations offer specific experiential connections—areas of study, religious beliefs, and cultural affinity to name a few—and it is important to consider each organization and the way they recruit new members as you explore our community.

HOW TO JOIN?

• How do I join an organization?
  • Each governing council has a different way of recruiting or bringing new members into the organization.
    • The Interfraternity Council (IFC) can recruit members at any point during the year, but focuses on hosting recruitment events and offering invitations to membership in the first few weeks of each semester. In the fall, recruitment starts Sunday before classes. Spring semester recruitment usually takes place during week two or three of the spring semester.
    • The Panhellenic Association (PAN) has a formal recruitment process held in conjunction with MASTER Plan the week before classes begin in the fall semester. No need to worry if MASTER Plan and Recruitment will interrupt one another. We work closely with other offices on campus to make sure there are not conflicts! You can do MASTER Plan and participate in recruitment. Chapters that may have open space in the spring semester may engage in an informal recruitment process.
    • The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), does not have a formal recruitment process. You can reach out to each organization to identify what informational opportunities are available. We also suggest signing up for Greek 101, which is a requirement of students interested in joining an NPHC organization. This is a workshop where you will learn more about NPHC history and the history of the African American community in higher education.
• What are the requirements to join?
  • Western Kentucky University policy requires that any student interested in joining a fraternity or sorority have a 2.5 High 

    School (unweighted) or a 2.5 College (cumulative) AND be a full-time WKU student.  Previously, KCTCS students who were Joint-Admission students were able to join, however, anyone wishing to join must be a full-time WKU student.

  • Students interested in joining an NPHC organization are required to complete Greek 101. This is a workshop where you will learn more about NPHC history and the history of the African American community in higher education.
  • Each organization has different criteria for membership that always includes a GPA or academic expectation. Some organizations require students to be beyond their first semester as a student.
  • We encourage students interested in joining to ask questions about membership eligibility as well as expectations for membership once they have joined an organization.

MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS

• What can I expect as far as becoming a member of a chapter?
  • Each organization has a period of new member orientation as part of its expectations for new members, ranging in time based on individual and (inter)national timelines.
  • During this time, you and other new members will participate in weekly meetings to learn about the university and the fraternity/sorority history, leadership retreats, community service projects, and activities designed to build friendships among new members (pledges/associates/candidates) and the initiated members.
• How long does joining a chapter take?
  • The new member education or intake process differs between organizations but typically ranges from 4-12 weeks. Ask members of the organization you are hoping to join for more specific information about the length of the program.
• What are the financial commitments to the organization and what does the payment structure look like?
  • The cost of joining each organization varies, though amounts can range across chapters. Dues may cover things like national insurance, leadership development opportunities, programming offerings, and initiation/national fees.
  • The first year of membership may cost more in comparison to following years due to fees related to initiation, education materials, paraphernalia, and then some.
  • Some organizations offer payment plans for members and we encourage student to ask questions about membership costs before joining an organization in order to fully understand the financial expectations of membership.

COMMON CONCERNS/PERCEPTIONS

• What about hazing?
  • All fraternities and sororities forbid hazing, and are committed to a membership education period that instills a sense of responsibility and commitment in the new members.
  • Hazing is against the law in Kentucky and is taken seriously by Western Kentucky University, the Office of Judicial Affairs, the department of Student Activities, Greek Affairs, and the governing councils.
  • All student organizations are expected to follow these policies, and training and resources are provided to groups to help them create a positive new member experience.
  • We actively encourage all members to report behaviors perceived as hazing to our Greek Affairs Coordinator, Alex Kennedy at alexandria.kennedy@wku.edu or to the Office of Judicial Affairs. You can find OJA here. Information shared will be treated with discretion and a reasonable expectation of confidentiality, but may be shared with individuals who need the information to protect the health and safety of those involved in any incident of hazing or unhealthy group behavior.
• I am unsure if I will be accepted in the chapter I am looking at joining, so what should I consider?
  • The best way to figure out if you will be accepted into the chapter you are looking to join is to be your authentic self. Joining a fraternity or a sorority is a lifelong commitment, and you want to be able to be yourself throughout the entire time. Being yourself and asking questions about what others in the chapter have similar interests or identity can illuminate more about the chapter’s culture.
• What impact will joining have on my academic success?
  • The intention of fraternities and sororities is to provide support and assistance in a student’s academic career. It is our belief that these organizations should help improve a student’s academic performance by providing resources, academic support programs, and incentives for success.
  • To better understand the academic success and performance of the fraternity and sorority community and individual chapters, please view our community grade reports. You can find them here.

MISCELLANEOUS QUESTIONS

• Do I have to participate in masterPlan to go through women's recruitment?
  
  • All incoming freshman students must participate in MasterPlan in order to go through women's recruitment. Returning students and transfers do not have participate in MasterPlan in order to go through women's recruitment.
• I attend a SKYCTC school - am I eligible to join a fraternity or sorority at Western?
  • Only full-time WKU Students are eligible to participate in recruitment and join a fraternity/sorority.
• Do I have to join as a first year student?
  • Students at WKU may join fraternities and sororities in any year of their academic career. Some NPHC organizations only consider members that have been in school for at least one semester or a year.
  • The best way to learn this information to to contact the chapter if you are unsure.
• I am a legacy. What does that mean?
  • A legacy is a student who has a family member already a member of a particular fraternity or sorority.
  • Students are free to seek membership in any organization, and someone that is a legacy is not required to join a particular organization.
  • Additionally, it is up to the organization to select their members regardless of legacy status.
• Do all fraternities and sororities have houses?
  • Some fraternities and sororities have houses, and we encourage you to ask questions about housing in a recruitment process or as you are researching various organizations.
  • All chapters with houses have different live-in policies, and chapters are expected to provide education up front about these expectations before members join. Our office is not responsible for rent or housing for Greek members.
• What are the benefits of joining?
  • There are many benefits to fraternity and sorority membership including opportunities to engage in leadership development, academic personal development, career networking and alumni involvement, opportunities to engage in meaningful community service, and the development of lifelong friendships.
  • Check out what some of our students say are the benefits!

SORORITY RECRUITMENT FAQ

• What will Sorority Recruitment look like?
• WKU is planning for an IN-PERSON recruitment.       Recruitment will likely be held in academic spaces so that chapters and potential new members can follow room capacity limits. Chapter members, potential new members, alumnae, etc. will all wear a mask and all recruitment spaces will be regularly sanitized. If any further questions about the recruitment process, please email andrew.rash@wku.edu.
• Is there a GPA requirement to sign up for formal sorority recruitment?
• To participate in sorority recruitment, you must be a regularly enrolled, full-time WKU student in good standing with at least a 2.5 high school unweighted GPA or a 2.5 college cumulative GPA (12 or more earned attempted). As you’re looking at your membership options, please keep in mind that some chapters may have higher GPA requirements for membership.
• Do you use weighted or unweighted GPA’s for sorority recruitment?
• We use unweighted GPA’s for sorority recruitment. We use the GPA listed in the WKU system software unless an updated transcript proves otherwise.
• Do you have to submit a transcript to participate in sorority recruitment?
• You do not have to submit your transcript, however, we highly encourage that you do submit your transcript.  This leaves zero doubt what your incoming GPA is.  Those who do not submit a transcript, we will use the grades in WKU’s Banner software system.
• At what point do we use your college grades?
• Once you have 12 or more graded college hours, we use your college grades.  You may still put your high school grades in the recruitment form, however, college grades are used starting at 12 or more graded college hours. This includes all grades from prior institutions, dual credit classes where you received college credit, etc.       We will use whatever WKU TopNet shows as your college GPA unless an updated transcript proves otherwise.
• As an incoming freshman, do I have to participate in M.A.S.T.E.R Plan in order to participate in formal sorority recruitment?
• All incoming residential freshman must attend M.A.S.T.E.R Plan in order to participate in formal sorority recruitment.
• Is Sorority Recruitment happening before M.A.S.T.E.R.Plan?
• Sorority Recruitment will occur before M.A.S.T.E.R.Plan.  This will enable incoming freshman women to easily do both programs! 
• Can someone participate in Honors H4 and sorority recruitment?
• One can definitely participate in both programs (in fact, many do!).  Honors H4 occurs before sorority recruitment. Honors H4 participants will get back in time for Sorority Recruitment Orientation.  Several of the H4 Counselors are members of sororities and can help answer any questions you all have while at H4.
• Is there a charge to move in my residence hall early?
• There is not an extra charge to move in early – this is something that we’ve communicated with Housing & Residence Life. 
• What will move-in look like for those participating in sorority recruitment?
• The Greek Advisor will email what the move-in schedule looks like.  The Greek Advisor will also communicate with Housing & Residence Life so you don’t have to worry about communicating that you are moving in early. Move in for those participating in sorority recruitment is scheduled for Thursday, August 13^th.  
• Will meal plans start for Sorority Recruitment?
• Meal plans will not start until the start of M.A.S.T.E.R.Plan.  With that said, there are 4 meal options (5 meal option, 10 meal option, $100 Meal Plan Dollars, or $150 Meal Plan Dollars) that you can purchase through TopNet.  Instructions of how to purchase via TopNet will be added to the website soon.
• The Meal Plan Dollar options WILL carry over into the semester; the 5/10 Meal Option WILL NOT carry over into the semester.
• Is there a cost to go through sorority recruitment?
• There is a cost of $55 – this pays for a recruitment T-Shirt for all Potential New Members all administrative expenses during recruitment such as room rentals, food to feed recruitment staff, software used during recruitment, etc.  We keep the cost as low as possible and only to pay for expenses incurred through recruitment.

• Do I need letters of recommendation?
• Recommendation letters, while encouraged, are not required to participate in sorority recruitment. Please send to the individual chapter addresses (available in the Greek Recruitment Booklet) or mailed to:

Student Activities

Western Kentucky University

Attn: Sorority Name

1906 College Heights Blvd #11044

Bowling Green, KY 42101-1044

• What is the deadline to sign up for formal sorority recruitment?
• The deadline to register for 2020 Fall Sorority Recruitment is Friday, August 7th at 12:00 PM CST. We need this deadline so the Greek office can effectively have time to communicate with Housing and Residence Life regarding move-in for potential new members
• Basic Recruitment Schedule:
• Thursday, August 13^th: Potential New Member (PNM) Move-In for Residential students
• Thursday, August 13^th: PNM Orientation and Meet the Greeks
• Friday, August 14^th: Go Greek Round
• Saturday, August 15^th: Getting To Know You Round
• Sunday, August 16^th: Philanthropy Round
• Monday, August 17^th: Preference Round
• Tuesday, August 18^th: Bid Day

GPA Zones

Green Zone = Your options are not likely limited based on your GPA. (3.10 + )

Yellow Zone = Your options are more likely to be limited by your GPA. (2.80 – 3.09)

Red Zone = Your options are very likely to be limited based on GPA. (2.79 and below)