Greek Life - Frequently Asked Questions

Many students seeking friendship, and a home away from home, join fraternities and sororities. Along with these benefits come the support of a peer group, opportunities for community and college service, high academic standards and support, educational programming on topics of wellness and personal development, experience working with a diverse membership, leadership opportunities, and a valuable network of successful alumni.

The Greek Experience is an investment in your future. Joining one of these organizations does carry a financial commitment. Each chapter is self-supporting through dues paid by members of the organization. Most chapters offer payment plans to assist those students who need the extra support. Additionally, chapters may offer scholarships and grants to qualified students. Dues support services and programs conducted by the chapters and national offices, which directly assist individual leadership, academic, and social growth. Dues also go towards programming/publicity expenses, service events, liability insurance, and conference participation, just to name a few. Semester dues vary per chapter; each organization's approximate dues are listed on their individual webpages. After some one-time costs for initiation fees the semester a student joins, dues remain relatively the same each semester.

Academic achievement is a number one priority for students in fraternities and sororities. When students join a fraternity or sorority, they become part of a larger group of students who value their academic goals at Farmingdale State College. Individuals are required to have a specific minimum GPA in order to join an organization, and must continue to meet a minimum GPA each semester in order to participate in Fraternity and Sorority Life. The all-fraternity/sorority GPA is typically higher than the campus average! Additionally, each chapter has a scholarship offer who initiates programs within the chapter to encourage high academic achievement. These include recognition and incentive programs, as well as specialized assistance for members who are having academic difficulty.

The amount of time involved in joining a fraternity or sorority will vary from chapter to chapter. The semester in which a student decides to become a member will be the most time-intensive period, as this is the time where new members participate in the new member education period. New members education is a six week period in which new members develop leadership and time management skills, learn about the history of the organization, meet and develop friendships with their new member class and with current members of the organization, and participate in chapter and campus events. Individual chapters have mandatory events such as weekly chapter meetings, community service and philanthropic events and study hours, however these events are planned in advance to ensure that members can plan their schedules accordingly. Being a member of a fraternity or sorority is a great experience, meaning that the more time you put in, the more you will get out of the experience!