Parent and Family Information

Welcome!

We're glad to learn that your student is interested in joining our Fraternity and Sorority Community here at UTC! Please take some time to look through the resources provided for you! There's a great deal of information available on our website, which you can find under the tabs on the left side of this page. If you have any questions, please contact the council advisors listed below.

 

What's here?

Is everything your student saying all Greek to you? Visit our Greek Glossary.

Have a question about Fraternity and Sorority life? Look through our FAQs. If there are any questions you have not listed, please contact any of the advisors listed above.

Interested in learning more about the UTC Conduct Process? Read through our conduct flow chart.

If your student joined a fraternity or sorority and you don't know what to do next, read through our Now What? section.

Make sure to visit the Parent and Family Association for more great University resources too!

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FAQs

If you have a question you don't see here, please email us!
 

What's the benefit of my student joining a fraternity or sorority?

Fraternities and Sororities have been on campus since before UTC was even founded as UTC! These organizations are rooted in founding principles that foster academic excellence, civic engagement, brotherhood/sisterhood, leadership development, and social responsibility. Greek organizations are groups of men and women who come together to form a personal network of individuals with similar ideas, interests, and a mutual pursuit of a well-rounded college education. Advantages include:

• A support group and friendships to help make the adjustment to college easier.
• Academic resources to help student achieve their academic goals.
• Leadership skills acquired through experiences within committees and positions.
• Encouragement to get involved and maximize their potential on campus.
• Opportunities for active participation in community service projects.

How will a fraternity or sorority affect my student academically?

Fraternities and Sororities serve as a great resource for students academically through study hours and tutoring programs. Most chapters require a high GPA for initial membership into the organization. The minimum GPA required to participate in Greek recruitment or intake is a 2.5 per UTC policies.

Each organization may have their own minimum GPA for membership which can be higher than the 2.5 University requirement. To see our community grade reports, visit our Reports and Statistics page.

How much does a fraternity or sorority cost?

Like any opportunity for involvement in college, there is a financial commitment associated with a joining or sorority. The costs go toward the Inter/National fees, chapter operating expenses, and social functions. Financial obligations differ among individual chapters. New members can expect to pay higher dues their first semester than in subsequent ones. Dues range from $400-$1500 depending on the organization and semester. Additional costs throughout the semester will go toward chapter pictures, gifts, t-shirts, etc.  While your student is participating in the recruitment process, make sure they ask about the financial obligations of membership.

Is my student guaranteed membership?

Fraternity and Sorority Life here at UTC is competitive, which means not everyone will receive an invitation of membership.

If you student doesn't receive an invitation of membership one semester, they are able to try and join again during the next recruitment cycle if they wish. 

Does my student have to live in the chapter house?

Chapters that have living facilities are all off campus and privately owned. While the University does not have oversight of these facilities, we do communicate with the chapter's advisory board and housing corporation. Each chapter may have their own live-in requirements. Encourage your student to reach out to the chapter leadership to find out more about their specific policies. 

What is UTC’s hazing policy?

Hazing is not only against Tennessee state law, it is also a violation of UTC's Code of Conduct. We educate chapter's and new members on the psychological and physical harms of hazing throughout the entire year. We take hazing allegations very seriously and investigate each report we receive. 

If you believe your student is being hazed by any student group on campus, please visit our Reporting Page to tell us what is going on. The University defines hazing as:

"Hazing" is defined as any intentional or reckless act, on or off University-controlled property, by one student, acting alone or with others, which is directed against any other student, that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student, or which induces or coerces a student to endanger his or her mental or physical health or safety, and includes treatment of a violent, abusive, shameful, insulting, or humiliating nature. Without limiting the foregoing, such action is prohibited when connected with initiation into or affiliation with an organization and does not include participation in customary athletic events or similar competition. (UTC Student Handbook)

Which chapter should my student join?

All fraternities and sororities have their own values which are exemplified in their own ways. Each chapter has their own strengths and weaknesses, and size or chapter housing don't determine a good or a bad chapter. For more information about our chapters to help you and your student make a decision please look through the links below. 

To find out more information about chapters on a probation, visit our Organizational Conduct Status page.

For more information on academic performance, volunteer hours, or philanthropy donations, visit our Reports and Statistics page.

To read more about our specific information about our chapters, visit our Chapter Listing page.

What is new member education or intake?

All fraternity and sorority members experience a period of membership orientation that lasts typically 8-10 weeks. During this time, your student and other new members will participate in weekly meetings to learn about the university and fraternity/sorority history, be part of leadership retreats, community service projects, and activities designed to build friendships among new members (pledges/associates/candidates) and the initiated members. We encourage students to ask questions of the person responsible for their education to better understand the process of joining.

What is recruitment and intake?

Fraternities and; Sororities at UTC practice either intake or recruitment.

Our NPHC chapters participate in membership intake processes at various times throughout the year at the discretion of each organization. It is heavily encouraged that students do extensive research into the organizations by visiting their web sites prior to contacting the respective organization. 

There are two forms of recruitment: formal and informal. Formal recruitment is often held early in the fall semester each year for IFC and PAN groups, and early in the spring semester for IFC. The formal process allows students to explore the full range of organizations before committing to one. However, throughout the remainder of the calendar year, students will have the opportunity to meet and interact with fraternity and sorority members. 

Our Special Interest organizations may have a period of formal recruitment but also may only participate in informal recruitment. This process is determined by each organization at various times of the year. 

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My Student Joined a Chapter.....Now What?!

Fraternity and Sorority Life can be incredibly overwhelming for any parent or family member, but especially for those who are not members of these organizations.

Below, you'll find some helpful information on how to support your student through their membership process. 

• Encourage your student to be involved outside of the fraternity or sorority too! College is all about growing as an individual, and while a fraternity or sorority will help, being involved in other groups will help too!
• Be supportive and learn as much as you can about Fraternity and Sorority Life by asking questions of your student as they go through their membership. If your student doesn't want to or won't answer you, reach out to us! We're here to help you as well as the members. 
• Keep an open mind . . . Greek life is not for everyone. Just because you may have been a fraternity or sorority member doesn't mean that it is the right choice for your student and that's ok!
• Fraternities and sororities are different on every campus. Groups that may have been one way on the campus where you attended school may not be the same at UTC. Let your student choose the group that they feel the most comfortable joining.
• Talk about the financial obligation of fraternities and sororities. Have a clear plan of who will pay for what. Our community has a good mix of members who pay for everything themselves, whose parent's help them pay for their experience, and whose parents pay for everything. There is no right or wrong way to pay for the experience. 
• If the chapter your student joined has a family day, go to it! It will give you a chance to meet the other members of the chapter and other parents for you to start to build your own support network!

   

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