Parent Information

Please visit the Fraternities at Elon webpage to learn more about Elon’s fraternities.

Please visit the Sororities at Elon webpage to learn more about Elon’s sororities.

Elon has a deferred joining process for value-based, Greek-lettered organizations, meaning that the first opportunity for first-year students to join a fraternity or sorority is the spring semester.

Most fraternities (Interfraternity Council – IFC) and sororities (Panhellenic Association – PA) participate in formal recruitment processes. Please visit the Recruitment Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.

Elon’s historically African-American fraternites and sororities (National Pan-Hellenic Council – NPHC), as well as Chi Upsilon Sigma and Lambda Upsilon Lambda, participate in individualized membership intake processes. Different from the IFC and PA, there is no formal recruitment period for these chapters.  Recruitment tactics and initiation procedures for new members are unique to each of these organizations.  Traditionally, each chapter hosts educational programming throughout the semester and offers ample opportunity to meet and connect with members before making the personal decision to join.  Please visit the Membership Intake page to learn more.

Encourage your student to get involved on campus before joining a Greek-lettered organization. Elon’s spring recruitment schedule allows students to find their place on campus before making a lifelong commitment to a fraternity or sorority. We offer a full semester for students to find a balance between their academic, student involvement and social priorities before deciding to add a Greek-lettered organization that may compliment their experience.

Help your student compare their personal and family values to the values of each chapter. Greek-lettered organizations were founded to create better people through membership in values-based organizations. Understanding this is a key component to helping your student choose which organization to join.

Be a consultant. Listen and learn about your student’s experience. Make suggestions and ask thought-provoking questions, but encourage your student to take the lead on their own decision-making.

Set expectations regarding membership before the recruitment/intake process begins. Discuss who will be responsible for financial obligations and consider discussing how your student will balance their time and how they might respond to peers’ influence.

Remember, your student is a young adult and will benefit from your guidance and support. If your student does decide to join an organization, continue to talk with them about their experiences. If you are concerned about some things you are hearing, consider these prompts or discussion questions below. They may help your student think through their situation and decide if they need to do anything differently.

• Let your student know you care about them. Ask, “Are you okay?”
• What types of activities do you do with them?
• Are you being forced to do anything that makes you uncomfortable or concerned for anyone’s safety?
• Is there alcohol involved with any activities?

Be open minded. Know that your perception or fraternity/sorority experience will be somewhat different from the experience of your student. Greek-letter organizations differ from campus to campus, as campus culture and climate impact the overall fraternity/sorority life experience of students. Listen and let your student make the choice that is right for them.

Keep our office information handy. We are happy to help and committed to providing our students and their families with the best holistic learning experience possible. Please call (336-278-7214) or email (studentinvolvement@elon.edu) with any questions or concerns.

Get involved! Elon has many opportunities for parents and family members to learn more about and contribute to the university. Visit the Parent Engagement website for more information.

• One of the central purposes of fraternities and sororities is to promote academic excellence.
• Each organization requires a minimum GPA to remain an active member of the chapter.
• All chapters emphasize the value of academic success and will help their members achieve through scholarship programs, study halls, incentive programs and peer tutoring.
• The Greek community consistently has a higher cumulative GPA than non-affiliated students.
• Order of Omega is a Greek Honors Society that recognizes outstanding fraternity men and sorority women for their leadership and academic achievements.

• Greek-letter organizations encourage members to expand and develop their leadership skills within their own organization as well as other campus groups.
• Members of the fraternity/sorority community are represented in most campus groups including Elon University Ambassadors, Student Government Association, Resident Assistants, Orientation Leaders, and many more.
• As a member of a Greek-letter organization, your student will have the opportunity to become involved in a variety of leadership positions outside of his or her chapter including: Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Panhellenic Association, House Managers, and Panhellenic Recruitment Counselors.

• Every year our students give thousands of hours of service to the community.
• Members donate time to help with projects such as Habitat for Humanity, reading to underprivileged children, Adopt-A-Highway and the Special Olympics.
• Each fraternity and sorority chapter has its own philanthropic focus, which it supports on an ongoing basis.
• Chapters have special events to raise money for their particular projects.

• Joining a fraternity or sorority does carry a financial commitment. Each chapter is self-supporting through dues paid by their members.
• When students join a Greek-letter organization, they also agree to pay dues and fees while in school to maintain membership. Visit our Cost of Membership page for more information.
• Although chapters may make accommodations for special needs, students should discuss the financial obligations with their parent(s) before deciding to join.

• In today’s job market it is not only important what your student knows, but who your student knows.
• When someone joins a fraternity or sorority, he/she not only becomes friends with the members of that chapter, but also begins building relationships with the families and friends of those members and alumni from all over the country.
• By joining a Greek-letter organization, a person can create an entire network of people, from which he/she may meet a future employer, spouse or lifelong friend.
• Many groups have active alumni/graduate chapters providing opportunities for continued involvement beyond the undergraduate years. Members of these graduate chapters often serve as advisors to the local undergraduate chapters.