Interested in Joining? | Fraternity and Sorority Life

All students wishing to join a fraternal organization at Stony Brook University must:

Be a full-time, regularly enrolled student
Have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average
Have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours (credit hours must have been accrued during matriculation at a college campus)
- Advanced placement credits or other credits acquired during high school cannot be included

Maybe. First semester transfer students are eligible to go through the fraternity or sorority recruitment process if they meet the following requirements:

Be a full-time, regularly enrolled student
Have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average
Have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours (credit hours must have been accrued during matriculation at a college campus)
- Advanced placement credits or other credits acquired during high school cannot be included

First semester freshmen are not eligible to join a Stony Brook University fraternity or sorority. All students wishing to join a fraternal organization at Stony Brook University must:

Be a full-time, regularly enrolled student
Have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average
Have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours (credit hours must have been accrued during matriculation at a college campus)
- Advanced placement credits or other credits acquired during high school cannot be included

We do encourage first semester freshmen to take time their first semester to focus on their academics and seek involvement opportunities on campus. If you are interested in fraternity and sorority life, we encourage you to attend the involvement fair that is held at the beginning of each semester to meet our fraternities and sororities.

Additionally, we recommend using SBEngaged as a resource to learn more about our recognized fraternities and sororities' organizational missions and values, as well as attend any events that interest you.

No, AP and IB credit will not make a student eligible to join a fraternity or sorority in their first semester at Stony Brook University. All students wishing to join a fraternal organization at Stony Brook University must:

Be a full-time, regularly enrolled student
Have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average
Have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours (credit hours must have been accrued during matriculation at a college campus)
- Advanced placement credits or other credits acquired during high school cannot be included

You may join a fraternity or sorority at Stony Brook University after meeting the following requirements:

Be a full-time, regularly enrolled student
Have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average
Have earned a minimum of 12 credit hours (credit hours must have been accrued during matriculation at a college campus?
- Advanced placement credits or other credits acquired during high school cannot be included

Every organization has a unique new member recruitment and intake process in regards to seeking membership. Some organizations require participation in and attendance at on-campus recruitment events, while some organizations have an application or registration process. We recommend asking current members how the specific recruitment and intake processes work for their organization.

Joining a fraternity or sorority is a lifetime commitment so it is important that you make the best decision for you. Our suggested steps are as follows:

Do Some Research
Visit SBEngaged to determine which recognized chapters we have at Stony Brook University and check out our organizations national and local websites. Attend an all fraternity and sorority event to learn more about our organizations and meet members.

Attend a Program
Attend a recruitment event, an educational program, volunteer for community service with an organization, etc. The best way to find your niche is to meet people and find who you feel comfortable with.

Ask Questions
Suggested questions to ask are listed below.

Questions to Ask Before Joining

What are the guiding principles of your organization?
What is the fraternity or sorority looking for in an ideal member?
What is expected of active members?
How long is the new member program and what is the time requirement? What are the expectations of new members?
What leadership opportunities are available for me?
What is your philanthropy and how has your chapter contributed?
What are the community service requirements for members?
What activities does the organization participate in or sponsor?
How will this fraternity or sorority benefit me?
How much does it cost?

Fraternities and sororities participate in many activities including educational programs, socials, community service events, philanthropic events, and large campus programs and traditions. Fraternities and sororities also offer opportunities for members to develop and improve personally and professionally.

Choosing what organization to join is simply a matter of personal preference. You should take into consideration the values and activities of the organization. Selecting a fraternity or sorority is like choosing friends - pick the group with which you feel most comfortable.

The time commitment varies from chapter to chapter. Each chapter has regular business meetings and other mandatory events. Generally, you will get out of a chapter what you put into it. If you are as excited as most, you will have no trouble participating fully and attending all events and the rewards will be ten-fold. There are many circumstances when you may choose to take a less active role for a short time and most chapters allow for this flexibility if it is needed.

Academic achievement is a priority for all fraternities and sororities. Organizations must meet at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average or higher and will usually offer study sessions, tutoring, and other programs to assist members in achieving their academic potential. Most organizations on campus have a scholarship chair to support members in their personal, academic, and career goals while connecting them to campus resources and alumni networks.

Joining a fraternity or sorority does involve a financial commitment. The first semester of membership is typically the most expensive as individuals pay one-time initiation fees to the national organization. Yearly dues vary by organization. You should always ask the fraternity or sorority you are interested in about their financial commitment.

The purpose of all new member education programs shall be to develop well rounded members of the fraternal community. The new member process is a maximum of six weeks in duration. The new member education process' purpose should be to achieve the following:

To educate the potential new members about the ideology, history, and ceremonies of the fraternity or sorority.
To instruct potential new members on their purpose and responsibility to the fraternity or sorority, to the University and to the community.
To broaden the understanding between active members and potential new members, and to promote a sense of unity between them.
To carry out activities of campus and civic value.
To continue the tradition of fraternity and sorority membership as a matter of special pride and achievement as long as these traditions do not violate university policies, or place the prospective member in physical, mental, or emotional jeopardy.

We work with each chapter to support the development of an educational and positive new member experience.

The purpose of all recruitment and new member education programs shall be to develop well rounded members of the fraternal community. A new member activity is defined as any activity or event taking place during the new member process in which new members are present. Each new member activity must be purposeful in keeping with the University’s mission of education and human development.

Please read below for information on what the new member process should NOT entail:

Alcohol and drugs may not be in any way part of the recruitment/intake or new member education process.
The New Member Process should not exceed six weeks in duration. Semesters which encompass Spring Break will allow for an additional week to account for the break.
New member education activities and programming should not occur during times when class is not in session (for example: the week of Spring Break)
New member activities may not take place in personal residences either on or off campus or residence hall rooms
New member education should not occur outside of the following times: Sunday-Thursday 10:00am-11:00pm & Friday & Saturday 10:00am-Midnight.
New member activities should allow for adequate class/study time and must not conflict with the academic regulations and requirements of Stony Brook University.
During the new member period, all new member activities must involve only current undergraduate students who are registered students at Stony Brook University.
New member activities should not include hazing. For more information on hazing please visit stonybrook.edu/hazing prevention.

Stony Brook University does not condone hazing practices within any student organization. Hazing is entirely contrary to the values and purpose of fraternities and sororities. The rituals of fraternities and sororities have nothing to do with hazing: they are not scary, shameful, or degrading.

To learn more about what hazing is, hazing signs and behaviors, hazing prevention resources, and how to report hazing, please visit our hazing prevention website at stonybrook.edu/hazing prevention

If you suspect that hazing is happening in any fraternity or sorority at Stony Brook University we urge you to report using any of the methods below:

For emergencies, contact University Police at 333 from campus phones or (631) 632-3333 from non-campus phones.
File an Incident Report under Report at our Hazing Prevention website
Report to any campus faculty, staff, or administrator.
Follow Stony Brook’s Good Samaritan Policy