Parents & Families: Going Greek
Whether your family includes generations of alumni, or your student is first-generation with no knowledge of what all those different Greek letters mean, we encourage you to explore one question: who could your student become if they "go Greek" and join a fraternity or sorority at SDSU?
Why do fraternities and sororities exist?
- In the late 1700s, literary societies began to supplement the classroom experience with a focus on leadership, service, and friendship, often involving faculty as advisors. Greek-lettered organizations emerged from these early literary societies.
- Fraternities and sororities often receive criticism for being exclusionary, which is historically true and continues to impact the membership experience today. However, fraternities and sororities were also some of the only spaces where students excluded from everything else (newspaper, athletics, etc.), often related to social identities, could create their own sense of belonging on campus.
- We’ve had fraternities and sororities at SDSU since 1899 - before we were even officially called San Diego State University!
Why do people still join fraternities and sororities?
- Members often describe their experience as joining a "family" and finding a "home away from home." Although difficult to quantify these feelings, a 2022 research study suggests that affiliated students report higher levels of positive mental health.
- While there are costs associated with membership, research shows it is a worthwhile investment. For example, NIC data shows fraternity members are more likely to persist to graduation, find jobs more quickly, and thrive in every aspect of wellbeing after graduation than non-members.
Members of Delta Sigma Psi sorority, an Asian-interest chapter within USFC, smile for a photo outside the student union. Many chapters offer peer mentorship in the form of big/little or neo/prophyte relationships, reinforcing that a chapter often feels like a family.
Parents & Families: Supporting Your Student
Encourage, without pressuring, your student to explore all that SDSU has to offer.
- What are their hobbies, interests, or passions?
- What might they want to study or learn?
- What are they most nervous about? Excited about? Curious about?
- What SDSU events during the first few weeks of the semester can they attend?
- Who do they know who attends or attended SDSU and can share about their student experience?
- What are important deadlines or requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for future membership?
- What are the newsletters, instagram accounts, or offices on campus that can help them stay informed?
The best way to meet fraternity and sorority members is to show up to programs and get connected on campus! Many chapters look favorably on interested students who have demonstrated leadership, service, and other involvement experience.
Remind your student that all joining processes are based on mutual selection.
- Not everyone receives an invitation to membership (also called a "bid") each semester.
- The most common reason for not receiving a bid is because a student chose not to continue in the process.
- However, it is also possible that a student might not meet the selection criteria for an organization, or that an organization chooses not to have them continue in the process.
- It's important for students to be authentically themselves, instead of just trying to be what they think a chapter wants, so they can find a true sense of belonging.
- For some students, it might make more financial sense to join later in their college career, or they might want more time to adjust to SDSU before making a lifetime commitment to one organization.
- You or your student might have heard about different chapter reputations or rumors. If you have health and safety concerns, please reach out to the Pierce Greek Life Center. Otherwise, try to keep an open mind, because all of our recognized chapters are held to high standards of excellence within the community.
- Remember all of our chapters offer a similar experience. You or your student might hear about "top" and "bottom" chapters, but our community is focused on providing a fun, safe, and impactful membership experience for everyone, no matter which chapter they join.
Talk openly and honestly with your student about their experience and your potential level of involvement.
- Discuss the financial obligations of membership. Determine who will pay for what, and encourage your student to reach out for support as needed.
- Remind your student that joining a chapter can be exciting, but also comes with membership expectations. Help them understand they may be required to attend meetings, volunteer or fundraise, participate in educational workshops, and maintain strong academic performance.
- Ask your student what opportunities exist for parents and families to be involved. Many chapters coordinate family weekends, send newsletters, and invite families to participate in philanthropy efforts.
- Provide space for them to share about their experience so far, including highlights and lowlights. It can be challenging to balance classes and membership, but the chapter should help, not hinder, their wellbeing and academics. If you ever have health and safety concerns, contact the Pierce Greek Life Center.
- Be curious! There are a lot of acronyms and terms specific to Greek Life, but they each serve a purpose. Give your student a chance to teach you about their organization and the community.
Know that Greek Life offers many different opportunities for students and their families to be leaders within the community.
- Each chapter has an executive board, a team of student leaders who manage the chapter operations. Ask your student when the next exec elections are, and if they've considered applying for exec.
- Each council also has its own exec, delegates, and other leadership roles like recruitment counselors or judicial board officers. Ask your student if they have any interest in council leadership.
- Greek auxiliary groups provide another opportunity for affiliated students to connect across different chapters. This includes Greek honor societies, the Greek Life Activities Board (which plans Greek Week and Homecoming activities), and Greek InterVarsity (a faith-based organization).
- Many affiliated students also find value in serving as peer educators - groups of students trained to facilitate workshops on different topics for the community. For example, SISSTER and FratMANners seek to educate members about the importance of sexual violence prevention.
- Parents and families can be leaders within the community too! Consider getting involved with New Student and Parent Programs, giving to SDSU to increase fraternity/sorority membership opportunities, or asking the councils about upcoming programs that could use volunteer support, like the NPHC Yard Show or Panhellenic MRABA signing.
Remember that your student's affiliation doesn't end when they graduate. For many students, graduation opens up a whole new era of membership as alumni!
- Many organizations recognize their graduating members through ceremonies that officially designate them as alumni and/or custom stoles that can be worn at commencement. Encourage your student to stay active in the chapter so they can participate in these special moments.
- More and more organizations are providing career mentorship and financial support for graduating members. Review the website of the inter/national fraternity or sorority to learn more about potential networking databases and graduate studies support, such as exam waivers and educational grants.
- Membership in a fraternity or sorority allows students to develop personally as well as professionally. It may be helpful for students to connect with Career Services to learn how to translate their skills and experiences to a résumé, interview, personal statement, or their next opportunity.
- For students who plan to move to a new city (or even country!) after graduation, local alumni groups can help them build community. Remind your student to update their mailing address and pay alumni dues each year so they can remain active with the organization.
- All fraternities and sororities also have opportunities to stay involved in the organization. Alumni are encouraged to consider volunteering as facilitators for leadership conferences, applying to serve as advisors, or holding leadership roles within alumni groups or graduate chapters.