FAQ

For Interfraternity Council fraternities: IFC recruitment begins in May and some chapters recruit all of their new members before the fall semester begins. Other chapters focus their recruitment efforts during the fall and spring semesters.

For NPHC organizations: Black Greek 101 sessions and chapter informationals take place during both the fall and spring semesters. Each chapter decides whether they will take new members in the fall, spring, or both semesters. 

For MGC organizations: MGC 101 sessions and chapter informationals take place during both the fall and spring semesters. Each chapter decides whether they will take new members in the fall, spring, or both semesters. 

For Panhellenic Association sororities: There are two ways to join a Panhellenic organization - through primary recruitment in the fall (the week before fall semester begins) or through informal recruitment in either the fall or spring semesters (typically during the first four weeks of each semester).

For Interfraternity Council fraternities: One-time expenses are the new member and/or the initiation fee. Recurring expenses include: chapter dues, national fees, social fees and risk management insurance. For organizations with houses, room and board (if living in a chapter facility) may also apply. Many fraternities require meal plans.

For NPHC organizations: The expenses paid upon initiation may include the new member and/or initiation fee, pin fee, national, regional, and local dues. The yearly recurring expenses may include national, regional and local dues and risk management insurance.

For MGC organizations: The totals vary greatly for membership fee and yearly recurring dues. Encourage your student to inquire about each organization’s specific fees.

For Panhellenic Association sororities: Being transparant about the cost of membership is important to the Panhellenic Association and the cost depends on which organization your student joins. We have organizations with facilities and some without and that changes the cost of membership. Typically there are three types of dues - new member dues (during the first year of membership), live-in dues (if your student lives in a chapter facility) and live-out fees (these are after a student has lived in a facility and now has moved out). A cost break-down by organization is available on our website. View the Panhellenic cost sheet.

For Interfraternity Council fraternities: Many of our fraternities have space for first year members to live in the chapter house. There is a fee associated with cancelling a housing contract.

For Panhellenic Association sororities: Probably not. Most members live in their chapter facilities during their second year of membership and many live in their junior year as well. 

The University of Nebraska recognizes that the use of alcoholic beverages by those of legal age is a matter of personal choice. The University is required to state that those who choose to drink abide by state law and University regulations, and expects that such individuals will conduct themselves responsibly, mindful of the rights of others. We encourage parent and families to have honest conversations about your student's expectations around the consumptions of alcohol and that it perfectly okay to not to drink. Many of students do not drink.

The University of Nebraska seeks to promote a safe environment in which students may participate without compromising their health, safety or welfare. Under this guideline and per Nebraska State Law, hazing is not permitted. All hazing incidents will be investigated and if found to be truthful will be adjudicated. View the definition of hazing, warning signs and alternatives to hazing.

Can I be involved with my student's fraternity and/or sorority experience?

How can I find out what organizations are/ have been on probationary periods?

No student is ever guaranteed a bid or an invitation for membership in a fraternity or sorority. Each organization has membership standards that they are required to uphold. These can include but are not limited to GPA requirements, current/past involvement requirements, current/past leadership involvement, or current /past community service involvement. 

There are opportunities for students to join many of our organizations immediately. Our IFC Fraternities, especially those with living units, begin recruiting students in mid-May. Most students joining Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association fraternities and sororities will join before taking their first class. There are additional joining opportunities throughout the academic year. 

Any student admitted to UNL as a first-time freshman is eligible to join an organization. Current UNL or transfer students must have a 2.5 or higher cumulative grade point average. Individual chapters may set a minimum GPA higher than UNL’s minimum requirement.

A recommendation is an introduction and brief description of a student interested in joining a fraternity or sorority, written by a chapter’s alumnus or alumnae who has first-hand knowledge of the potential new member. It is the responsibility of the chapter to secure recommendations for potential members. Having a recommendation can be beneficial for a potential member but does not guarantee an invitation to join that chapter. Letters of recommendation are NOT required at UNL.

Panhellenic sorority recruitment days are long and hot! The attire during primary recruitment begins casual and gets progressively more dressy. If your student has specific questions, they can reach out to the Panhellenic Recruitment Team at panhellenicrecruitment.unl@gmail.com or reach out to her Rho Gamma. 

Fraternity recruitment is very casual. What you wear will depend on the activity you’ve been invited to attend. A pool party means swimsuit, sunscreen and flip flops. A BBQ = shorts and shirts. If you have questions, the chapter recruitment chair can tell you what’s appropriate.

This is a formal event similar to a job interview. Students should wear business attire/business-casual.

This is a formal event similar to a job interview. Students should wear business attire/business-casual.

Organizations without chapter facilities have office space in the Nebraska Union and generally hold Monday night meetings on campus. Members live in University housing or off-campus.

Fraternities with chapter houses usually have room for incoming new members to living in the facility. If you join a chapter with room for you to move in right away, be sure to cancel your contract with university housing. The chapter may credit you for some or all of your forfeited deposit so you'll want to ask them about their chapter policy. 

Check out our “Apply Now” webpage for more information about applying for Fraternity and Sorority Recruitment. Once you are admitted to the University, we encourage you to apply for membership by following the instructions at http://www.unl.edu/greek/apply.shtml.

There are many student athletes who find a home in the fraternity and sorority community at UNL.  We understand athletics and academics are the priority and we are committed to working with your schedule. At UNL, it is not unusual for our student-athletes to involve themselves in other campus organizations. Fraternity and Sorority life provides student-athletes with an additional outlet for brotherhood/sisterhood, academic supervision, and activities to participate in during off-season.

My student is in the UNL Marching band. Can they join a fraternity and sorority?

Yes, international students can join fraternities and sororities. The fraternity and sorority system is uniquely American and is often an unusual concept for international students. Fraternities and sororities are student organizations that have been part of the American College history for more than two centuries. Being an international student in the fraternity and sorority community provides a great way to foster relationships with other students on campus, get leadership experience, and much more.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Asexual/Aromantic and Ally/Advocate (LGBTQA+) community at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln includes students of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expression. We are athletes, activists, performers, student leaders, and fraternity and sorority members. The fraternity and sorority community is a microcosm of all of the overall university population committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive campus. If your student identifies as LGBTQA and is interested about learning more about membership, please contact the Fraternity and Sorority Life Office.