Parents of Fraternity and Sorority Members
Dear Parent:
We would like to congratulate your son or daughter on their decision to join a Greek-letter organization recognized at the University at Buffalo. Fraternities and sororities were founded on four basic principles: scholarship, community service, campus involvement, and sisterhood / brotherhood. Greek Affairs assists fraternities and sororities as they strive to fulfill these basic principles. We write to share our expectations with parents of new members and to offer an opportunity to bring our attention to any concerns you may have.
All Greek societies were founded primarily to encourage scholarship and academic achievement.
Philanthropy and Community service are the second principles of Greek life at UB. Greek organizations are instrumental in the execution of Kid's Day, an annual fund raiser sponsored by The Buffalo News benefiting Children's Hospital. UB students and greek-letter social organizations have raised more than $260,000 since its inception in 1983. In excess of 200 volunteers at the Annual Linda Yalem Memorial Run, a 5K run for safety-awareness, also represent the Greek community. Individual chapter service projects in the past have included assisting at local soup kitchens, keeping New York State clean through the Adopt-A-Highway program, and volunteering at Fall Fest and campus athletic events.
Campus involvement is the third tenet of Greek Life. We encourage a well-rounded experience for our students. Many of our Greek members report involvement in student groups and work experiences outside of their chapter. Past and present involvement includes the President of the Student Association, NYSSA Delegates, Orientation Aides, and Residence Assistants.
Sisterhood/brotherhood is the fourth principle. Fraternities at UB provide that home away from home that makes a large campus such as ours seem more manageable. It also provides a source of friendship and professional networking that extends beyond the time of undergraduate study.
The Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC; NIC and local fraternities) and the Pan-Hellenic Council (Panhel; NPC and two local sororities) recruit during both the Fall and Spring semesters. The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the United Council of Cultural Fraternities and Sororities (UCCFS; social sororities and fraternities, cultural in origin) and the United Coeducational Greek Council (UCGC) conduct intake at varying times throughout the year.
All Greek Rush and recruitment events are required to be dry (no alcohol permitted). All potential members for the three Sub-Councils must be at least a second-semester freshman and have a Q.P.A. equal to or greater than 2.0. Transfer students must have a minimum of 12 earned credit hours and a Q.P.A. of at least 2.0 to join a sorority or fraternity as well.
Membership dues, which are paid every semester from the time students join their chapters until they are no longer undergraduates at UB, cover such expenses as scholarship incentives, leadership school tuition, national dues, liability insurance, intramural supplies, and social expenses, but not alcohol. In addition to dues, a one-time initiation fee levied on each member pays for a membership certificate, pin, and for a lifetime subscription to the national magazine.
New members are required to attend informational seminars, which address issues such as: the history of Greek-letter societies, hazing and date-rape prevention, and the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol/substance abuse. Attendees receive copies of the hazing and alcohol policies of both the University at Buffalo and the State of New York. We hope that these programs not only communicate our expectations at the University at Buffalo, but also prepare our members for life beyond UB.
No student should ever be subjected to any form of hazing. UB has a strict policy against hazing for all student groups. We aggressively pursue any reports of violations. If you have any concerns about hazing, please call Greek Affairs at (716) 645-2055. We also encourage you to call the National Headquarters of the organization that your son or daughter is joining if you would like to anonymously report an alleged hazing incident. We would like to know about any practices that are in conflict with our expectations. Hazing is against both University policy and New York State law.
We are proud of the positive influence that fraternities and sororities have on their members. Please feel free to call on us as we work to provide a safe and high-quality undergraduate Greek experience for all our members.
Pam Stephens-Jackson
Assistant Director for Greek Affairs
(716) 645-2055
Email