FAQs

Fraternities and sororities, Greek Letter Organizations, or simply "Greek Life," are social organizations found primarily on college and university campuses across the United States, but also in Canada, Europe, and the Philippines.

These organizations are often synonymous with single-gender, social organizations based around a shared set of values, rituals, and traditions. However, many other types of organizations exist beyond "traditional" Greek Life, such as professional fraternities, honor societies, and gender-inclusive groups.

Students typically join fraternities or sororities as undergraduate students, but some organizations, including those at Illinois Tech, also accept graduate students. 

We strive to develop our fraternity/sorority members in a holistic fashion that takes into account many different aspects of a college student’s experience. Below are the core tenets of our fraternity/sorority community, as officially adopted by our Greek Council.

• Scholarship—We strive to achieve high academic excellence by promoting and providing educational support and opportunities to all our members.
• Community—We aim to foster a healthy and safe environment rooted in respect, fellowship, and support while embracing all members of our global community.
• Leadership—We are committed to providing leadership opportunities and empowering members to become authentic leaders in professional, educational, and social settings that will lead them to enhance our campus community.
• Service—We ensure that our values of community and leadership are exemplified through our lifelong dedication to engage with others through meaningful involvement in service and philanthropic events on a local, regional, and international level.

All students from the Illinois Institute of Technology or the VanderCook College of Music who are not already affiliated with a fraternity/sorority recognized by Greek Council are eligible to become members of any fraternity/sorority organization on campus. For more information, check out the Potential New Members page. 

Becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority has numerous benefits that will help you thrive during your time as a student at Illinois Tech and beyond. Although many people associate Greek Life with an active social scene, the true focus of Greek Life is to build brotherly and sisterly bonds that will last a lifetime.

When you join a Greek organization, not only will you make new friends, but you will also become part of an extensive and supportive community consisting of people from all different backgrounds (e.g. age, race, nationality, area of study, etc.) This community strives to support you through all facets of your college experience, including the academic, extracurricular, and social aspects of your lives.

Although joining a Greek organization is a significant commitment, it is a formative experience that can help you to learn, grow, and make lifelong friends. 

Yes. Of our 11 Greek chapters, both sororities and six fraternities have chapters homes located on an area of campus known as The Quad, found on the southeast corner of the Mies campus. The fraternity homes are operated by housing corporations: organizations staffed by alumni who oversee operations and finances, while advising on the general workings of the chapters. The sorority chapter houses are owned and maintained by Illinois Tech. While each fraternity and sorority house has its own unique floor plan and mix of amenities, all houses have a resident advisor (RA), academic liaison, and food service option internal to the chapter.

Students who choose to join a fraternity/sorority with a chapter house are able to live on The Quad after living in a residence hall for, at least, one semester.
 

Yes. Joining one of our fraternities or sororities includes the payment of dues that cover the cost of important aspects of Greek Life including, but not limited to, educational programming, leadership development, chapter paraphernalia, and social events.

Each organization sets their own dues on a semesterly/annual basis, with the total cost varying from student to student. For more specific financial information, it is recommended to reach out directly to chapter leadership. 

We have a zero tolerance policy for hazing. Not only is hazing strictly prohibited per the guidelines found in our Student Handbook, but it is also considered a Class 4 felony under Illinois State law.

At Illinois Tech, hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created, intentionally or unintentionally, whether on or off Illinois Tech premises and whether presented as optional or required, to produce: mental, physical, or emotional discomfort; servitude; degradation; embarrassment; harassment; or ridicule for the purpose of induction or initiation into, affiliation with, admission to, or as a condition for continued membership in an Illinois Tech group, team, or other organization, regardless of an individual’s willingness or consent to participate.

Unfortunately, hazing continues to occur at many college campuses across the country. That is why we do our utmost to ensure that all our students, Greek-affiliated or otherwise, are protected from such behavior. Groups or individuals found to be participating in hazing behaviors are held accountable for their actions.