Our hope is to provide resources on this page to address common concerns and help parents and students understand more about the fraternity and sorority experience at UNC Asheville. If you have a question regarding Fraternity & Sorority Life at UNC Asheville, or to suggest a resource you think might aid in the mission of this page, please email Fraternity & Sorority Life.
At UNC Asheville, our fraternities and sororities are held to a high standard of excellence and risk management. All fraternities and sororities are required to adhere to policies in the UNC Asheville Student Handbook. Our student handbook includes several policies crucial to the safe and successful operation of student organizations, specifically our fraternities and sororities on-campus.
What’s the process of joining a fraternity or sorority?
Joining a fraternity or sorority is a process of mutual selection. For fraternities, we encourage interested men to visit all of our chapters to find the best fit for him. At UNC Asheville, fraternities host more structured recruitment periods at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, yet are able to recruit and extend bids for membership at any time throughout the academic year unless otherwise defined by their inter/national organizations. For sororities, a more structured recruitment period is held at the beginning of the fall semester, and chapters still able to accept new members after fall recruitment are able to extend bids to interested women throughout the academic year. The process of extending bids after fall recruitment for sororities is referred to as Continuous Open Bidding, or just COB. To receive the most updated information on fraternity and sorority recruitment, encourage your student to check our website for updates, visit Highsmith Student Union’s administrative offices (HIG 215) or email Fraternity & Sorority Life at UNC Asheville.
What are the benefits of joining?
within the larger community, easing their transition and connecting them with limitless opportunities for personal success and leadership. Each Greek letter organization was founded on ideals and values, allowing students to join memberships and organizations that share what’s most important to them. Fraternity and sorority members are more likely to succeed academically than their non-affiliated peers, with the all-fraternity/sorority GPA consistently ranking higher than the all-male/female GPA. Largely because of the support and community offered by fraternity and sorority chapters, 71% of fraternity and sorority members make it to graduation, while only 50% of non-affiliated students complete their degrees nationally. Greek letter organizations also center around service, with fraternity men and sorority women making up the largest network of volunteers globally, clocking over 10 million service hours annually. Lifelong membership in an inter/national fraternity or sorority also connects your student to a global network of affiliated members, which is critical for seeking professional opportunities and involvement after graduation.
What are the financial obligations associated with membership?
A common misconception is that being a part of a fraternity or sorority is financially burdensome and unaffordable. You will be responsible for paying semesterly membership dues, which vary by organization. Inter/national organizations, councils, and even individual chapters may also offer scholarships to assist members struggling to pay membership dues. On average nationally, less than 2% of a student’s college expenses go toward membership dues in a fraternity or sorority.
Do I have to live in a fraternity or sorority house?
No. Currently, UNC Asheville does not have fraternity and sorority housing or on-campus housing reserved for members. Members may choose to live together off-campus but UNC Ashevile does not formally provide fraternity and sorority housing.
What are UNC Asheville policies regarding hazing?
Members of fraternities and sororities at UNC Asheville are required to adhere to all policies in the UNC Asheville Student Handbook, including specific policies and laws regarding alcoholic beverages, risk management, and hazing. UNC Asheville students are also required to adhere to The State of North Carolina Hazing Laws.
Why are there some things fraternity and sorority members can’t talk about? What’s the big secret?
We understand concern regarding secrecy in fraternity and sorority initiation practices and ceremonies. Initiation into a Greek letter organization is an exciting, yet important part of becoming a member. Initiation signifies official membership in an organization, and often involves the sharing of traditions, rituals, and secrets not public to non-affiliates. Rituals and initiations are generally single-day events and are consistent across all chapters of an organization, as dictated by their inter/national headquarters. Fraternity and sorority rituals and ceremonies involve no hazing and should not require students to go long periods of time secluded or cut-off from communication.
How will fraternity or sorority membership affect my grades?
Being in a fraternity or sorority is a time commitment but all Greek letter organizations as collegiate student groups value academic excellence and degree completion at their core. Fraternity and sorority members are more likely to succeed academically than their non-affiliated peers, with the all-fraternity/sorority GPA consistently ranking higher than the all-male/female GPA. Chapters often facilitate a variety of academically focused initiatives including, scholarship support programs, provided study hours, incentives for academic achievement, and other resources to help members succeed in the classroom. Fraternities and sororities generally require a minimum GPA for membership and work to provide support efforts to those falling short during their undergraduate studies.