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FAQs
What are the benefits to membership in a Greek letter organization?
A recent study completed at the University of Missouri showed that membership in Greek letter organizations increased the likelihood that students would return to college their second year and remain through graduation. Choosing to become part of a Greek letter organization also allows your son or daughter to meet new people and develop a support network in their new environment away from home. Membership gives them the opportunity to participate in many campus and chapter events, volunteer service, and to create a “family” of friends.
What does membership in a Greek letter organization mean for a student academically?
The primary goal of any student attending The University should be to obtain a quality education. In keeping with that goal, all fraternities and sororities have academic standards their members must maintain to stay in good standing with the organization. In order to help their members succeed academically, many of the Greek organizations will offer scholarship opportunities, study halls, study buddies, and/or incentive programs for academic achievement. At The University of Maine, the average fraternity and sorority GPA’s each semester are comparable to The University’s men’s and women’s averages.
Are Greeks involved in other activities on campus?
Greek organizations help their members to develop their leadership skills and encourage their members to become involved in leadership roles in other organizations on campus. Greeks are currently represented among Student Government, the Off Campus Board, Student Orientation Leaders, Residence Advisors, and many others.
Do Greeks participate in volunteer service?
Every school year our Greek organizations complete thousands of hours of service and raise thousands of dollars. Each fraternity and sorority have national philanthropies their organizations support throughout the year. The organizations at The University of Maine also take great pride in taking an active role in our local community. Our organizations frequently collect cans for local food banks, work with the Adopt-A-Highway program, organize blood drives to benefit the local Red Cross.
What does it cost to be Greek?
There is a financial commitment required to become a member of a Greek letter organization. Each chapter is supported by the dues collected from it’s undergraduate members. The amount of dues collected varies by organization. When a student is looking to join a Greek organization, they should be sure to ask what the exact financial obligations involved are of the group they are interested in. The first semester in the fraternity or sorority may be slightly more expensive than latter semesters due to one-time fees, such as “pledge” or “initiation” fees.
Are there long-term benefits to being a member of a Greek letter organization?
Joining a Greek letter organization is a life-long commitment. There are continued opportunities to reap the benefits of membership in these organizations. Some of these opportunities may include scholarship opportunities for post-graduate education, leadership opportunities within alumni groups locally or nationally, and continued interest in volunteer service.
One of the most significant long-term benefit is the networking possibilities available to members of Greek letter organizations. Relationships within Greek organizations extend beyond the people met in college. Membership opens the doors to career networking nationally. Following graduation, Greek alumni have also been shown to have significantly higher average income levels than students who were not affiliated with Greek letter organizations during college. Most Greek letter organizations also have alumni chapters across the country. These alumni groups provide an excellent way to meet new people and find support when a student relocates after college.
