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Fraternity and Sorority Life
For your son or daughter, making the transition from high school or another institution of higher education to Drake may seem like an imposing yet exciting challenge.
A fraternity or sorority can help personalize your son or daughter’s college experience by offering a scholastic support system, hands-on experience in leading, managing budgets, interacting with faculty and administrators, exposure to potential careers through educational programs and discussions with alumni, the chance to give back to the community through service projects, and close friends who will cheer him/her on when they are successful and support them when times are tough. With all these opportunities available, you can understand that members of fraternities and sororities tend to graduate from college at a higher rate than those men and women not involved.
You will probably agree that perceptions of fraternities and sororities differ widely among parents and students. We hope that this site will be able to answer some of the questions typically asked. We hope that your son or daughter will give some serious consideration to learning about Drake’s fraternity and sorority community.
What is a Greek organization?
A "traditional" fraternity or sorority is a group of individuals with similar interests and values, joined together by common goals and aspirations. These bonds are created through rituals to which all members pledge themselves. Rituals are based on common principles such as honor, friendship, truth, and knowledge. Each chapter works to instill these ideals in their members through a variety of activities and programs.
What are the benefits?
Many people have the inaccurate impression that a sorority or fraternity is just a social club. Fraternities and sororities offer their members much more than an opportunity to make new friends.
Scholarship: Academics are stressed by individual chapters throughout the Drake community through study sessions, fraternal scholarship awards, and honorary membership in our Greek only honor society, Order of Omega. Chapters and inter/national fraternal organizations also recognize and reward scholastic excellence in addition to offering scholarship opportunities. The more than five years, the All-Greek, All-Fraternity and All-Sorority GPA averages all exceeded their respective All-University Average, All-Women’s and All-Men’s averages. In the Spring of 2008 127 fraternity and sorority members with perfect 4.0 GPA’s.
Leadership: The fraternity and sorority community at Drake offers extraordinary opportunities for leadership development through committee work and officer positions. The organizations strengthen the abilities of teamwork, delegation, public speaking, organization, time management and motivation. By becoming involved in a sorority or fraternity, your daughter or son will participate in experiences that not only prepare her or him for a career—but for life. Greeks are in the highest levels of leadership on campus, outside of their own governing bodies, 17 of 25 Student Government leaders, 16 of 32 Ambassadors, 33 of 53 PMACs, and 25 of 58 Mortar Board members are members of fraternities and sororities.
Community Service: Annually, our chapters volunteer over 4,500 hours to local and national agencies. Members who volunteer time and to these organizations not only give back to the community, but enjoy working together for a beneficial cause. Community service provides its members with a valuable learning and growing experience.
Philanthropy: From year to year, on average our chapters donated over $45,000 dollars to charitable local and national organizations. Just like volunteerism, donating monies to these organizations not only supports those in need, but provides a sense of citizenship.
Fellowship: Perhaps the most valued aspect of fraternity and sorority membership is the friendship and camaraderie that exists among members. Brother/sisterhood as it is referred too, offers members the opportunity to live and work toward common goals and enjoy campus life together, friendships and relationships are strengthened. These relationships transcend ordinary friendship to become like that of a brother or sister. Like family ties, the bond formed is for a lifetime.
Social: The social aspects of fraternal living at Drake University are what make college life a well-balanced experience. Members of fraternities and sororities interact frequently throughout the year, and sponsor events where friends are made and relationships expand. Functions range from theme parties, to date parties, to formals. There are many social events throughout the year, including Greek Week and Sweet Heart Sing, where the entire Drake fraternity and sorority community celebrates being together and shows their chapter pride.
How do you join?
Recruitment, or Intake, is a mutual selection process for joining a sorority or fraternity. Within the “formal” recruitment process, your daughter or son will visit with each sorority/fraternity. It is a time for your son or daughter to get a more in depth perspective on each organization by asking questions, defining financial obligations, time commitments, and membership requirements. Organizations, whom are able to, are encouraged to recruit year round to continue to provide the opportunity to develop members within our community. Intake, is the process that our National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC, historically African-American fraternities and sororities) chapters utilize to identify neophytes (or new members). NPHC organizations will hold informationals throughout the year, but only second semester sophomores are allowed to participate in the intake process.
What about hazing or alcohol use?
The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Drake University, has a zero tolerance policy for any situation that may be defined as hazing and encourages anyone to report such incidents. All inter/national fraternities/sororities, the Panhellenic, IFC, NPHC Councils and Drake University have passed resolutions that forbid hazing in any form against any member or new member.
The fraternity and sorority community is also concerned about the use and abuse of alcohol. All chapters are expected to uphold state and city laws, university policies, and inter/national organization policies regarding consumption of alcohol. Fraternities and sororities are expected to use applicable risk management procedures (FIPG Policy) that require responsible behavior of members and their guests.
What does it cost to join?
Each fraternity and sorority is self-sufficient. Each chapter and respective inter/national office collects dues and membership fees and a one time pledge and/or initiation fee. Dues and fees vary from chapter to chapter. Typical semester dues for IFC fraternities range from $400-$550, and Panhellenic sororities range from $750-$1,000. NPHC organizations tend to be much less, but being "financial" is important component of the fraternity and sorority experience. The first year of membership is normally higher, because initiation fees and other one time expenses.
Members do not live in the chapter house until their junior and senior years. Room and board costs to live in the house are comparable to or less than the residence halls. Each chapter's living expenses are different based on their accommodations.
Greek Facts
- The Drake fraternities and sororities have maintained a higher GPA average than their respective all undergraduate averages for the past 5+ years.
- 28% of students at Drake are members of fraternities and sororities.
- Drake fraternity/sorority members are very involved on campus as shown by
Greek/Total Members: Student Senate: 3/3 Executive officers, 14/22 Senators;
16/32 Student Ambassadors; 33/53 PMAC's; 14/17 Orientation Leaders;
25/58 Mortar Board Honorary Members; and 29/64 of the Top Leader Awards. - 85% of Fortune 500 executives are members of Greek organizations.
For more information contact:
Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life
515-271-3711