Fraternal Experience

The Fraternity and Sorority community is a growing and viable element on Georgia Southern’s campus today with 42 chapters  recognized by the University. Approximately 17 percent of all undergraduate students at Statesboro and approximately 5 percent of all undergraduate students at Armstrong are members of the Greek community, which is over 2,800 students.

There are many benefits to being a member of a fraternity or a sorority. Below is a list of how membership can shape your college experience to being more than the average.

• Offers a home-away-from-home environment.
• Enhances education that happens in and out of the classroom and in the classroom, Georgia Southern Greeks have higher GPAs  than non-affiliated students.
• Allows for opportunities to give back, help others and serve the community through service and philanthropy.
• Provides leadership activities and experiences that aren’t available to non-affiliated students.
• Increases your involvement on campus.
• Gives members an advantage of networking with alumni.
• Develop lifelong friendships, memories, and a strong sense of accomplishment.
• Allows you to be a part of something greater than yourself.

Core Values

Academics

Maintaining a high level of academic success is a tradition within the Greek community. Our fraternities and sororities pride themselves on academic success and keeping grades that are higher than the undergraduate men’s and women’s averages. Each chapter offers a wide range of support and assistance to their members including national and local scholarships, incentives and awards, time management and study skills workshops, tutoring and mentoring programs, established study sessions and quiet hours, and grade point average requirements.

Greek members can use their college experience to help choose classes and schedules that will give you the best chance at succeeding academically. If you are not sure about your major, other members can advise you on your many choices and can let you know what to expect in your classes. The diversity of collegiate majors within a fraternity or sorority assures that you can find assistance when you need it.

Georgia Southern’s Greek community creates an atmosphere where men and women are encouraged and assisted in maintaining a high level of academic success, while rewarding chapter and individuals for their academic development.

 Leadership

Joining a Greek organization is just the first step in your collegiate experience at Georgia Southern University. If you are looking for extracurricular activities to take part in, Georgia Southern Greeks are involved! Finding your niche can be made easier with the help of members who are currently involved on campus and can help you. Each chapter depends on the talents of its members to govern the organization. From serving in a new member office to chapter president, there is a place where you can contribute. The governing councils also provide opportunities for men and women from every chapter to get involved. Joining a fraternity helps you develop a skill set to deal with important issues that are easily transferred to a work setting when you graduate. In addition, you can attend nationally recognized leadership programs to develop your skills as well.

Greek men and women are also actively involved in the over 200 organizations at Georgia Southern University. Our members have served in leadership positions in many of these organizations including Southern Ambassadors, the SOAR Team, Southern Pride, Student Government Association, Varsity Football, MAP Sponsors, Cheerleaders, Miss Georgia Southern University, Peer Leaders, Soccer, Southern Explosion, and many others.

Being involved in a fraternity or sorority does not limit you from becoming involved in the rest of campus. In fact, it opens many doors. If you want to become involved in campus activities, the Greek community provides you the resources, encouragement, assistance, and insight to do so.

Friendship

One of the most cherished aspects of being involved in a Greek organization is the friendships that are made with men and women who share your interests, your values, and your future aspirations. Involvement in a Greek organization gives members an opportunity to expand their circle of friends because sisterhood and brotherhood are the foundation of the Greek experience. It combines the concept of individualism within the framework of mutual cooperation. As a Greek member, you will form friendships unlike any found in other organizations. By choosing to become a member of a Greek organization, you will meet people who will grow to become your closest friends; those who will congratulate you when you are successful and support you when the going gets tough. Lasting friendships are formed over time through common activities, becoming roommates, and shared leadership experiences. Members come from all walks of life and from all parts of the world. Greek membership is for a lifetime as are the friendships you will create throughout your growth and development at Georgia Southern. Each new member brings his or her unique talents to the fraternity or sorority and is respected for who he or she is.

Alumni

Fraternities and sororities maintain active alumni relations, which affords many opportunities for career networking. This alumni interaction can lead to many different possibilities in your job search as an undergraduate and graduate. Events such as Homecoming, Alumni weekends, dinners, chapter anniversaries and meetings foster alumni interaction that can put you in contact with men and women in similar career paths. Also, Greek alumni serve as advisors to each chapter. Each chapter has at least one advisor and a house corporation board which assist the chapter in the day-to-day operations and management of the chapter house. Involvement with alumni translates into a variety of memories, extended friendships, and contributes greatly to the overall feelings of camaraderie, history, and networking gained through Greek membership.

No where else on campus can you find a professional network of alumni than through a fraternity or sorority’s alumni group. You’re not only connected with alumni from your campus, but from the entire organization. There are over five million Greek alumni world-wide. This network is helpful in securing internships, summer work, and professional careers.

Social Responsibility and Values

Community Impact

Greeks take pride in community service and philanthropy. Each chapter has a foundation or charity they sponsor through philanthropic events. Sororities and fraternities sponsor a multitude of activities each year to impact the local community and raise money for their special philanthropies. Fund-raising events and hands-on service projects of many kinds are organized by individual chapters as well as the Greek community as a whole to benefit worthwhile charities. Working together on such projects not only benefits worthy causes, but also fosters personal growth and greater unity among Greek members. Various activities include fundraising, volunteering time to shelters, tutoring young children, coordinating activities for youth, sponsoring environmental and neighborhood clean-ups, conducting blood drives and a variety of additional activities.

There is a difference between “philanthropy” and “service”

phi·lan·thro·py: the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed by the generous donation of money to good causes.

serv·ice: an act of helpful activity; help; aid: to do someone a service.

Here is a list of just some of the philanthropic organizations our Greek give back to, nationally and locally.

• Ronald McDonald House
• Arthritis Foundation
• Crippled Children’s Home
• Local Area Nursing Homes
• Children’s Miracle Network
• Adopt-A-Mile
• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• March of Dimes
• Keep Bulloch Beautiful
• Go to High School, Go to College
• Project Alpha
• Habitat for Humanity
• Voteless People, Hopeless People
• United Way of Bulloch County
• Special Olympics
• Girl Scouts
• Joseph’s Home for Boys
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• American Cancer Society
• A Friend In Need Foundation
• PUSH America
• Leukemia Society
• American Heart Association
• Relay for Life
• American Red Cross
• Statesboro Food Bank
• Second Chances

Last updated: 3/18/2022