Parents & Alumni

Parent Resources

A fraternal organization is a group of individuals who share similar values and interests, who are bonded together through common goals. Each chapter has a ritual, and many of these rituals are what bond members together. These rituals are based on the common values, principles and ideas shared by chapter members. Some of these values include truth, faith, knowledge, honor, brotherhood, sisterhood, and friendship. Each of these groups work very hard to instill these values and ideas in their daily lives.

Fraternities refer to men's organizations, where as the word sorority refers to women's organizations.

If your child has chosen to "Go Greek," this is a big decision and it impacts not only the students, but families as well. The fraternities and sororities represented on this website are recognized by Eastern Michigan University. The Office of Campus Life serves as the central coordination point for programming, education, and operation of these organizations.

Please ensure you're reviewing the chapters that are unrecognized by Eastern Michigan University. Unrecognized groups might use Greek letters, and may have affiliation with a local or national organization, but they have no affiliation with or supervision by the University, do not agree to follow all requirements and policies put in place for social fraternities and sororities (including the event with alcohol policy and mandatory risk management training), and do not disclose membership rosters to the University. Without roster verification, the university has no record of who is in the organization and cannot verify if members are in good standing or even if they are students at Eastern Michigan University.

Since the early beginnings of Fraternity and Sorority Life organizations, these groups have been considered self-sufficient. Each chapter collects dues locally and nationally to ensure that they have an operating budget. These costs vary by group and it's important to encourage your student to ask questions about the associated costs of membership during recruitment. Housing arrangements are also important to ask about. Some fraternities and sororities at EMU live in houses off campus, and these locations vary. It's important to ask about what commitment may be involved with living in the house for a certain period of time.

Here are some resources for parents who may be new to fraternity and sorority life:

Fraternity and Sorority Life Alumni Information

If you are an Alumni who is interested in more information about being an involved with the community, please email The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.