FAQs: Families & Prospective Students

Please continue reading through some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQ) for additional information:

Values Congruence / Finding an organization that is a best fit

• Whether a large or small chapter, a culturally-based group or a general interest fraternity or sorority, a newly formed organization or one that has been established for many years, deciding where to join is a matter of individual alignment with the core values of a fraternity or sorority. Each organization is unique and adds vibrancy to the campus, community, and certainly its members. Take time to ask questions of the active members to determine where you have the strongest connection. It is absolutely about your own personal fit.

Time Commitment

• Like other co-curricular activities, how much you get out of your membership is related to how much you invest. On average, expect to contribute approximately four hours per week in meetings and other required activities/events. Optional activities, including holding an elected officer position, playing on an intramural sports team, helping with various service and community projects, or attending social events will add more time to your schedule. The activities in fraternity and sorority life should easily fit into your schedule, allowing ample time for classes, studying, work, and participation in additional campus activities.

Finances

• Membership in a fraternity or sorority does include requisite dues that may be paid to an inter/national headquarters organization and/or the local UIC chapter. These dues cover important costs for membership certification, educational materials, insurance, leadership conferences, paraphernalia, and local service and social events.
• Each organization uniquely sets the semester/yearly rates and patterns for dues collection, with a variable range from $50 - $500 per semester, depending on the size of the chapter and their intended function. Be certain to ask questions about dues and payment plans when meeting with active members of each organization for more information.

Zero Tolerance for Hazing

• Hazing has no place in the Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) community at UIC, nor in any student organization activity.  We work closely with all interested students, those in the process of joining as new members, active members, and advising networks to ensure that the membership experience in Fraternity and Sorority Life is healthy, positive, and uplifting with mutual support for academic and co-curricular pursuits.  Any actions that disrupt the health and safety of student life will be investigated.
• The Student Disciplinary Policy prohibits hazing, which is defined as:
  “Any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed by a person (whether individually or in concert with other persons) against another person or persons regardless of the willingness of such other person or persons to participate, that
  • is committed in the course of an initiation into, an affiliation with, or the maintenance of membership in, a Student
  Organization; and
  • causes or creates a risk, above the reasonable risk encountered in the course of participation in the institution of
  higher education or the organization (such as the physical preparation necessary for participation in an athletic team),
  of physical or psychological injury including, but not limited to--
  - whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone’s body, or similar activity;
  - causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity;
  - causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances;
  - causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts;
  - any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct;
  - any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law; and any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves a criminal
  violation of local, State, Tribal, or Federal law."
• We encourage any member of the community to report hazing to the university, providing all known details of concern.**** For more information, resources, and/or to report hazing or to file a violation against any UIC fraternity or sorority, please:
  • Visit the Office of the Dean of Students (DOS) Hazing Resources website;
  • Contact any Fraternity & Sorority Life staff member; and/or
  • Complete the DOS Student Conduct & Community Standards - Hazing Reporting Form

Housing

• At present, UIC does not have campus housing for individual fraternity and sorority chapters. As our FSL community continues to grow and identifies needs that align with key university priorities and learning outcomes, campus fraternity and sorority life staff will explore opportunities to develop fraternity and sorority living communities.

Other Topics

• If you have additional questions on any topic related to fraternity and sorority membership, please email uicgreek@uic.edu for additional support and feedback.