FAQ

Does the fraternal environment promote or encourage unsafe alcohol consumption?

Don't all fraternities haze?

I'm concerned about grades, what impact would membership have?

What about the new member process?

Who is actually in charge of the fraternity or sorority?

Doesn't it cost a lot of money to be in a fraternity?

What is my role as a parent?

Things to remember

ADVISOR

What is an Advisor?

The role of the Faculty Advisor is one that is extremely important to all the fraternities and sororities on campus. The faculty advisor serves as a liaison between the members of an organization and the members of the faculty and administration for the college. They also promote academic excellence and community service.

The faculty advisors here at Cal State L.A. are full-time professional staff. They come from a variety of departments on campus. We have faculty advisors that work in Admissions, EOP, Residence Life, and a variety of Academic Departments.



Determine your Expectations




Role of Chapter Advisors

Each advisor perceives his or her responsibilities to a fraternity or sorority differently. Some advisors play very active roles. They attend meetings, work directly with the student officers, and assist in program planning and development. Others chose a less involved role with the chapter.
A chapter advisor should be accessible, interested, and provide counsel to the chapter and individual members.
A chapter advisor should meet with the chapter president regularly to discuss chapter activities, goals, and organizational challenges. They provide continuity and assist during officer transition periods.
We have found that the more successful fraternities and sororities have advisors that maintain regular contact with the chapter. Those advisors keep informed about chapter activities and advise officers on the appropriateness of policies and activities.
The advisor should assist in holding students accountable for their actions in accordance with the organization’s and University policies.



Role of Faculty/Staff Advisor

The importance of a faculty/staff advisor is that he or she can provide academic mentorship to a fraternity or sorority and connect the chapter with University resources to improve individual member’s scholarship. To be most effective, a faculty/staff advisor should:
• Meet regularly with the chapter’s scholarship chair and/or president to talk about scholarship related issues
• Attend at least one chapter meeting each semester to emphasize academics
• Be available to meet with individual members who need academic guidance
• Attend scholarship banquets or receptions hosted by the fraternity or sorority
• Attend advisor trainings or meetings hosted by the Center for Student Involvement
• Help the chapter formulate academic incentives to reward members who do well academically
Review the scholastic achievement of the chapter in accordance with the national organization’s expectations
Attend one chapter event (other than a chapter meeting) each quarter At a minimum, a fraternity or sorority advisor must be available to communicate with chapter members to complete necessary Greek Life forms. Completing the forms can require conversations about the academic growth of the chapter and event planning for philanthropy and social events.





How to Find the Right Advisor




Hints on recruiting an advisor

Before making a selection, keep in mind that a good potential advisor needs to have:
• Sufficient time to devote to your organization.
• The willingness to take the role seriously and thoughtfully.
• The skillset to contribute to the continued success of your organization and meet your chapter members’ individual needs.
When approaching your potential advisor for the first time, make certain that he/she has a clear understanding of your organization's purpose as well as what would be required of him/her, his or her duties and the time commitment involved. Please refer them to the guide linked at the bottom of this page.
If possible, choose someone who shares some of the same interests of your organization, and someone with whom the chapter has made contact with in the past.
A potential advisor does not need to be a member of your particular chapter or any Greek organization in order to be successful in this role.



How to work with your advisor

It is best to meet with your advisor at least twice a semester to go over your chapter's academic program and progress of the chapter's academic goals, and to maintain contact via email or phone every two weeks. Good times to do so are the week before and immediately following chair meetings.
Be open to suggestions and criticisms from your advisor. His/her knowledge and experience will help with solutions and organizational procedures.
Take advantage of their experience and insight. Ask questions.
Make sure that you give your advisor frequent (ideally bi-weekly) updates so that they can better serve your chapter's needs. This will keep them abreast of ongoing issues.
Be sure to provide your new advisor will all documentation they might need. This includes chapter constitution and bylaws with academic standards highlighted, university GPA requirements outlined in the Cal State L.A. policy, contact information for the fraternity and sorority Life Coordinator, and any other relevant information.

COUNCILS

Interfraternity Council

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About:
The Interfraternity Council at Cal State L.A. is composed of 7 executive board members, 5 committees, one Justice, a general body and an advisor. This council is the governing body of the nationally recognized Fraternity chapters at California State University, Los Angeles.

Mission:
"To cause closer working relationships and coordination among its member Fraternities and California State University of Los Angeles, in accordance with the policies and standards established by the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)."

Founded at Cal State L.A.:
- Fall 2007 as "Greek Council" or Winter 2014 as "Interfraternity Council"

Fraternities:
- Zeta Beta Tau
- Phi Sigma Kappa
- Sigma Nu
- Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Contact Information:
-Send IFC a message



National Pan-Hellenic Council


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About:
The National Pan-Hellenic Council of California State University, Los Angeles is composed of five executive board members, five committees, and an advisor. This council is the governing body of the current four International Greek letter Sororities and Fraternities at Cal State L.A.

Mission:
"To create and maintain high standards in the life of the affiliate organizations; to perpetuate constructive fraternity and sorority relationships; to foster an understanding of the structure and methods of operation among the affiliate organizations; to address, coordinate and develop action strategies on matter of mutual concern of the affiliate organizations; and to serve as the conduit for such action plans as may be developed."
Founded at Cal State L.A.:
- Fall 2009

Organizations:
- Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
- Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Contact Info:
-Send NPHC a message
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Multi-Cultural Greek Council


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About:
The Multi-Cultural Greek Council at California State University, Los Angeles is composed of six executive board members, four chairs, a general body composed of ten representatives, and one advisor. This council is the governing body of ten culturally based Greek organizations currently at Cal State L.A..

Mission:
"To unite Greek Organizations of California State University, Los Angeles in order to promote cultural awareness, community Service, academic excellence, campus involvement, and organizational development."
Founded at Cal State L.A.:
- Fall 2007

Organizations:
- Gamma Zeta Alpha
- Lambda Theta Nu
- Delta Sigma Chi
- Alpha Phi Omega
- Alpha Theta Pi
- Lambda Theta Alpha
- Sigma Lambda Beta
- Sigma Lambda Gamma
- Chi Sigma Phi
- Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity, Inc.
- Phi Iota Alpha
- Kappa Delta Chi

Contact Info:
-Send MCGC a message
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Panhellenic Council


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About:
The coordinating body of the National Panhellenic Conference supports sorority chapters represented at Cal State L.A.. Panhelenic provides support and services to the Panhellenic Sorority members as well as representing sorority life to the University and the surrounding community.

Mission:
"To develop and maintain women's fraternity life and interfraternity relations at a high level of accomplishment."
Founded at Cal State L.A.:
- Fall 2007 as "Greek Council" or Fall 2013 as "Panhellenic at Cal State L.A."

Organizations:
- Alpha Sigma Tau
- Delta Zeta

Contact Info:
-Send NPC a message
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TERMINOLOGY

• Active
  An initiated member into a fraternity or sorority affiliated with a campus or city-wide chapter
  
• Alumnus/Alumna
  An initiated member of a fraternity or sorority who has graduated from the university or transferred to another college or university
• Aspirant member
  A potential member who is participating in a membership intake process for an organization in the National Pan-Hellenic Council or Multi-Cultural Greek Council
• Bid
  A formal invitation to join a Greek-lettered organization
• Big Brother/Sister
  An initiated member of a fraternity or sorority who serves as a sponsor, mentor, or special friend to a new member, guiding them through the program or initiation.
• Brother/Frat
  A term used by other fraternity member to refer to one another
• Call/Chant
  A vocal sound, sometimes high-pitched, used by members of culturally-based Greek organizations to acknowledge one another
• Chapter
  A term used to describe the collegiate organization, typically the local organization of a fraternity or sorority
• City-wide
  A collegiate chapter that consists of two or more colleges/universities from which membership can be established
• College Panhellenic Council (CPC)
  The governing body of the National Panhellenic Conference sororities
• Crossing
  A term used by cultural-based organizations to indicate that an associate member has been fully initiated into the chapter
• Divine Nine
  A nickname for the nine historically black Greek-lettered organizations, comprised of four sororities and five fraternities
• Dues
  Monthly or quarterly costs associated with being in a fraternity or sorority
• Hazing
  Mental or physical abuse or harassment of a member to gain membership or continue membership into an organization; hazing is prohibited as a state and university
• Initiation
  Ritual or ceremony in which a new member/neo begins active (full) membership in the organization
• Intake
  The membership recruitment and induction for the National Pan-Hellenic Council and some culturally-based organizations
• Interfraternity Council (IFC)
  The governing body for some of the fraternities; these organizations are often affiliated with the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
• Legacy
  Someone whose mother, father, sister, brother and sometimes other close relative was a member of a particular fraternity or sorority
• Line
  The members of a culturally-based Greek organization's new member class
• National APIA Panhellenic Association (NAPA)
  An association of Asian Pacific Islander American fraternities and sororities
• National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO)
  An umbrella organization of 18 Latin Greek-lettered organizations
• National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
  The governing body for the national historically black Greek-lettered organizations, both locally at colleges and on the national level
• National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
  The umbrella organization for 26 national women's organizations
• Neophyte (Neo)
  Means beginner, a new member of cultural-based Greek organization
• New Member
  A potential member who has accepted an invitation or bid from a fraternity or sorority. May also be referred to as an associate or aspirant member
• North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC)
  A trade association that represents 74 national men's organizations
• Multi-Cultural Greek Council (MCGC)
  The governing body for the culturally focused Greek-lettered organizations, including co-ed organizations
• Philanthropy
  A charitable organization for which fraternities and sororities raise money and promote awareness
• Potential New Member (PNM)
  An individual interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority
• Probate
  Official public display of initiated members of a line, often presented in a step show
• Sister/Soror
  A term used be sorority members to refer to one another
• Stroll/Step
  A line dance done by members of cultural-based Greek organizations (usually at a step show or social event)

HAZING INFO