Prospective Members

To be eligible to participate in recruitment or intake, prospective members must:  

• be a full-time, degree-seeking Tulane student
• have earned 12 hours with a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in those hours.
  • For students whose first semester of enrollment at Tulane will be Spring 2025, at least 6 of those 12 hours must be from graded, college-level courses accepted for credit by Newcomb-Tulane College. Because you will not have a Tulane GPA, we will use grades in all college-level courses you have taken from Summer 2024 forward to calculate your GPA and determine your eligibility. This means we will include any grades below a C if the class is approved to transfer, even though you would not earn Tulane credit, per university policy.  Courses that have not been approved for transfer into the Newcomb-Tulane College will not contribute toward this calculation.
• be in good standing with Tulane University.
  • For the purposes of recruitment and intake, good standing is defined as not having received a Student Conduct sanction of Disciplinary Probation or Deferred Suspension and not being placed on Honor Board Probation for academic misconduct. 
• not found responsible for a drug possession violation.
• attend Council-specific Introductory Session
  • IFC Convocation; NPHC Meet the Greeks; Panhellenic Kick-Off
  • If you fail to attend one of these sessions, you will be ineligible to join our community that academic semester. NPHC Meet the Greeks attendance is valid for the academic year taken. 

These are the minimum requirements set by the University. Each fraternity or sorority has its own policies regarding membership, and many groups have higher requirements.

First-year students will NOT be permitted to attend social events with alcohol hosted at fraternity houses for the first four weeks of classes (this does not apply to designated fraternity recruitment events, which do not include alcohol). This provision includes the period of New Student Orientation before classes begin.

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Programs does not make exceptions to the requirements to join a Greek organization. First-year students who withdraw from a course and earn fewer than 12 hours will not be allowed to participate in recruitment or intake. Any issues of academic discrepancies (incomplete courses, contested grades, questions about transfer credit, etc.) must be resolved before recruitment or intake begins. Students should consult the recruitment/intake guidelines for the type of organization they hope to join to find the deadlines for resolving academic discrepancies.

Overall, the time commitment can range from a few hours per week to several hours, depending on the level of involvement and leadership responsibilities.
•    New Member Education: As a new member you will usually attend 1 meeting a week with your fellow new members to learn more about the organization. This can last anywhere from 3-6 weeks of the semester you joined.
•    Meetings and Events: Active members typically attend weekly chapter meetings, as well as participate in various mandatory events such as philanthropy projects, social events, and recruitment activities. This can amount to several hours per week.
•    Community Service and Philanthropy: Fraternities and sororities often engage in community service and fundraising events, requiring additional hours of participation each month.
•    Leadership and Committees: Holding a leadership position or serving on a committee involves extra time for meetings and responsibilities, which can significantly increase weekly commitments.
•    Social and Brotherhood/Sisterhood Activities: Regular social events, mixers, and bonding activities are a core part of the experience, contributing to a variable but often significant time investment.
 

Costs can vary greatly by chapter, but it is important to educate yourself on the cost to join a group before you commit, as most groups require a commitment of at least one full semester once you accept a bid. The recruitment and intake processes offer a great opportunity to ask questions about financial obligations.

Dues go toward (Inter)National fees, chapter operating costs, and social functions. New members should expect to pay higher dues their first semester due to initiation fees. There also may be additional costs throughout the year for event photos, extra t-shirts, and other fees.

Interfraternity Council Fraternities 
$600-$1500 per semester

Multicultural and National Pan-Hellenic Council Fraternities and Sororities 
$50-$150 per semester
Some include a $500 - $1000 one-time fee in the first semester

Panhellenic Sororities 
$650-$800 per semester, plus $200-$400 one-time fees in the first semester
In addition, all members of the fraternity and sorority community pay a Greek activity fee.

Greek Fee
This fee is applied to the student’s university bill every semester, including the semester they join the organization. This fee goes to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Programs for community-wide programming/initiatives, facilities trash pick-up, and other departmental usage. 
•    Member of an IFC organization with a chapter facility - $45
•    Member of an IFC organization without a chapter facility – $25 
•    Member of an MGC sorority - $15
•    Member of an NPHC fraternity or sorority - $15
•    Member of a Panhellenic sorority - $20
 

Attending events and programs organized by our fraternity and sorority governing councils (IFC, NPHC, and Panhel) offers numerous benefits for potential new members. 
•    These events provide valuable opportunities to network with a diverse group of peers, fostering relationships that can last a lifetime. 
•    They also serve as personal and professional development platforms through workshops, leadership training, and community service initiatives. Engaging in these activities helps members build essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and time management. 
•    Additionally, participation in council events deepens one's understanding of the broader Greek community's values and traditions, promoting a sense of unity and reminding us that we may be 25 chapters, but we are also One Wave. 
These experiences enrich the collegiate journey, contributing to personal growth and a stronger, more connected Greek life community.