How to Join

Your time at Butler is to explore who you are, what matters to you, and the impact you want to make on the world. Joining a fraternity or sorority is about finding your people that are there to support you on that journey!

Primary recruitment for Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities and Panhellenic sororities begins in January, prior to the beginning of the spring semester. By waiting until the second semester, students have the opportunity to meet and learn about all of the organizations on campus while adjusting to the Butler experience.

Eligibility Requirements

Primary recruitment is open to all students who:

  • Have successfully completed 12 college/university credit hours
    • Credits received in high school do not count toward recruitment eligibility
  • Have achieved a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • Have submitted a completed registration form by the applicable deadline
  • Are not on conduct probation with Butler University for any reason

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Circle City NPHC (National Pan-Hellenic Council) organizations, and city-wide chapters have their own eligibility requirements for membership. To learn more, please reach out to the specific organization you are interested in learning more about.

Recruitment Registration

Panhellenic recruitment registration is closed. Eligibility notifications will be sent on Friday, January 3, 2025.

Registration Interfraternity Council (IFC) recruitment registration is closed. Eligibility notifications will be sent on Friday, January 3, 2025.

While primary recruitment is in January, students have the opportunity to meet our fraternities and sororities in the fall semester! Here are some ways to meet our chapters:

  • Go to Block Party during Welcome Week (August 27, 2024)
    • Tabling event to meet over 180+ student organizations
  • Go to all-campus events sponsored by individual chapters, IFC, Panhellenic, Sigma Gamma Rho and Circle City NPHC (open houses, informationals, meals, guest speakers, and 101 interest sessions)
  • Go to Fraternity and Sorority Connections Night (September 3, 2024)
    • Tabling event to meet fraternities and sororities
  • Go to NPHC 101 to learn more about their community (September 18, 2024)
  • Study with classmates who are fraternity/sorority members
  • Take part in chapter-sponsored philanthropy events
  • Attend Panhellenic or IFC sponsored events in preparation for primary recruitment

Some fraternities and sororities may be looking for members to join in the fall, but only sophomores, juniors, and seniors are able to participate and join a chapter in the fall (having at least 12 university credit hours).

Benefits of Joining

Joining a fraternity or sorority has many personal and professional benefits. For many of our students, the opportunity to make new friends is the most important aspect of coming to college! You will be welcomed into a community of students who will stand beside you, support you, encourage you to grow and respect your individuality. These members will become lifelong friends.

Joining a Culturally Based Organization

Culturally based organizations and NPHC chapters, historically Black fraternities and sororities (also known as the divine nine), set their own timeline for recruitment/intake within their respective national organization’s guidelines.

Butler is home to the Alpha Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Founded on campus in November 1922. The Alpha chapters is comprised of only Butler students. Additional NPHC undergraduate chapters in Indianapolis are city-wide chapters (Circle City NPHC), meaning that the chapter is composed of students from more than one university.

Do your research! To determine which organization is right for you, we encourage students to attend different events on campus and in the Indianapolis area. Get to know the members of each organization to help determine your fit. Attending informational meetings are also a great way to learn more about the organizations in depth.

Panhellenic and IFC Primary Recruitment

Each chapter is a values-based organization; as you participate in the process, find out what values are important to the members of each chapter. It is also important to ask questions about what each chapter expects regarding time commitment, financial obligation, and academic expectations.

Primary recruitment is the best opportunity to be introduced to all of the respective IFC fraternities and Panhellenic sororities. Registration for both IFC and Panhellenic recruitment is an online and will go live in the fall. Move in for students participating in recruitment will occur on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. Only students eligible to participate in recruitment will be permitted to move into the residence halls early.

IFC and Panhellenic Recruitment Calendar

Explore Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment Calendars for the upcoming year.

View Recruitment Calendars