Frequently Asked Questions

Recruitment is a mutual selection process during which students interested in joining a fraternity or sorority have the opportunity to meet members of various chapters and learn more about the organizations’ values.

Butler University observes deferred recruitment, meaning that students may not affiliate until they have successfully completed at least one semester (12 credit hours) of coursework in a degree program. The primary recruitment period for Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Association chapters is in January, during the week prior to the start of the spring semester. To participate, students must be academically eligible (2.5 GPA) and may not be on conduct probation with the University. Advanced registration is required. Eligible students may also participate in open recruitment during the academic year.

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Multicultural Greek Council (MCGC) fraternities and sororities will observe separate recruitment/joining calendars. These organizations also require candidates to have successfully completed a minimum number of hours with a minimum GPA. For more information, contact the organization you are interested in joining, or the Office of Fraternity or Sorority Life.

To participate in recruitment activities, students must meet the following criteria:

• 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., 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.

Between 36–40 percent of our undergraduate students become members; this varies throughout the year because of recruitment, graduation, etc.

The primary recruitment period for IFC and Panhellenic chapters takes place during the last week of the holiday break in  early January.  During this week, interested students may participate in organized recruitment events designed to introduce students to all IFC and Panhellenic member chapters. Advanced registration is required.

NPHC and MCGC chapters do not participate in Butler’s IFC or Panhellenic formal recruitment by choice. Each citywide chapter maintains a separate recruitment/joining calendar. Contact information for each of the citywide chapters is available from the Office of Fraternity and Life.

During the year, each of our chapters will host events and activities a their chapter houses. Additionally, chapters will hold events on-campus to meet their members. If you are interested in visiting a house, coordinate with the chapter by attending a philanthropy event or joining members for a meal.

Fraternity and sorority houses are private residences and do not provide unlimited access to non-members. Guests are expected to be respectful of these living environments, as with all other student residences.

No, while there is, potentially, a place in the fraternity and sorority community for every student, membership in a chapter is a personal decision. Joining a fraternity or sorority may not be for you.

Open recruitment can occur in the spring (following the primary recruitment week) and/or the fall semester. You may also hear this referred to as COB (continuous open bidding). Individual chapters may choose to participate in recruitment at these times if the chapter is below its desired number. Each chapter is responsible for planning and publicizing its own open recruitment events. A Butler student must meet all eligibility requirements to participate in these informal recruitment periods (minimum of 12 credit hours, 2.5 GPA, not on conduct probation).

Joining a fraternity or sorority usually increases a students chance for academic success. Most chapters have strong academic programs which help foster, as well as reward, academic achievement. Many chapters observe study hours and encourage study groups and tutoring. Often, students are encouraged to set academic goals for the semester. Scholarship opportunities are also available.

Fraternities and sororities will offer you the opportunity to excel both within your chapter and on campus. All members are encouraged to take an active role within the chapter ranging from serving on committees to committee chairmanships to executive offices. In addition, there are over 200 student organizations in which you can become involved. Fraternity and sorority members are involved in nearly every aspect of these activities and can encourage fellow members take active roles in campus leadership.

Members of fraternities and sororities will have some mandatory commitments, such as chapter meetings and other activities. Time commitments for new members is an excellent topic of conversation during recruitment events. While academic achievement is a primary focus, fraternities and sororities participate in a wide variety of activities, including socials, date functions, philanthropy events, Homecoming, and many other campus activities. Participation in these events is highly encouraged because it gives members an opportunity to meet students from other chapters and teaches the importance of time management.

Indiana state statutes, Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association, NPHC, MCGC, national/international organizational policies, and University policy all prohibit students from engaging in any activity that may be considered hazing. Butler University’s statement on hazing is available for your review. Butler does not tolerate hazing. Instead, new members develop bonds with and learn about their chapter through educational programming, chapter initatives, and philanthropy events. Fraternities and sororities have learned that members are much more productive and enthusiastic when they are positively motivated and educated, rather than hazed and demoralized.

The decision to drink or not to drink is one that every college student must make for themselves. Many students, both affiliated and non-affiliated, choose to abstain from using alcohol and find their college experiences just as enjoyable. The Butler University fraternity and sorority community have alcohol policies which regulates the consumption of alcohol at events. Every fraternity and sorority educates their new members on these alcohol policies, as well as related issues of personal responsibility and safety.

• Each fraternity/sorority property is owned by an alumni/ae corporation board or national corporation board. Housing contracts are between the student and house corporation.
• Only sophomores, juniors, and seniors may live in fraternity/sorority housing, as approved by the University.
• Housing availability for all members is not guaranteed. Each organization has an independent process for determining which members will receive the opportunity to live in its facility.
• All house corporations are required to employ a live-in house director.
• To support the educational mission of the University and residential environment of the surrounding neighborhood, chapters and their members must follow these guidelines:
  • Landscaping and house exteriors will be maintained on a regular basis.
  • Dumpsters and surrounding areas will be clean and sanitary.
  • Music and noise will be kept at reasonable levels and comply with local noise ordinances.
  • Business activities may not be conducted on chapter house lawns or in chapter parking lots.
  • The chapter and its members will respond appropriately to complaints.
  • Chapter members will be respectful of the rights of others who are trying to sleep and study.

In all likelihood, yes. The requirements for each organization vary. This is an excellent question to raise during recruitment. For those organizations with chapter houses, there is typically a requirement for members to live in the facility so that full capacity is maintained. Once at capacity, additional policies and procedures are in place to determine which members may live elsewhere. Residing in the chapter house is not guaranteed. Only sophomores, juniors, and seniors may live in a chapter house. Students holding membership in a fraternity or sorority should be aware of all applicable rules before making plans to live elsewhere.

All chapter house facilities are owned by an alumni corporation board or national house corporation.

Local alumni volunteers or property managers are responsible for the upkeep of the respective chapter’s house, establishing the cost of room and board, and managing the facility’s staff. Living arrangements vary from chapter to chapter as to how many members reside in the chapter house and in each room. All sorority facilities are alcohol-free; fraternity facilities vary. Each chapter house has dining services; meal plans vary. Only sophomores, juniors, and seniors may live in a chapter house. Due to occupancy limits, housing cannot be guaranteed for members of a chapter.

Most chapters participate in an optional fraternity and sorority billing service through Residence Life/Student Accounts. Fraternity and sorority room and board charges for those chapter members will appear on the student’s statement from Butler. Chapters that do not use the service are: Delta Delta Delta, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Pi Beta Phi; each of their respective house corporations will bill each student resident directly.

Costs are per semester, as reported to the Office of Fraternity or Sorority Life, and are subject to change. Additional dues and fees may be charged separately from room and board.

Fraternity Housing Room and Board

Sorority Housing Room and Board Per Semester

Contact the chapter’s house corporation board. Questions about a bill from the university can be directed to the Office of Residence Life at 317-940-9458.

For members of chapters billing through Butler, loans/scholarships covering room and board will be handled just as if the student were in a residence hall (see above).

For members of other chapters, there will be a credit on the student’s account after tuition and fees have been covered; a refund can be requested by the student to pay for room and board at the chapter house. In both cases, there may be an additional amount charged for chapter dues, etc. not covered in room and board.