For Parents & Families

Message from the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life

On behalf of the fraternity and sorority community at Butler University, welcome! This is a very exciting and nervous time as your student experiences all that college has to offer. You will notice growth as your student engages in new experiences, both in and out of the classroom. Our hope is for everyone to feel a sense of belonging and to succeed academically. Fraternities and sororities can help students find their niche on campus, offer academic support, encourage involvement in student organizations, open doors of opportunity, and give students a chance to make friends who have similar interests. You may not have had experience with fraternity and sorority life before, so here is an introduction to our organizations at Butler.

Fraternity and sorority membership has long been one of the more popular student involvement opportunities. In 1859, Butler’s first fraternity chapter was chartered. Sororities arrived in 1874. In the 1920s, the historically Black National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Greek-lettered organizations were chartered. Approximately 37% of the Butler undergraduate student population holds membership in our fraternities and sororities. Thirteen of our chapters are currently housed (six fraternities, seven sororities).

A fraternity or sorority is comprised of individuals of similar interests bonded together by common goals and aspirations. All of Butler’s fraternities and sororities belong to a larger national organization that provides directives and support for our campus chapters. Fraternity is a name applied to all general Greek-lettered organizations, but commonly refers to those organizations founded as societies for men. Sororities can also be referred to as fraternities. Chapter is the term used to describe an individual fraternity or sorority at a specific location, such as a campus or city. All of Butler’s fraternities and sororities are chapters of (inter)national organizations. Alumni/ae play an active role in assisting the members in self-governance and in planning a balanced program of academic, philanthropic, individual development, and social activities.

At Butler, we observe deferred recruitment, meaning that the process of joining is delayed until the beginning of the second semester. Interested students will need to complete at least 12 hours of college coursework (full-time status) and meet the academic minimum requirement set by the individual organizations and/or the respective governing council.  In addition, students may not be on probation for any reason.

For more information, feel free to contact the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life at 317-940-6590.