Fraternity & Sorority Life

While Woodbury University has many student organizations and leadership opportunities, none can offer the same challenges and rewards as the Fraternity and Sorority community (commonly referred to as the Greek community). The Fraternity and Sorority community provides a unique balance of opportunities that focus on leadership, scholarship, service/philanthropy and brotherhood/sisterhood that enable students to maximize their college experience and prepare them for life beyond Woodbury.

Greek Presidents’ Council

Woodbury University’s Greek Council is the governing body for the Fraternity and Sorority community. The goals of Woodbury University’s Greek Council are as follows:

To establish and maintain a strong sense of Greek tradition through programs, practices, and events;

To promote Greek life in the best interest of the University and of each fraternity and sorority;

To inform and discuss issues of mutual interest;

To educate chapters and enforce federal, state, and local hazing laws;

To determine and enforce all Greek Council rules, governing the Greek organizations on campus; and

To support education as the purpose of Woodbury University.

The 4 Pillars of Greek Life

Leadership
Sorority and fraternity members are offered a variety of leadership opportunities and programs in which they can develop skills such as time management, leadership, event coordination, and communication. The Office of Student Development, along with the Greek Council, manage many programs to further develop these skills. Sorority and fraternity members hold many leadership positions within their chapters and in major student organizations on campus.

The Woodbury University Fraternity and Sorority community is dedicated to building future leaders of society by providing a wealth of leadership opportunities. Membership in a Fraternity and Sorority organization is one of the most outstanding means of discovering and refining your leadership potential. Within each chapter, members have a chance to assume a wide variety of leadership roles. These roles may range from serving as Rush Chair, Treasurer, Social Chair, or President. Opportunities to learn and practice leadership stretch beyond the chapter experience, as there are many campus-wide leadership roles available in the Greek Council and greater campus community.

Scholarship
Fraternities and sororities were founded on principles of scholastic achievement and the enhancement of opportunities for their members. Individual chapters encourage scholastic excellence by planning their own incentive programs and placing grade requirements on both initiated and new members. Chapters ease this transition by offering academic programs that may include study groups, tutoring, and time management workshops. The resources available to sorority and fraternity members provide students with the opportunity to balance high academic achievement and co-curricular activities.

The primary reason for attending Woodbury University is to receive a quality education; and the focus on scholarship is one of the founding principles of Fraternity and Sorority Life. The Fraternity and Sorority community strives to create an atmosphere where men and women are encouraged to maintain a high level of academic success.

Service/Philanthropy
Sororities and fraternities provide members with the opportunity to give back to the surrounding community though service (participants engage in activities to directly help others) and philanthropy (participants raise money for charitable organizations). Chapters at Woodbury sponsor, co-sponsor, and participate in more service and fundraising activities than other student organizations, raising more than one thousand dollars annually for various philanthropies and providing many hours of service each year. One of the most gratifying aspects of Fraternity and Sorority Life is the sense of satisfaction and pride that comes from involvement in community service.

Sisterhood & Brotherhood
Other components of fraternity and sorority life at Woodbury are social and recreational opportunities. Through a variety of events there are opportunities to meet and interact with members of fraternities and sororities and other campus organizations. Some of the ways to balance scholarship with fun are: social events with other chapters, formal dinner dances, philanthropic/service events, and Greek Week.

Sisterhood and brotherhood are the traditions that each chapter shares; it is the foundation of that chapter. Participating in Rush and becoming a part of the Fraternity and Sorority community means that you will have the opportunity to meet lots of people and make new friends. Fraternities and sororities bring together a group of diverse individuals that share common interests and goals, both personal, and those of the chapter. By joining a fraternity or a sorority, you will become a part of the larger organization and find that you have brothers and sisters all across the country as alumna or national chapters. Some of the closest relationships you will have will be with your fraternity brothers and sorority sisters. The friendships you make during your college years will last long after you have graduated from Woodbury.

Woodbury’s Fraternities & Sororities

Beta Lambda Chi Fraternity
Beta Lambda Chi is a local fraternity that promotes brotherhood and a better understanding of many cultures through the coordination of social and philanthropic activities. Membership is open to all male students.

Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity
Delta Sigma Phi is a national fraternity represented at Woodbury by the Epsilon Pi chapter. Membership in this organization is open to all male students. It welcomes all majors, with new members pledged each semester after the Rush period. Activities of the group include philanthropic and service projects, educational sessions for members, fundraisers and social events for members and the entire University community.

Phi Sigma Sigma Sorority
Phi Sigma Sigma is an international sorority. Membership is open to all full and part-time undergraduate women. The women of Phi Sigma Sigma share a commitment to lifelong learning. They teach each other and learn from each other. They make academic achievement a priority, fostering an environment that encourages our membership to reach their highest potential. Phi Sigma Sigma values making a difference in the lives of others. Hence, they become leaders in their communities, their professions, and their sisterhood. Leadership through service comes naturally to their women as they cultivate personal growth by seeking opportunities to serve.  It is a dynamic sisterhood of women with different backgrounds but similar values. Our commitment to inclusiveness binds us, and results in stronger women who embrace individuality and share this philosophy with the world.

Sigma Omega Nu Sorority
Sigma Omega Nu is a regional organization that strives for sisterhood, scholastic excellence, self- improvement and cultural awareness at Woodbury University, as well as the community. Membership is open to all full time female students on campus.
 

Rush & New Member Education
Rush is held during the third week of classes each semester. Any student not already affiliated with a fraternity or sorority may participate in Rush, permitting that the student’s cumulative GPA is above a 2.20 and semester GPA is above a 2.00. Rush offers a formal opportunity to explore all of the fraternities and sororities. Rush is a chance to make new friends while learning what each fraternity or sorority has to offer its members. Rush consists of events over a three-day period. At the conclusion of the Rush process, students may choose to join a fraternity or sorority by accepting the formal bid offered to them. The formal bid is an invitation to join a brother or sisterhood. After acceptance of the bid, a formal new education (pledging) process begins. During this time, new members learn more about the organization, traditions, and active members. At the conclusion of this education process, new members are installed as full active members. Individual chapters’ new member education processes vary.