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How to Join a Sorority or Fraternity at EKU

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Finding your community is one of the most exciting parts of starting your journey at Eastern Kentucky University. Joining a fraternity or sorority offers a built-in support system to help you grow academically, develop leadership skills, and build lifelong friendships from your very first semester.

Why Go Greek at EKU?

  • Built-In Academic Support: Fraternity and sorority members maintain strong academic standards with dedicated study hours and peer tutoring.
  • Campus Leadership: Greek members serve as Orientation Leaders, Colonel Crew leaders, Student Government representatives, and campus organization officers.
  • Community Impact: EKU Greek organizations raise over $175,000 annually for local charities and complete more than 12,000 community service hours each year.

Explore the 4 Councils

Council

Average Cost
(First Semester)

Recruitment Process

NPHC
National Pan-Hellenic Council

$1,000 – $2,500
(Covers up to 2 years)

Discretionary Intake (Interest meetings & application)

UGC
United Greek Council

$200 – $600

Discretionary Intake (Hosted 1-2x per year)

CPA
College Panhellenic Association
or Panhellenic Council

$500-$900

Primary Formal Recruitment (Fall) & Continuous Open Bidding

IFC
Interfraternity Council

$400 – $600

Structured Recruitment (Fall/Spring) & 365 Bidding

How to Join an IFC Fraternity

Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities extend invitations to join through bids. You can receive a bid through three pathways:

  • Formal Recruitment Bids: Offered at the end of structured fall and spring recruitment weeks after attending chapter events.
  • Bid Promises: Given at a chapter’s discretion to express a commitment to offering you a formal bid on Bid Day.
  • 365 Bids: Year-round invitations offered outside of the formal recruitment window. If you didn’t participate in recruitment, you can inquire with chapters for a 365 bid.
Explore IFC Chapters & Events

How to Join A Panhellenic (CPA) Sorority

Panhellenic (CPA) sororities offer two distinct ways to join:

  • Primary Fall Recruitment: A multi-day mutual matching process is held each fall. You’ll attend orientation, explore sisterhood and philanthropy and visit chapters to find where you feel most at home. Events include a formal ceremony to share the values of the chapter and Bid Day.
  • Continuous Open Bidding (COB): An informal joining process offered throughout the year by select chapters that have open spots.
Explore CPA Chapters & Events

How to Join a NPHC Fraternity or Sorority

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) chapters practice discretion, meaning recruitment is an intentional, personal process rather than a public event. Many chapters require an application prior to the beginning of membership intake.

  • Membership Intake: Students should attend official interest or informational events, get to know members naturally, and avoid publicly announcing or posting that they are pursuing membership, since many organizations value privacy throughout the intake process.
  • How to Connect: Attend council events, chapter informational meetings, or express direct interest to active members or the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life.
Explore NPHC Chapters & Events

How to Join a UGC Fraternity or Sorority

United Greek Council (UGC) organizations offer strong cultural support and host membership intake once or twice a year. Chapters practice discretion, meaning recruitment is an intentional, personal process rather than a public event.

  • Membership Intake: Students should attend official interest or informational events, get to know members naturally, and avoid publicly announcing or posting that they are pursuing membership, since many organizations value privacy throughout the intake process.
  • How to Connect: Attend public chapter programming and interest meetings, or express direct interest to active members or the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life.
Explore UGC Chapters & Events

FAQs

Membership in a fraternity or sorority can help improve your grades. When you join a Greek organization, you’re joining a supportive community of peers — many of whom have experience navigating the college environment at EKU. Whether looking for guidance with EKU’s many student resources or help navigating classes, your Greek peers are ready to help!

Membership in a fraternity or sorority comes with responsibilities. You’ll likely be expected to maintain a certain GPA, attend chapter meetings and events, get involved in community service or philanthropic efforts and take part in social activities. Many organizations also have guidelines around behavior and overall conduct to make sure members are upholding the values they promised to honor as a new initiate.

Each chapter has its own unique vibe. The key to being successful in fraternity and sorority life is finding the right chapter that matches your values, interests and what you’re looking for in your college experience.

Think about what’s important to you. If you’re passionate about leadership, service and networking, you may find a great fit in Greek life. During the joining process, pay attention to which organizations feel like a natural match for your values and goals, and consider membership in that chapter. Can you see yourself being friends with at least two to three people in the chapter you are interested in pursuing? If so, you’ve probably found the right home!

Like anything worthwhile, fraternity and sorority membership takes time and commitment. You’ll have scheduled activities like weekly meetings, service projects and new member education —  but beyond that, you decide how involved you want to be. Most members manage school, jobs and Greek life just fine.