UMBC Greek
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Files / Resources for Parents and Families

General Information


As you student becomes a part of the UMBC community there are numerous opportunities for them to become involved in campus life.  The UMBC Greek community is a growing part of the campus and provides an enriching experience by offering a scholastic support system, hands-on leadership experiences, opportunities to serve the greater community and close, supportive and lifelong friendships.


SCHOLARSHIP

Consistent with their founding purpose, the fraternities and sororities on the UMBC campus foster and promote academic achievement.  Individuals seeking membership in Greek organizations are required to have a minimum cumulative GPA.  Each organization sets high academic standards for their members.  The University takes an active role in reviewing grades each semester.  Consistently GPA's among members of the UMBC Greek community are higher than the All University Average GPA.  


LEADERSHIP

Members of Greek organizations are provided with a number of opportunities to develop their leadership skills.  Involvement in executive councils, governing bodies, committees and positions in other campus leadership opportunities are all strongly encouraged.  Through these experiences members develop their leadership skills, such as communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.


SERVICE

Community service and philanthropy are integral parts to the Greek experience.  The Greek community at UMBC contributes both time and money to the campus and community at large.


SOCIAL

Being a member of a Greek organization provides students with unique opportunities to take part in a wide range of social activities, ranging from casual get-together's and themed parties to formal dinners and Greek Week events.  Regarding alcohol, all Greeks are expected to uphold federal, state, and city laws and UMBC policies.


MEMBERSHIP

The membership process of a Greek organization will take on one of three types; depending on the organization your student is interested in joining.  The types are Rush/Associate Member, Recruitment and Intake.  The University and National Greek Organizations play a role in each of the membership processes.  Anyone wishing to join a Greek organization must meet certain GPA requirements set by the University, National Organizations and Governing Councils.



GREEK GLOSSARY

There are a number of terms by Greek organizations that are not common in other parts of campus life.  The following is a list of some of those terms.

  • Active - A fully initiated member of a Greek organization
  • Bid - A formal invitation to join a Greek organization 
  • Chapter - A Greek organization's campus group
  • Fraternity - A Greek organization, typically for men
  • Initiation - The formal ceremony at which the ritual is revealed to the new members and they become a full member of the organization
  • Intake - The process our traditionally African American Greek organizations use to accept new members
  • Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) - The governing council for organizations that are part of the North-American Inter-Fraternity Conference (NIC)
  • National - The national organization that oversees the campus chapters, usually represented by a headquarters
  • Pan-Hellenic Association (PHA) - The governing council for organizations that are part of the National Pan-Hellenic Conference (NPC)
  • National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) - The governing council for organizations that are part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
  • Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) - The governing council for a number of culturally based Greek organizations
  • New/Associate Member - A member of a Greek organization who is learning about the chapter and working to become an active member
  • Sorority - A Greek organization, typically for women


GREEK ALPHABET

Greek organizations use the Greek alphabet for a number of different things, including organization names and chapter designation.