Below you will find common questions about how to join, new member education, membership expectations, and more. Scroll down to get your questions answered!
WHY JOIN
What does it mean to join a fraternity or sorority at TCNJ?
Joining a fraternity or sorority at The College of New Jersey is more than just a college experience—it’s a lifelong journey of friendship, leadership, and personal growth. At TCNJ, Greek Life is a vibrant and integral part of campus culture, providing students with a unique opportunity to forge lasting connections, contribute to the community, and develop essential skills for life beyond college. While the reasoning behind joining an organization differs for each person, there are plenty of benefits to joining, such as:
Community and Camaraderie: Joining a fraternity or sorority means becoming part of a close-knit community that shares common values and goals. Experience a sense of belonging and build relationships that last a lifetime.
Networking Opportunities: Joining a fraternity or sorority opens doors to a vast network of alumni who have succeeded in various fields. Benefit from mentorship opportunities and connections that can help shape your future career.
Leadership Development: Greek Life is not just about social events; it’s a platform for leadership development. Take on roles within your organization, participate in campus activities, and enhance your leadership skills. We provide trainings, retreats, workshops and more specifically geared towards our FSL leaders.
Philanthropy and Service: Make a positive impact on the community through organized philanthropic efforts and service projects. Greek organizations at TCNJ are dedicated to giving back and making a difference.
Academic Support: Strive for academic excellence with the support of your fraternity/sorority community. All organizations were founded upon the principle of scholarship, and many offer resources to help members succeed academically.
What makes one fraternity/sorority different from another, and how do I choose one?
Each fraternity and sorority at TCNJ has its own unique identity, values, and traditions. When deciding which one is the best fit for you, here are some topics that can help you process some of your thoughts:
- What type of experience are you looking for?
- Are you more interested in a professional organization? A social organization? An identity or culturally-based organization?
- What are the values of the organization? How do they align with your personal values?
- Is the chapter officially recognized by TCNJ?
- How much are dues and fees?
- What happens during the new member process?
- How did you feel while attending chapter events?
- What is the chapter’s philanthropy? What type of service do they do?
- Does the chapter offer any type of scholarship program?
- When officially a member, what does the time commitment look like?
- How will membership in the specific organization benefit you?
Ultimately, research will be key as you learn more about organizations on our campus. Take some time to look through the Student Life website, do research on your own, and talk to current members about their experience.
How can I learn more?
First and foremost, it’s important to know that Fraternity and Sorority Life falls under TCNJ’s Office of Student Life. We have two full-time staff members that work with fraternities and sororities specifically, but our office also covers three other areas: Student Involvement, the Brower Student Center,and Recreation and Wellness.
A great way to learn about our FSL organizations is to visit the Greek Life Fact Sheet. There you can find a list of all of our organizations and their full profiles; each profile has basic information such as their organization nickname, how many members are in the chapter, the organization’s GPA, their service and philanthropy contributions from the previous semester, any organizational conduct history from the past five years, and a link to their local or national website.
If you’re on instagram, we highlight our active organizations and event information on our Instagram page, so give us a follow!
HOW TO JOIN
What are the requirements to join an organization?
We believe it is important for students to acclimate to college life before making such an important decision, so first year students can’t join a fraternity or sorority until their second semester at the earliest. Transfer students coming from another college or university with GPA and credit hours that meet our requirements are eligible to immediately join an organization. First-year TCNJ students admitted in January will be ineligible for recruitment until the following fall semester.
The minimum requirement to join any organization is:
- Completion of 3 TCNJ Units or 12 transfer credits
- A minimum 2.5 Cumulative GPA.
- Must be an enrolled, full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate student.
Many organizations have individual GPA requirements that are higher than the College’s eligibility standard. GPAs will not be rounded and Advanced Placement credits are NOT counted toward the credit requirement.You can find more detailed information regarding recruitment/intake here: https://studentlife.tcnj.edu/recruitment/
Can I join more than one fraternity or sorority?
It depends! In our community, organizations typically fall under two categories: social and professional. A student who accepts an invitation to one social organization cannot be initiated into another social fraternity or sorority. There are, however, other Greek-letter organizations that might identify as professional, honorary, or community service-based that allow for dual membership (and are not identified as primarily social organizations). Many of our students are involved in both a social and professional organization.
Can I join an organization if I’m an athlete?
Yes! There are many members of our community who participate in varsity, club, or intramural sports. If you are concerned about time management, share your concerns with the OSL/FSL staff. We work collaboratively and are happy to work with you to develop a plan for successfully managing both responsibilities.
I’m a transfer student. Am I able to join an organization?
Absolutely! If you have completed at least one semester at your previous institution and meet our eligibility requirements (12 completed credits, minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA, and enrolled full-time) you are eligible to join an organization immediately.
What if I joined an organization at another campus and transferred to TCNJ?
If you joined an organization that is currently recognized at TCNJ, please connect with the leadership in that chapter as each organization has different policies about transfer members. If your organization is not currently recognized by TCNJ, unfortunately you are not able to join another group.
What is Panhellenic sorority formal recruitment?
Panhellenic formal recruitment is the formal process by which Panhellenic sororities invite new members into their chapter. Over the course of several days, Potential New Members (PNMs) have the opportunity to interface with each chapter in themed events referred to as “parties”:
- Meet the Members Round: Interact with all chapters and learn more about their sisterhood.
- Philanthropy Round: Hear more about organizations’ national and local philanthropies.
- Values Round: Learn more about each organization’s values, and share a little about yourself and your personal values.
- Preference Ceremonies: This round will provide potential new members a glimpse into the chapter’s ceremony, and is the final round before bids are distributed.
After completion of the recruitment weekends, there is a mutual selection process. Every PNM has the opportunity to interact with every organization so both the new member and the organization can make educated decisions about where the new member fits best. After the rounds end, PNMs receive their invitation to join a sorority and celebrate with Bid Day.
What is a bid? Can I turn it down?
A bid is a formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority. Just because you receive a bid does not mean that you have to accept the invitation. In some cases, specifically within the Panhellenic Formal Recruitment process, declining an invitation can limit your ability to join another group for a period of time. For specific information regarding accepting bids, please contact FSL Staff.
What if I’m not interested in any of the groups currently on campus but still want to join Greek Life?
The fraternity and sorority community at TCNJ is continually growing. If you have done research on our groups but don’t see one for you, feel free to contact our staff to find out about any new groups coming to campus or to discuss bringing a new organization through our Expansion process. In full transparency, it can take quite some time to bring a new organization to campus, but it’s not impossible! Click on the following link to learn more about our Expansion policy.
NEW MEMBER EDUCATION
What can I expect as far as becoming a member of a chapter?
Each organization has a period of new member orientation (also known as new member education/intake) as part of its expectations for new members, ranging in length based on individual and (inter)national timelines. During this time, new members will participate in weekly meetings to learn about the organization’s history and values, be part of community service projects, and participate in activities designed to build friendship among members. We require that the process takes up no more than 15 hours per week and lasts a maximum of 6 weeks.
What are the financial commitments associated with joining?
The cost of joining each organization varies significantly. Dues may cover things like national insurance, leadership development opportunities, programming offerings, and initiation/national fees. Additionally, the first year of membership may cost more in comparison to following years due to one-time fees related to initiation, education materials, and paraphernalia. We encourage students to ask questions about membership costs before joining an organization in order to fully understand the financial expectations of membership. Additionally, The College of New Jersey assesses a semesterly Fraternity and Sorority Life Involvement Fee of $47 for active undergraduate members of recognized fraternities and sororities, applied to a student’s term bill.
What is initiation like? Why is it important?
Initiation (which also may be referred to as “rituals”) is a formal ceremony that marks the beginning of official membership in an organization. Each chapter has a different set of requirements in order to be initiated. They are full of the traditions and values that make the chapters unique, because no matter when or where you joined, the ritual binds every member of that organization together.
What is a new member presentation?
This is a term commonly used amongst culturally based fraternities and sororities. Formerly known as a “probate”, this is an event where newly initiated members share organization history, perform steps, strolls, or salutes, and reveal themselves to the public after their membership intake period. This is a celebration of new members!
MEMBERSHIP EXPECTATIONS
What are the responsibilities/expectations for membership?
Expectations and requirements are different for each organization, and you should ask about these during recruitment. Typically, fraternities and sororities have expectations/requirements related to the following: GPA/grades, dues, attendance at chapter meetings, involvement in community service, involvement in chapter education and events, and general personal conduct.
How active do I have to be in the organization?
Your experience is exactly that – it’s what you make of it! We often see students participating in various committees or leadership positions within their organization. Think about what you’re passionate about – does your organization have a role or committee related to that? That’s a great place to start! We encourage students to find a healthy balance between involvement in their chapter, involvement in other clubs or organizations, and their academic responsibilities.
How will my grades be impacted by membership?
We’ve seen that students within the FSL community have a slightly higher GPA than their non-affiliated peers. In fact, when looking at the Spring 2024 semester:
- 54% of our community achieved Dean’s List
- 85.7% of chapters achieved over a 3.0 semester GPA
- The average New Members cumulative GPA is a 3.248
- The average All Sorority Spring 2024 Term GPA is a 3.476
- The average All Fraternity Spring 2024 Term GPA is a 3.074
COMMON CONCERNS AND PERCEPTIONS
What about hazing?
The College of New Jersey has a zero tolerance for hazing – it is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, as well as New Jersey state law. More information about hazing prevention at TCNJ can be found here.
Every new member is mandated to attend a hazing prevention workshop prior to beginning their membership. Students will learn about what hazing is and could look like, and most importantly, how to report. Additionally, if organizations or individuals are found responsible they will be adjudicated through the Office of Student Conduct and Off-Campus Services. To learn more about the Student Code of Conduct, please visit the Office of Student Conduct’s Website.
Who do I speak to if I see hazing happening?
If you have witnessed or have knowledge of a possible hazing incident in our community, please contact any of the following immediately:
Contacting by phone, e-mail, or in person:
-Aimee Wardle, Assistant Director for Student Life: FSL
wardlea@tcnj.edu – 609-771-2473
-Kaitlin West, Coordinator for Fraternity and Sorority Life
westk1@tcnj.edu – 609-771-3282
-Dave Conner, Director of Student Life
conner@tcnj.edu – 609-771-3125
-Contact Campus Police – 609-771-2345
-Contact Dean of Students Office – 609-771-2780
-Report to ANY TCNJ Faculty or Staff member
-Submit a report online at conduct.tcnj.edu
- Click on “Submit a Report”
- Click on “Hazing Report”
My family has a lot of questions about Greek Life. Where can I direct them?
For many families, fraternities and sororities can be a mysterious, confusing, and unknown territory. It is important that your family is informed about fraternities and sororities here at TCNJ so that they can support you in making the best decision. We invite you to share our Parent and Family FAQ so that they can learn more!