What is hazing and what happens if a fraternity does it?

Washington State Law defines hazing as any act required for joining or maintaining membership in a group that causes—or is likely to cause—physical, psychological, or emotional harm. This includes coerced consumption of food, liquids, alcohol, or drugs, and remains prohibited regardless of the participant's consent. Hazing is prohibited in all fraternities at the UW, and any report of hazing is investigated by the Community Standards and Student Conduct (CSSC) Department. Additionally, the national organization of the chapter involved is also contacted and usually places the chapter on interim suspension while also investigating. Punishments for chapters found hazing include: Social probation, removal from IFC events, Loss of good standing, IFC suspension, Disaffiliation from IFC, and being shut down If you need to report hazing activity to the University of Washington, click here.

Will my son need to drink and party to fit into the community?

No! There are many members of the Fraternity & Sorority community who choose to remain sober and are still active, participating members of their chapter by their own volition. Additionally, your student will never be forced to prioritize partying over academics, as the number one reason they are here is for their education. Your son can learn more about the values and culture of chapters through his recruitment process, and whether they align with his. Lastly, some of our chapters are ‘dry’, which means that alcohol is not permitted anywhere on chapter property, even for members 21 and over.

How will the fraternity support my son’s emotional and physical well-being?

Each chapter in the IFC has a Health and Wellness Chairman and a Scholarship/Academics Chairman who are responsible for monitoring each member’s health, well-being, and academics and ensuring they are safe, healthy, and passing classes. Chapters must maintain a minimum average GPA of 3.0 to be in good standing with the IFC. Individual chapters also have their own minimum GPA requirements for membership. If your son’s GPA falls below the requirement, they will typically be placed on social probation to raise their GPA and retain membership. Additionally, each chapter has a Risk Management Chairman to ensure the safety of all persons within the house at all times. Research has been conducted about the benefits of joining a fraternity. Please view the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) research to learn more about the benefits!

What are the living conditions in a fraternity?

The undergraduate members are responsible for the day-to-day upkeep and maintenance of their house, with the support of their House Corporation (a local alumni group, or an extension of their national headquarters) and House Manager, an undergraduate who is elected to monitor the upkeep of the house. This person is typically in charge of coordinating house chores and works with the House Corporation Board to address any necessary repairs.

Meals are offered, but meal plans differ for each fraternity. Most fraternities provide 2-3 meals per day, Monday through Friday with no coordinated meal service on weekends. Fraternity chefs can accommodate any sort of dietary restriction; it just needs to be communicated to the house or kitchen manager. On weekends, the pantries and refrigerator are stocked with microwavable and easy-to-make items.

For new members, some fraternities require that they sleep in a “Sleeping Porch”. Sleeping porches vary between houses, but are generally large rooms with bunk beds, set up to accommodate around 10-30 people. Some sleeping porches have closets, dressers, and desks, so men do a lot of their “living” in that space, while other fraternities have “day rooms” for closets, dressers, and desks, so the sleeping porch is just for sleeping. Not every fraternity has a sleeping porch; others may house all members in a more traditional setup (singles, doubles, triples, quads).

What should I do if I think/know my son is being hazed?

If you think your son is being hazed, warning signs can include but are not limited to: Sudden change in his behavior or attitude after joining a fraternity, wanting to leave his fraternity without any real explanation, sudden decrease in communication with friends and family, physical or psychological exhaustion, unexplained weight loss, injuries, or illness, sudden changes in sleeping or eating habits, withdrawal from normal activities, expressing feelings of sadness or worthlessness, an increase in secrecy or unwillingness to share details.

If your son reports that he is being hazed, first talk with him and console him. The degree of hazing can vary in each case and it is important to make sure your son is doing well psychologically. After this, try to gather as much information as possible. This can include but is not limited to screenshots, text messages, dates on when the instance or instances occurred, who was present, and how many other individuals were also potential victims. Next, you will want to reach out to either the national organization that your son is a part of or the University of Washington directly with the information that you have gathered. As previously mentioned, when reaching out to the University of Washington, you can either contact the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life (OFSL) or submit a hazing report with CSSC. At this point, someone from the University of Washington or national organization will reach out to you and explain the next steps. When hazing is reported to the University, the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life can support students by securing immediate temporary campus housing and arranging a no-contact order through UWPD, if a student fears retaliation or retribution. If you have any further questions regarding safety, health, and well-being, please contact ifccj@uw.edu.

Is the fraternity experience distracting or detrimental to academics?

The fraternity experience at the UW is not detrimental to academic success, and in many cases supports it. The UW Fraternity & Sorority community is one of the few that has a higher average GPA than the campus average. Each chapter has a designated officer committed to providing resources for time management and classes, and will make sure your son is performing to the best of his academic ability. Additionally, many fraternities hold academics in high regard, as reflected in their founding values, and have minimum GPA requirements for their members. If a member falls below the minimum requirement, they are typically placed on probation and will be required to raise their GPA the following quarter to maintain membership within the fraternity.

What is the time commitment of being in a fraternity and how do members manage all of their obligations?

The first quarter in the chapter house will likely involve the largest time commitment while members are in the house because it consists of their pledging quarter and likely also the stressful transition into college. During the first quarter in the chapter, your son’s main focus regarding the chapter will involve new member education, which is the curriculum required by the chapter’s headquarters. This usually involves the history of the fraternity and the chapter, policies locally and nationally, and general education on the fraternity. While the time commitment can range from chapter to chapter, it is very manageable, and chapters will do their best to make sure that new members are not falling behind academically.

What happens if my son has a conflict between a fraternity event and a mandatory academic/professional event?

Exact procedure differs between chapters, but all chapters recognize that a member’s academic and professional career holds precedence over fraternity events. Depending on the fraternity event, such as mandatory programming, your son will have to make up for the absence in the future. For non-mandatory academic/professional commitments, it is up to the discretion of the member on if they can or cannot attend the fraternity event.

Can my son join other clubs/organizations on campus while in a fraternity?

Yes! Joining on-campus clubs and organizations is highly encouraged. Although differing between chapters, incentives for being in a club or having a job include house points, fine reductions, priority for room selection, etc. Additionally, chapters will not ask members to skip club and professional commitments for non-mandatory fraternity events.

If you have any further questions regarding academics and time commitment, please contact ifcpr@uw.edu

What exactly is “rushing”?

“Rush” is the process in which fraternities recruit potential new members (PNM). Rush, from the perspective of a PNM, is a process that allows you to scout fraternities that align with their values, academic interests, and social scene. At the University of Washington, there is a formal and informal rush process. Informal rush occurs throughout the year and is a more relaxed process with chapters hosting independent rush events, whereas Formal Rush is a structured process organized by IFC where students visit every chapter on a set schedule. Click here to learn more about Formal and Informal Rush, and click here to see what houses participate in informal rush.

What should my son ask/be aware of during the rush process?

As mentioned above, your son should be utilizing the criteria to determine which fraternity is the best fit for him. However, your son should also be looking at how each fraternity treats him both in person and digitally. In order to accurately gauge the culture of the brotherhood, he should try to meet as many of the members of the fraternity as possible. In regard to questions, he should be able to fully comprehend what his first quarter in the house will look like. This includes his weekly time commitment to fraternity-related events, living arrangements, overall costs, and how the house will help him academically. Furthermore, he should also ask questions about how the brothers will help him in the future in respect to alumni connections, job opportunities, leadership positions within the fraternity, and anything else that directly interests him.

Will my son fit in if he’s more shy and introverted?

Yes! Plenty of members that have joined the fraternities community at the University of Washington are shy and introverted. One of the great aspects of this community is that it allows your son to establish a tight-knit group of friends almost immediately. This can be extremely helpful because the University of Washington is large and can be an overwhelming place for students who begin their first quarter on campus. Additionally, fraternities are self-selecting groups that share similar values, meaning your son will most likely find many like-minded men in his fraternity. Moreover, most fraternities at UW also provide mentorship in the form of a ‘big’. This is an older member within the fraternity who will make sure your son is adjusting to UW and the fraternity without feeling overwhelmed.

How much does being in a fraternity cost?

The cost of living varies by fraternity but generally ranges from $3,000-$4,000 per quarter, which covers membership dues and room and board. Payments can be made annually, quarterly, or monthly. Payments are made directly to the fraternity, and payment plans are arranged through the fraternity.

What if he joins a fraternity and then changes his mind? Can he move out and join a different fraternity?

If your son joins a fraternity and then, for whatever reason, changes his mind, he can easily “drop” the fraternity before or during the pledge process. After the pledge process, your son is officially a brother of the fraternity and cannot pledge other houses, but may still reduce/eliminate his commitment to the fraternity. If this is during the summer recruitment period, then he can easily rush other houses during Formal Rush. However, if this occurs during the fall or after he has started pledging, then there may be costs associated with this in respect to a refund. These costs and policies will vary depending on the fraternity that he chose and the length of time he spent as a pledge. Moreover, it is important to note that your son can always rush to another house if he feels like he made the wrong decision initially or feels like another house is a better fit for him. We encourage going through Primary Recruitment for those students who want to have the opportunity to rush many chapters at once and go through the process with other PNMs.

What leadership and professional opportunities exist in fraternities?

There are many leadership opportunities within a fraternities executive board, but specific positions/”chairs” vary between each fraternity. Some positions that all fraternities have include President, Treasurer, Social, Recruitment, Risk Management, etc. These positions can be beneficial to any resume, as these roles are analogous to many jobs and professional opportunities. Additionally, fraternities offer many opportunities to work with real organizations, companies, and non-profits through their philanthropies.

How does the alumni network assist with internships and job placements?

Fraternities’ alumni networks have been the key to breaking into the corporate and professional world for many of our members. Chapters encourage alumni and current members to network with each other at alumni and Founder’s Day events, with many IFC members reporting that an alumnus or current brother has helped them obtain an internship, job, or professional opportunity. Beyond the chapter alumni network, members can take advantage of their fraternity’s national alumni network as well. Lastly, some chapters offer mentorship opportunities between alumni and brothers in the same field, in which an alumnus teaches his mentee on interview skills, resume building, and specific career skills.

What kind of philanthropy/community service do fraternities participate in?

All chapters in the Fraternity and Sorority community participate in some kind of philanthropy event or community service at least once a quarter. This can range from Green Greeks, an RSO dedicated to picking up trash around Greek Row and campus, to “philanthropy feeds”, where a house will sell food for a specific cause/charity. Chapters usually help each other’s philanthropy through buy-ins or dual philanthropy events. To learn more about upcoming philanthropy events, visit the Philanthropy Calendar

How can I help my son during the recruitment process? How involved should I be?

You can help your son during the recruitment process by checking in on what fraternities he is interested in, asking clarifying questions in respect to housing information or other key factors about the fraternity, and encouraging him to use his best judgment as a young adult to make a decision he is comfortable with. While the involvement for parents/guardians will vary based on their relationship and parenting style, it is very important to make sure your son has all of the information he needs to make a decision he is comfortable with. Additionally, if you feel like something is off, don’t hesitate to reach out to someone from the OFSL or IFC. We are here to help and always love to answer questions pertaining to the Fraternity and Sorority Community!

Are parents allowed to visit fraternities during recruitment?

Chapters don’t prevent parents from visiting fraternities during recruitment, but this rarely occurs, as the emphasis of the recruitment process is about your son. We encourage you to empower your son to reach out to the houses that he is interested in and for you to be supportive. If you are curious about how the house looks or want more information about the chapter, please look at the Fraternities page on our website or reach out to someone in the OFSL/IFC.

What is the cost of living and the payment process?

The cost of living varies by fraternity but generally ranges from $3,000-$4,000 per quarter, which covers membership dues and room and board. Payments can be made annually, quarterly, or monthly. Payments are made directly to the fraternity, and payment plans are arranged through the fraternity.

How can I be involved with the fraternity once my son joins?

Once your son joins a fraternity, you can become involved in a variety of ways. One of the first ways to become involved is by following the fraternity on social media. Most of our fraternities frequently post updates about what is going on in their chapters on Instagram or Facebook. Additionally, most chapters have a parents’ group. This allows you to meet and interact with other parents who are in your son’s chapter. Finally, there are usually lots of events that chapters host for parents. These events can include, but are not limited to Parents’ Weekend, Homecoming, Dad’s Day, and Mother’s Day.

If you would like to keep up with the Fraternity and Sorority Community at the University of Washington, we hope that you will take the time to follow and connect with us! We encourage you and your son to tag us and let us know about the great things they are doing on campus and in their fraternity so we can highlight the work they are doing.

University of Washington IFC: Instagram: @uwifc TikTok: @uw_ifc Facebook: uwifc University of Washington Fraternity & Sorority Office” Website: washington.edu/ofsl/ Instagram: @uwgreeklife Facebook: @uwgreeks