Sending a child to college can be a challenging and stressful time in a parent's life. While at the University of North Florida, your child will encounter many opportunities to become involved outside of their classroom experience.  In fact, research has shown that 60% of all learning happens outside the classroom.  It is important that you, the parent, be educated about the enriching experience that your son or daughter will find by being involved in a Fraternity or Sorority at UNF.

Joining a Fraternity or Sorority is oftentimes called “Going Greek.”  This namesake toward Fraternities and Sororities is well-coined.  Centuries ago, the ancient Greeks developed “ritual” as the way of transitioning their young men into warriors and their young women into fearless leaders.  This was a way of “initiating” their sons and daughters into life.  It was a very proud process – one of letting their children go from the covering of their youth, and spurring them to venture out and find themselves through the discovery of their own personal courage, strength, and confidence.  They began with the nerve, the goal, the raw ambition and notion to push; to train; to move; to enliven…to UNLEASH them into the world, ready for anything; proving them so strong, so capable, that victory in life would be inevitable.

Today, Fraternities and Sororities carry-on this ancient legacy of the Greeks by embodying their same resolute mindset.  By adhering to their founders’ sets of strong ethics and values, and truly readying today’s college students through leadership development and character-building, Fraternal organizations can equip their Brothers and Sisters for success; preparing them for victory in life; ready for anything the world has to throw at them. 

What does involvement in a Fraternity or Sorority entail?

Animal House, Old School, House Bunny, the television show Greek, etc., all give ridiculous and false examples of what belonging to a Fraternal organization entails.  Movies, television, and news programs often depict outrageous and erroneous portrayals with regard to being involved in a Fraternity or Sorority.  In addition, cases of hazing, binge-drinking, and the like covered in the news are condemned, not tolerated, extremely unfortunate, illegal, and rare within today’s Fraternities and Sororities.

What the media does not share with you as a parent are the many life-long benefits to membership in Fraternities and Sororities.  Leadership is bolstered; confidence soars; academic goals are realized; scholarship monies are rewarded; fellowship is cemented; millions of hours are given in service to the community; hundreds of millions of dollars are raised toward philanthropic endeavors; networking and career connections are unleashed.  At a mid-sized university in a large city like UNF, membership in one of our 24 nationally-recognized Fraternities and Sororities offers an instant connection of friends, incredible opportunities for personal and career advancement, and a true home away from home.

Additionally, national research has indicated that involvement in fraternities and sororities increases students' chances of graduating from college.  Research has also shown that the grade point averages of members within a Fraternity or Sorority are higher than those not affiliated, all across North America.  Then there are the facts that all but 3 United States Presidents since 1825 are members of Fraternities; an average 76% of Congress is Greek; 85% of Fortune 500 executives are Brothers and Sisters; and 85% of Supreme Court Justices are members of Fraternal organizations.