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Fraternity & Sorority Life

Fraternities and sororities are a long-standing valued part of Baldwin Wallace University. Fraternities and sororities at BW encourage the growth and development of students by providing opportunities for leadership development, scholarship, friendship, service and fun through membership and involvement in fraternal organizations.

Contact

Contact fsl@bw.edu with any questions related to fraternity and sorority life at BW.

BALDWIN WALLACE FRATERNITIES

AΣΦ
Alpha Sigma Phi
Nickname: Alpha Sigs
Local founding: 2010

AΦA
Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc.
Nickname: Alphas
Local founding: Pi Chapter (city-wide chapter)

ΚΑΨ
Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc.
Nickname: Kappas
Local founding: Alpha Omega Chapter (city-wide chapter)

ΛXA
Lambda Chi Alpha
Nickname: Chis
Local founding: 2012

ΠΛΦ
Pi Lambda Phi
Nickname: Pilams
Local founding: 1948

ΣΦΕ
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Nickname: SigEps
Local founding: 1948

ΦKT
Phi Kappa Tau
Nickname: Phi Taus
Local founding: 1942

ΩΨΦ
Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc.
Nickname: Omegas; Ques
Local founding: Phi Sigma Chapter (city-wide chapter)

BALDWIN WALLACE SORORITIES

AΓΔ
Alpha Gamma Delta
Nickname: Gamms
Local founding: 1940

AKA
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Nickname: AKA
Local founding: 1925 - Omega Chapter (city-wide chapter)

AΦ
Alpha Phi
Nickname: Phis
Local founding: 1964

ΔZ
Delta Zeta
Nickname: DZs
Local founding: 1941

ΔΣΘ
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Nickname: Deltas
Local founding: 1971 - Theta Eta Chapter (city-wide chapter)

ZTA
Zeta Tau Alpha
Nickname: Zetas
Local founding: 1957

ZΦB
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Nickname: Zetas
Local founding: 2018 - BW Zeta

ΣΓP
Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority, Inc.
Nickname: SGRhos
Local founding: 1980 - Theta Kappa (BW)

Hazing Policy

All forms of hazing, on or off campus, by any individual student, or Baldwin Wallace University registered student club or organization, faculty or staff, or any of its members or alumni are prohibited. Learn more.

Five Pillars

Each fraternity and sorority has its own set of individual standards and principles. However, the fraternity and sorority community has five values that it believes in and strives to fulfill, the five pillars of fraternity and sorority life. The fraternity and sorority community at BW holds events each year that support the five pillars.

Brotherhood and Sisterhood

Joining a fraternity or sorority means becoming part of a family. Brothers and sisters provide a "home away from home" for BW students that offers support and guidance.

Leadership

The fraternity and sorority community provides opportunities for both leadership and development. Each year, members of the fraternity and sorority community attend various regional and national leadership conferences. Workshops are open to all new members, and new chapter and council leaders attend a new officer leadership retreat. Numerous leadership opportunities are available to members through their chapters and governing councils, including the Interfraternity Council, Collegiate Panhellenic Council, Fraternity and Sorority Programming Board and Fraternity/Sorority Community Moving Company.

Scholarship

Scholarship is an important aspect of the fraternity and sorority community at BW. Chapters provide academic resources, study sessions, scholarship awards and other incentives to help members achieve academically. National research has also demonstrated that fraternity and sorority members are more likely to complete a college degree.

Order of Omega is a national Greek honor society made up of the top three percent of the fraternity and sorority community. Members are selected on the basis of leadership skills and academic achievement as well as campus and fraternity and sorority involvement.

Academic Reports:

2023 Spring
2022 Fall
2022 Spring
2021 Fall
2021 Spring
2020 Fall
2020 Spring
2019 Fall
2019 Spring
2018 Fall
2018 Spring

Service and Philanthropy

Service is a fundamental component of the fraternity and sorority community. Each fraternity and sorority chapter has a philanthropy project that it supports by giving both time and donations throughout the year. Fraternal organizations support a variety of philanthropic and service projects in Berea, in the greater Cleveland area and nationwide.

Fraternities

  • Alpha Sigma Phi - Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN); Shatterproof; Aware Awake Alive; Active Minds; Homes for Our Troops
  • Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc. - See organization website.
  • Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity, Inc. - See organization website.
  • Lambda Chi Alpha - Feeding America
  • Pi Lambda Phi - Elimination of Prejudice
  • Sigma Phi Epsilon - Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
  • Phi Kappa Tau - SeriousFun
  • Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity, Inc. - See organization website.

Sororities

  • Alpha Gamma Delta - The Alpha Gamma Delta Foundation supporting fighting hunger with Meals on Wheels and Feeding America
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc. - See organization website.
  • Alpha Phi - The Alpha Phi Foundation supporting Women's Heart Health
  • Delta Zeta - Speech and Hearing, The Painted Turtle Camp, The Starkey Hearing Foundation
  • Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. - See organization website.
  • Zeta Tau Alpha - Breast Cancer Education and Awareness
  • Zeta Phi Beta, Sorority, Inc. - See organization website.
  • Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority, Inc. - See organization website.

Social

Chapters and members create lifelong friendships and memories at many social events. Organizations host brotherhood and sisterhood gatherings, retreats, mixers and formals. These opportunities allow chapter members to establish relationships and enhance their skills in communication and team building.

Recruitment

There are three ways you can become a member of a fraternity or sorority.

Formal Recruitment

Primary recruitment - Sorority primary recruitment is held during fall semester. This is an opportunity for interested women to meet and get to know the four National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities on campus. Register for sorority recruitment.

Fraternity recruitment - Fraternity formal recruitment is held during fall semester. This is an opportunity for interested men to meet and get to know the five North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) fraternities on campus. The fraternity community also sponsors a spring formal recruitment week. Formal recruitment registration.

Informal Recruitment

Some fraternities and sororities sponsor informal recruitment events periodically during the academic year that provide an opportunity for interested students to meet members.

Membership Intake

  • Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ) Fraternity, Inc.
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc.
  • Kappa Alpha Psi (ΚΑΨ) Fraternity, Inc.
  • Omega Psi Phi (ΩΨΦ) Fraternity, Inc.
  • Delta Sigma Theta (ΔΣΘ) Sorority, Inc.
  • Zeta Phi Beta (ZΦB) Sorority, Inc.
  • Sigma Gamma Rho (ΣΓP) Sorority, Inc.

The fraternities and sororities listed above are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Conference (NPHC) and do not participate in BW's recruitment periods. Rather, the historically African-American fraternities and sororities participate in a process known as membership intake. If you would like to learn more about NPHC, please register online or email fsl@bw.edu.

Councils

The Fraternity and Sorority Programming Board (FSPB) will provide fraternity and sorority students the opportunity to grow as a person and a student at Baldwin Wallace University through planned programs and events. The goals of these programs are to provide members with an experience rooted in academic achievement, brotherhood and sisterhood, community engagement, leadership, philanthropy, and shared purpose. This board is made up of fraternity and sorority members whose sole focus will be event and program planning. This organization will be responsible for planning Greek Sing, Fraternity Sorority Leadership Institute (FSLI), speaking events and more.

Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the governing body of the national fraternities on campus. Officers are elected by the fraternities to lead the fraternity community. The council is responsible for hosting fraternity recruitment and sponsoring campus events, including social programs and service projects as well as supporting the other councils in their activities.

Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC) is the governing body of the sororities on campus. Officers are elected by the sororities to lead the sorority community. The council is primarily responsible for hosting sorority recruitment at the beginning of fall semester. The council also hosts International Badge Day celebrations, service projects and social and educational events throughout the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What impact will membership in a fraternity or sorority have on a student's grades?

Students often find managing their time difficult when moving from the structured high school environment to the freedoms of university life. Sororities and fraternities assist in that transition by offering academic programs, which may include study partners, study hours and time management workshops. A network of students knowledgeable about BW resources is easily accessed through members who are already familiar with the campus. While fraternities and sororities are concerned about the academic achievement of their members, each student is ultimately responsible for utilizing available resources. It should also be noted that the all-fraternity and sorority grade point average is higher than the all-student grade point average at Baldwin Wallace.

What are the costs involved in membership?

There are new member dues and an initiation fee in the first semester (which includes the cost of the badge or pin) and then manageable dues throughout active membership. Most groups have similar costs. All chapters offer payment plans to help pay for all costs.

The average costs for women are:

  • One-time new member fee of $195
  • One-time initiation fee of $85
  • $240 for dues each semester

The average costs for men are:

  • $280 for dues per semester for a new member
  • $295 for dues per semester for an active, initiated member

What about hazing?

Hazing is absolutely not tolerated, condoned or accepted in the Baldwin Wallace fraternity and sorority community. University policies are very specific in prohibiting activities that could lead to such events. The national policies of each group on campus are also very specific in prohibiting hazing and the University supports them by enforcing all pertinent policies and laws. Learn more.

What is my role as a parent?

Be supportive and learn as much as you can by asking questions of your student as he or she meets people through the recruitment process. Fraternity and sorority members are more than happy to share information about their chapters with students and parents.