Parent's Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of membership?
Supportive friends, scholastic resources,
leadership opportunities, sports competition,
philanthropic projects, career opportunities
and becoming a part of a national network.
Sororities and multicultural Greek organizations are value-based organizations dedicated to the development of character and lifelong friendship.
How much will it cost?
With the large number of
chapters at CU Boulder, costs will
vary. The average cost for room,
board, and dues for a National Panhellenic
Sorority is $3,000 a semester. The
average pledge semester cost is $400-$700
including pledge and initiation fees. Out-of-house
dues for members are approximately
$350-$550 a semester.
Is housing available?
Most sororities at CU-Boulder
have housing available to the members.
CU-Boulder requires
all first year students to live in the residence
halls. Most members will move into the house
their sophomore year. All of the sorority
houses have a meal plan in the house.
What is hazing?
Hazing is any physical or mental
act that puts a person in a stressful or
dangerous situation. Hazing can take many
forms and is hard to detect since the participants
are usually willing to be subjected to these
juvenile and sometimes dangerous acts. Secrecy
also plays a major role. The Panhellenic
Association as well as all of the National
Organizations have very strict policies against
hazing: No chapter shall permit hazing.
Hazing is defined as:
Any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally
endangers the health, safety, or welfare of an
individual for the purpose of initiation, participation,
admission into, or affiliation with any organization
at the university. Hazing includes, but is
not limited to, any abuse of a mental or physical
nature, forced consumption of any food, liquor,
drugs, or substances, or any forced physical activity
that could adversely affect the health or safety
of the individual. Hazing also includes any
activity that would subject the individual to embarrassment
or humiliation, the willingness of the participant
in such activity notwithstanding.
If you suspect that your son or daughter is being hazed, please call the Hazing Tipsline at 303-492-0140, the Greek Life Office or the national headquarters of your student's sorority or fraternity.
What about alcohol misuse?
Alcohol use is a serious problem
being faced by many aspects of our society.
Sororities and fraternities are not an exception.
The legal drinking age in Colorado is 21.
Kegs and bulk purchases of liquor are forbidden
by the Panhellenic. Greek students are attempting
to address the problems of alcohol use and
abuse in association with chapter activities.
Students who violate the Alcohol Policy,
risk suspension from the University. Please
discuss the legal and social consequences
of alcohol us e with your student. Only by
combating this problem on all fronts will
any headway be made.
How does membership in a Greek organization
affect a student's academics?
Academic success is a key component
to fraternity and sorority life. All fraternities
and sororities at CU-Boulder place
a value on the academic success of their members.
A few of the ways that Greek organizations support
the academics of their members is through minimum
grade requirements for holding an office and being
initiated into the chapter, study halls, and workshops
on study skills, test taking and time management.
In support of these academic efforts, the Greek
Life Office compiles academic information for organizations
each semester if the proper materials have been
submitted. Chapters use academic information to
assist students and to set minimum qualifications
for initiation, room assignments and/or eligibility
for officer elections.
You can contact John Henderson, Director of Greek Life at 303-492-5425 or john.henderson@colorado.edu.
