What amenities will my son or daughter have within a chapter house?

Fraternity and sorority houses are more than just comfortable places to eat, sleep or study - they become your home. Each member has some personal space in the houses, though rooms are often shared. Amenities include computer and study rooms, laundry facilities, living rooms with comfortable furniture, dining rooms, televisions, connections to the Internet, and phones.Live In Requirements
All housed fraternities and sororities have requirements for their members to live in the chapter house for a certain period of time. Since each chapter house is different, their requirements to live-in the chapter house will vary. It is important to understand these expectations upfront, so be sure to ask during the recruitment process.

What am I paying for?

Great living environment with friends
House Director (all sororities)
Live-In Graduate Advisors (some fraternities)
Place to study and relax
Balanced meals and snacks
Educational programming
Social activities
Intramural sports
Lifetime membership
Alumni and parent activities

What is a Substance-Free Living Enviornment?

Substance-free housing is an effort to remove the emphasis on alcohol in the everyday lives and activities of fraternity members in their home environments. If a chapter is substance-free, alcohol will not be present at any time in the fraternity chapter house. There will still be social functions at which alcohol is present. Such functions will be hosted at appropriate third-party locations (restaurants, hotel banquet rooms) where a licensed, insured third-party vendor is responsible for monitoring the distribution of alcohol in a legal and appropriate manner. All social events are required to have security guards present. In addition, many of these functions will include arrangements for safe transportation of members and guests, non-alcoholic beverages, and other measures to ensure the safest event possible.

All UO sororities and fraternities have substance-free housing.

Currently there are nine universities in which all fraternities and sororities are substance-free. These universities include: University of Kentucky, University of Rhode Island, West Virginia University, University of Idaho, University of Iowa, Oklahoma State University, Utah State University, Northern Arizona University, University of Colorado, and Washington State University.

What standards do fraternities and sororities meet to be endorsed by the UO?

To encourage achievement of the fraternal ideals of scholarship, brotherhood/sisterhood, leadership and service, and to recognize Greek organizations that strive for excellence, University endorsement standards have been established.
Each standard identifies components necessary to the creation of a quality learning environment for Greek members.
Standards are divided into four major categories:
• academic performance
• leadership
• community service
• healthy living

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
- academic standards
Each fraternity and sorority hold academics as a high priority. The average three term GPA must be above that of the UO undergraduate men’s/women’s three term GPA or show an improved average GPA from their last review.

LEADERSHIP
- chapter management
plan Members learn and develop leadership and organization skills by implementing a successful chapter management plan. The Greek Life office and chapter advisors provide guidance in the areas of budgeting, management, goal setting, and general operations. Chapters must document minimum expectations.
- alumni support
Chapters are supported by an alumni advisory board and faculty scholarship advisor. Housed chapters have an operating house corporation.
- social issues education
Each term, chapters benefit from guest speakers. 85 to 100% of the chapter membership attend a variety of educational events.
- membership development
Chapters have written educational plans for new and initiated members as well as initiation week programs. Programs address alcohol, drug, and hazing prevention; and academic expectations including support available to assist student success.

SERVICE EFFORTS
-philanthropic and community service
Chapters showcase philanthropic efforts and demonstrate leadership through community volunteer service hours, donations, and participation in philanthropy events.

HEALTHY LIVING ENVIRONMENT
- conduct standing
Chapters are in good conduct standing with the University of Oregon for the preceding review cycle.
- health & fire inspections
The chapter’s house corporation and the appropriate chapter officers participate in health and fire safety workshops, drills, and inspections.
- sprinkler system [2004]
By fall 2004, all house corporations will have completed renovations to install an approved fire sprinkler systems in chapter homes.
- live-in adult [2005]
Currently, 100% of sororities and 20% of fraternities employ a house director or live-in adult. The live-in adult position may be filled by a graduate student. By fall 2006 all chapters will have adults in residence.

SUBSTANCE FREE HOUSING
Beginning Fall 2002, house corporations and chapter officers have maintained a substance free house.
Fraternity and sorority houses are privately owned and managed by non profit corporations. The University of Oregon recognizes fraternities’ and sororities’ right to self-governance.