Greek Life

The University of San Francisco's Greek community strives to provide opportunities for growth and excellence in academics, service, leadership, friendship, ritual, and social advancement.  When you become a member of a social fraternity or sorority at USF, you're not only joining a brotherhood or sisterhood, but joining a family with over 50 years of campus history.

Classification as a Social Fraternity/Sorority

Social sororities and fraternities at the University of San Francisco are student organizations that are founded on values and principles aligned with promoting an educational experience in the Jesuit Catholic tradition.  These organizations uphold the Greek Council pillars of success which are based on the ideals of leadership, scholarship, friendship, ritual, social advancement, and service.  In partnership with the University, social sororities and fraternities promote the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, and service for their members. 

The University of San Francisco follows the guidelines and criteria established by California state law and the United States Department of Education to classify an organization as a social sorority or fraternity (which includes a provision that allows an organization to operate as a single-sex organization).   Petitions for reinstatement/reactivation must meet the criteria used by the University of San Francisco that classifies social sororities and fraternities as organizations that:

·         Form organizations based on history, ritual, and social excellence

·         Commit to a special long-term relationship with the university through a campus chartering process as well as a life-long commitment to the fraternal organization

·         Have the ability to form single-sex organizations, afforded by federal law

·         Enter a partnership with university staff and organization advisors to provide a support network for the organization and its members

·         Do not limit membership to persons pursuing or having interest in a particular field of study, profession or academic discipline

·         Do not serve as honorary societies for academic, leadership, or any other endeavor

·         Do not permit members to hold membership in other social sororities or fraternities.

·         Have a minimum of $1,000,000 insurance coverage

·         Limit membership to currently enrolled students at the University of San Francisco

·         Have membership in one of the following national organizations: Panhellenic Conference, North American Inter-fraternity Conference, National Pan-Hellenic Council, National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations . The University does not allow “local” chapters (those that do not have national affiliations) to be recognized.  

·         To be inclusive and participatory in university programs such as New Student Orientation and service events such as October Outreach and April Action

Social sororities and fraternities shall exist at the University of San Francisco as registered student organizations and shall be classified as social sororities and fraternities, governed by policies established by the Division of Student Life and administered by Student Leadership and Engagement and ASUSF Greek Council.  

Social sororities and fraternities must abide by applicable university policies, regulations, and procedures that govern all other student organizations, as well as policies, guidelines, and procedures established by Student Leadership and Engagement and the designated governing councils.