Fraternity & Sorority Membership

Member Eligibility - All Councils

The recruitment/intake process by which you join a fraternity or sorority at GW will vary depending on the Council in which you are seeking to join an organization. Regardless of Council, all potential new members must meet the following requirements:

  1. Register for recruitment – complete the Potential New Member Interest and Disclosure Form. This form authorizes us to verify your grades and eligibility and share that information with an organization.
  2. Complete this FSL 101 online education module
  3. Have at least a college 2.0 GPA. Note that some chapters and/or councils may have higher minimum GPA requirements.
  4. Have completed at least 12 credit hours from an accredited college/university (AP/Dual enrollment courses do not qualify). 

Launch FSL 101

To better inform decisions related to organizational membership, the Division for Student Affairs publishes a list of student organizations with conduct violations

Member Requirements: New Member Days

New Member Days is a required education program for all new members of a social fraternity or sorority at the George Washington University. The program, hosted by the Office of Student Life, covers a variety of topics such as, but not limited to bystander training, alcohol/substance abuse, sexual assault awareness, diversity and inclusion, involvement beyond your membership, risk management, and hazing. 

The goal of the program is for potential new members to gain a better understanding of the role that fraternity and sorority members play in the Greek community as well as how to make positive choices that will help improve the entire GW community. The New Member Days program must be completed by new members prior to initiation. The program will be offered several times in the spring semester. 

Chapters and councils may have additional requirements for new members. 

IFC Recruitment

GW Interfraternity Council consists of 10 member chapters. There are two options for potential new members who want to join an IFC fraternity: Fall Formal Recruitment and Informal Spring Recruitment. The Interfraternity Council holds a formal recruitment process at the beginning of the Spring semester for the 10 fraternities and informal recruitment in the Fall semester and/or after formal recruitment has concluded.

Informal recruitment offered by some or all chapters in the Interfraternity Council, depending on whether the chapter has opted to recruit in the fall. During Informal Recruitment, men can attend virtual recruitment events with individual chapters, get to know individual brothers, and have the opportunity to join those chapters seeking new members. 

MGC Intake/Recruitment

The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) is home to seven unique chapters with members from different and diverse backgrounds.  Most chapters will hold informational sessions in the fall and/or spring semesters. However, the best way to gain information about the recruitment practices of a MGC Chapter is to contact that chapter's representative and/or attend events hosted by the chapter. 

Recruitment and intake can look slightly to drastically different depending on which organization you are interested in, therefore it is recommended that you contact MGC Board to sign up for general information about MGC Chapters. 

NPHC Intake

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), also known as "Divine 9," is home to 9 inter/national organizations. At GW, we currently have seven organizations which are all unique chapters with members from diverse backgrounds. Most chapters will hold informational sessions in the fall and/or spring semesters. However, the best way to gain information about the recruitment practices of a NPHC Chapter is to contact that chapter's representative and/or attend that chapter's events. 

Recruitment and intake can look slightly to drastically different depending on which organization you are interested in, therefore it is recommended that you contact NPHC Board to sign up for general information about NPHC Chapters.

PHA Recruitment

GW's Panhellenic Association consists of eleven chapters who are members of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) and one associate organization. There are two options for potential new members to join a Panhellenic sorority: Spring formal recruitment and semesterly informal recruitment processes. The Panhellenic Association holds a formal recruitment process at the beginning of the Spring semester for the 10 NPC-affiliated sororities and an informal recruitment process that some chapters participate in immediately following the conclusion of formal recruitment in Spring. 

We encourage you to follow PHA on social media for recruitment updates.

Formal Recruitment

Formal recruitment (early spring): is a structured process during which both potential new members (PNMs) and current sorority members get to know each other throughout four rounds of recruitment events. Formal recruitment ends with Bid Day, where PNMs may receive an invitation to join one sorority (a bid). In 2023, formal recruitment took place in the University Student Center, from January 10-15. In addition to the All-Council Requirements listed above, requirements for Panhellenic formal recruitment include:

  • Complete FSL 101 and the PNM Interest and Disclosure Form (above)

  • Must register, pay the recruitment registration fee, and sign an Honor Code

  • Be a regularly matriculated GW student within a degree-granting program

  • Have completed at least 12 credit hours at an accredited college/university (excluding AP and dual-enrollment) by the time recruitment begins

  • Never been an initiated member of any NPC member group 

  • Must be in good standing with the university

  • Must move in prior to the beginning of spring classes for recruitment

  • Plan on attending the PNM Orientation Session

Informal Recruitment

Informal recruitment (fall and/or following formal recruitment): is offered by some or all chapters in the Panhellenic Association, depending on whether the chapter has opted to recruit. During Informal Recruitment, women can attend recruitment events with individual chapters and have the opportunity to join those chapters seeking new members. Requirements for informal recruitment include:

  • Be a regularly matriculated GW student who has earned 12-credits at GW
  • Did not sign a Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA) or a COB Membership Acceptance Binding Agreement within the last Formal Recruitment cycle or at another university
  • Has not been initiated into an Panhellenic organization
  • Must have completed FSL 101 virtual module or training before accepting a bid
  • PNMs must meet their chapter GPA requirement