Sorority & Fraternity FAQ for Families

For students joining a fraternity or sorority chapter during their first year, membership can aid in their transition into University of Colorado Denver by supporting them in developing brotherhood/sisterhood, enhancing leadership, encouraging academic success, and promoting philanthropy and community service efforts. Students who join a fraternity or sorority often feel as if they have found a home away from home due to the friendships formed within the group they join. All members receive academic support, opportunities for leadership and personal growth, and experiences specifically created to provide an opportunity to give back to the community. After graduation, students have access to alumni networks to support their post-college transition.

No. The Sorority and Fraternity Life program at CU Denver was approved on the condition that our organizations will have no group housing. The organizations we have selected have agreed to this. Being in downtown Denver, the feasibility of housing is not realistic. Additionally, some of the organizations we have selected do not sponsor housing. Thus, in order to be equitable, no organizations will have housing.

All fraternities and sororities set minimum academic expectations to join and remain a member in good standing of a fraternity or sorority. Chapters have academic programs and requirements. They are in place to help members succeed in their classes through graduation, including tutoring, study groups, academic skill-building workshops, and incentives.

Hazing is illegal in Colorado per Section 18-9-124(2), C.R.S. CU Denver and the national organizations we have selected to join our campus community have zero-tolerance policies for hazing. Per the Student Code of Conduct, hazing is defined as: engaging in or planning any act, typically associated with belonging to a group of peers, which may produce, or is intended to produce, mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule, or any acts which are humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning, or that endanger the health and safety of another person, including, but not limited to:

1. Paddling in any form
2. Inducement of excessive fatigue
3. Required exercise inconsistent with the mission of the organization, team, or group
4. Physical or psychological shocks
5. Personal servitude
6. Forced or coerced consumption
7. Forced or coerced engagement in public stunts, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities, drinking games, late work sessions, other unorganized activities, and other obligations that interfere with scholastic pursuits. 

The University asks that you share any information that fits the definition above so that we may investigate and take action as appropriate. If you have a concern about activities that are taking place in your student’s organization, please contact sfl@ucdenver.edu or 303-315-0208. You may also submit a report to the Dean of Students Office / Student Conduct. 

Fraternity and sorority members are elected to officer positions and manage the day-to-day operations of the organization. These officers serve as the leadership team and are supported by various committees and advisors.  All our fraternities and sororities are also part of an (inter)national organization that offers support, advice, and direction through professional staff members and regional volunteers. 

• The Assistant Director for Student Organizations acts as the campus program administrator for all CU Denver sororities and fraternities.
• Groups will receive advising support from their Chapter Advisor(s) who are national organization volunteers typically local to Denver.  
• Each group will also have a Campus Advisor who is a CU Denver staff or faculty member. 

• All fraternities and sororities require an investment of time, including weekly new member meetings (first semester of membership), weekly chapter meetings, participation in chapter and community events including philanthropy and service events, educational programming, and social events. In addition, many members serve on chapter committees or hold leadership positions, which increases the time commitment. However, the time commitment is what your student chooses to invest. Some students put all of their time into the fraternity/sorority, while others spend some time in their chapter and some time experiencing other opportunities on campus.
   
• There are some required events, but students can generally choose the events in which they’d like to participate. If you feel your student is devoting too much time to a fraternity/sorority, talk with them to better understand the required expectations and feel free to contact Sorority & Fraternity Life to discuss concerns. We also encourage students to fully discuss time commitments prior to joining a fraternity or sorority during the recruitment or intake process. 

All fraternity and sorority members experience a period of orientation that lasts on average about 6-8 weeks. During this time, your student and other new members will participate in weekly meetings to learn about the organization, fraternity/sorority history and participate in leadership workshops /retreats, and community service projects. Additionally, there will be activities designed to build friendship among new members (also referred to as pledges/associates/candidates) and the initiated members. We encourage students to ask questions of the person responsible for their education to better understand the process of joining.

• How does the organization’s grade point average compare to the all-University averages? 
• What does the organization do to promote scholastic achievement? 
• How much time is spent on fraternity/sorority-related activities? Is this time mandatory or optional? 
• Are new members treated the same as active members? Do they have the same privileges? 
• What are the financial obligations, and what is included? 
• Is there a special weekend for parents or other activities to which parents are invited? 
• In what ways does the organization contribute to the larger fraternity and sorority community? 
• What type of programming does the organization offer (i.e., career networking, alcohol and other drug education)? 
• What risk management procedures do the chapter implement to ensure safety at social events? 
• What opportunities are there for leadership development? Do members participate in other campus organizations? 
• Is the chapter part of an inter/national organization that provides oversight? 
• Has the chapter been sanctioned by its council or inter/national organization for misconduct? Is it on a probationary or other special status? 

No.

CU Denver shares the Auraria campus with Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU) and the Community College of Denver (CCD). 

• CU Denver students may join student organizations at MSU and CCD including sororities and fraternities.
• Students from MSU and CCD many not join CU Denver sororities and fraternities but may join other categories of student organizations.