To help our students adjust
to the rigorous academic life Trinity has to offer, the University and Greek
Council have instituted a number of policies and procedures. Mainly, Trinity
has a deferred rush and new member orientation period. That is, first-year
students are not allowed to join a social Greek organization until they have
completed at least 12 credit hours at Trinity University and have a minimum
cumulative GPA of 2.0 (athletes must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 to
accept a bid). Transfer students must have at least a sophomore standing to
join a fraternity or sorority. Not only does deferred rush help students
focus on their academics as they begin college, but it also allows the
students to meet the various Greek organizations without feeling pressure to
commit right away.
The organizations' New Member
Orientation programs are governed by several University and Greek Council
policies. For instance, there is a six-week maximum on all orientation
programs and a nine hours hands-off period during the school week. The
purpose of this time period is to educate new members about the organization
and to bond the new members with the entire group, not to create an unequal
power differential in the organization. As such, there is zero tolerance for hazing
or for violations of other University and Greek Council policies. The Greek
Council Judicial Board and Greek Life staff will investigate all potential
policy violations.
Encourage your student to
keep an open mind about Greek life. Undoubtedly students are bombarded with
false stereotypes about certain groups or Greek life in general. Encouraging
your son or daughter to meet the Greek students on an individual level is
the best way to find out if Greek life is for him or her.
Students need your support
throughout the process of rush and New Member Orientation. Be supportive and
learn as much as you can about Greek life by asking questions of your
student as he or she meets members in fraternities and sororities.
Allow your son or daughter to
make his or her own choices about going Greek. Just because you may have
been a fraternity or sorority member doesn't mean that it is the right
choice for your son or daughter. On the other hand, you may have negative
associations with Greek life, but your son or daughter might thrive in that
environment.
Have a conversation about the
financial obligations of Greek life before your son or daughter joins a
Greek organization. Because our organizations are local, their dues are
relatively inexpensive compared with national fraternities and sororities.
Most of the groups' semester dues range from $200 to $400.
An inherent aspect of Greek
life is that it is a selective process. On average, about 15 women and 3 men
do not receive bids each year. However, every year we have several sophomores
and even juniors join a Greek organization who did not receive a bid their
first year.
For questions about Greek Life at Trinity University,
please contact Katie Jundt, Coordinator of Greek Life and Service, at (210)
999-7500 or
Katie.Jundt@trinity.edu.