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.
Stay up to date with the
happenings in Greek life by visiting the Trinity Greek Council blog.
For questions about Greek Life at Trinity University,
please contact Joshua Beebe, Coordinator of Greek Life and Student Programs,
at (210) 999-7547 or
joshua.beebe@trinity.edu.