Fraternity & Sorority Life

Greek life is an important part of the campus community at Lander University. Since 1970, Greek life has been a prominent feature on Landers campus by offering unique opportunities for leadership as well as social and moral development.

The Greek organizations strive to enrich the educational experience of members while serving the greater community.

Founded upon the pillars of scholarship, service, leadership, and friendship, Lander's Greek organizations contribute greatly to Lander, the local community and beyond. Visit each council's pages to the left to learn more about the Lander Greek experience!

Choosing to participate in Greek life during your college years is an opportunity to enhance your leadership skills, focus on academics, give back to your community and make life-long friendships. Feel free to contact the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life with any questions.

Click HERE for more information about Lander Greek Life.

>> Fraternity and Sorority Life Grade Report

Interfraternity Council

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the governing body over the fraternities which we have at Lander. The executive board is made of members from our fraternities Delta Sigma Phi and Alpha Tau Omega. Positions on the board are President, VP of Membership Development, VP of Judicial Affairs, and VP of Finance. Beyond our executive board is the general body which is made up of one delegate for each chapter. The Council's job is to be a liaison between the chapters, provide programming throughout the year, give back through our community service in addition to our philanthropy, and much more. IFC also host formal recruitment in the fall, which is comprised of events throughout the week to help guys find the brotherhood right for them.

IFC serves as the umbrella organization to the following:

National Pan-Hellenic Council

Lander University National Pan-Hellenic Council (LUNPHC) received recognition in Spring 2018. The purpose of the LUNPHC is to foster cooperation and a positive and courteous discourse among its member organizations, focusing on matters of mutual concern, working collaboratively to improve the community and support academic excellence.

LUNPHC serves as the umbrella organization to the following Pan-Hellenic organizations:

Other organizations that belong to the National Pan-Hellenic Council but do not currently have a chapter at Lander University include:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

If you are interested in organizations that do not have a chapter at Lander? Contact Student Life to find out more information about the possibilities of joining one of these organizations!

National Panhellenic Council

The National Panhellenic Council (NPC) is a nationally recognized group that is part of a campus network spanning more than 260 college campuses across the United States and Canada.

Lander's College Panhellenic Council (CPC)helps with recruitment, judicial policies and procedures, as well as provides educational and social events. The organization also sponsors the annual Mr. Lander Pageant. In the spring of 2016, Lander Panhellenic Council pledged to support the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation through philanthropic activities. The Lander College Panhellenic Council (CPC) is the governing body of Lander’s three National Panhellenic Council (NPC) women’s fraternities and sororities.

Resources

Resources

Event Planning

Tucker Hipps Transparency Act

The Tucker Hipps Transparency Act is named after Tucker Hipps, a 19 year old Clemson University Sigma Phi Epsilon pledge who was found dead after an early morning run with his pledge class in the fall of 2014.

Tucker's family believed his death was a hazing incident and became strong advocates for accountability. The Tucker Hipps Transparency Act was signed into law on June 9, 2016.

>> Lander University's Tucker Hipps Transparency Act Information

Tower of Excellence

The purpose of the Lander Tower of Excellence Program is to establish standards to ensure that every fraternal organization at Lander University is fully committed to providing the highest quality student experience for each of its members, with particular emphasis on academic achievement and campus involvement as defined by each organization.

Lander University believes this program will form a basic standard for all fraternal organizations and assist in supporting each organization’s development. The Lander Tower of Excellence Program will provide a framework for self-assessment, individual and group accountability, greater achievement of organizational goals, and the development of programs and practices that will lead to substantial enrichment of the fraternity and sorority experience. This program recognizes and rewards those organizations that consistently exceed expectations as well as provides guidance and support to those organizations that fail to meet the expectations of the University and the Greek Community.

Greek Alumni

Lander University Greek life alumni aspire to set high standards for their collegiate members while also still investing in their organization. Our Alumni join us for several events throughout the year including Homecoming, Family Weekend, and the Holiday Tree Lighting. It is refreshing to see alumni come back to campus and bond with chapter members and share their collegiate memories.

Alumni are encouraged to stay in touch with chapters but if you would like to get back in touch with an organization, please contact the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life. If you are a new Greenwood resident but would like to get involved or volunteer, please contact the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life.

FAQ

Going Greek @ Lander? You may have some questions—and we have the answers.

At Lander University, students may join a fraternity or sorority beginning with their first semester of their first year. Students must be considered full-time and enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours. Some Greek organizations have a minimum amount of credits required for membership consideration not allowing them to join until their 12+ credits are complete.

Lander University requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 to be a member of any student organization. However, Greek organizations usually have a higher GPA requirement to remain an active member. First-time students must have a 2.5 high school GPA. All members of Greek organizations agree to release their grades in order to hold organizations and members accountable to this standard.

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC, CPC or often referred to as the Lander College Panhellenic Council) is an umbrella organization that governs 26 all-women’s organizations. National Pan-Hellenic Council (also known as the Divine Nine) governs nine historically African American fraternities and sororities. The North American Inter-fraternity Conference (NIC) represents 70 men’s fraternities. Individuals of all races, cultures and backgrounds are welcome to join an organization under any governing organization.

The best way to find out more information about joining an NPHC organization is speaking with the current members. They hold informational meetings that will provide you with all the information on the organizations’ history, traditions, and the process of becoming a member. Information/Interest meeting notifications are often sent to your Lander email account. These meetings take place on campus but do not occur every semester. Current NPHC organizations are Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. If you are interested in starting a NPHC organization that is not currently at Lander, contact the director of fraternity and sorority life.

Having a reference or being a legacy to an organization does not guarantee someone membership in an organization. It may provide an organization another perspective of an individuals character, however it does not directly impact the decision of inviting that person to join a specific organization.

The NPC, NPHC, NIC, and any organizations they govern do not condone hazing in any form. Each organization has banned hazing in all of their chapters and has policies stating so. Lander University also has a policy against hazing that can be found in the Student Code of Conduct Article III, section 2.e. Each Greek organization participates in National Hazing Prevention Week educational programs every September.

If you have concerns about hazing, you should speak with the director of fraternity and sorority life, located in the Office of Campus Engagement. Hazing can also be reported anonymously at 1-888-NOT-HAZE (1-888-668-4293).

Yes! It is never to late to join a Greek organization, because membership does not end at graduation. Membership in a fraternity and sorority is for your entire life and has many benefits that you can choose to take advantage, even after you graduate.

All Greek organizations are welcoming of student-athletes. You may find it beneficial to speak with your coach about managing your time between all of your commitments. It is also important to inform the organization about the obligations you have as being a student-athlete so they can work with you and make arrangements for any events you might miss due to your participation on your team.

Everyone is different when it comes to time management. You might talk to some Greek students on campus to find out the time commitment required for each chapter. Many students are able to manage organization responsibilities, jobs or internships, academics and involvement in other campus organizations. Each organization has academic standards that members must meet in order to remain active within the chapter. This standard varies from chapter to chapter but is at least the required 2.0 GPA that is required to be involved in any student organization at Lander University.

See the Greek Grade Reports to see chapter GPAs and academic rankings.

Greek Grade Report (PDF)

Being in a Greek organization does require a payment of dues. The money is used to fund the operations, social events and programming for the chapter. It also allows the inter/national organization to continue to provide resources and support for the chapter. The cost of membership varies for each organization and can change each semester.

Once you’ve accepted a bid to an organization, the new member process is designed to make sure you are ready to make a life-long commitment to that organization. If before initiation you decide that you are not ready for the commitment, you can break your pledge from the organization. If you would like to participate in recruitment again, you can do so at the next primary recruitment period (usually one academic year).

If you truly think that the organization to which you received a bid is the wrong group for you, you should make that decision before you are initiated. Once you are initiated into an organization, you are ineligible for membership in any other Greek organization for the rest of your life. Going through initiation is a way to show that you a ready for a life-long commitment to your organization.