Membership Requirements and Regulations for Joining a Fraternity or Sorority at SUNY Plattsburgh

Regulations & Membership Requirements

First semester freshman cannot pledge, join, or accept any form of membership in a fraternity or sorority but are encouraged to explore the opportunities offered by the Fraternity/Sorority Community by attending recruitment functions. In order to be eligible to participate in recruitment, an individual must be a SUNY Plattsburgh student. In order to be eligible to pledge, join, or accept any form of membership in a fraternity or sorority, a student must have completed 12 credits at SUNY Plattsburgh and have a 2.3 cumulative GPA or higher. Failure to comply with this guideline is a violation of College Regulations and may result in suspension or dismissal from the College.

Exceptions to this rule follow:

1. Students who have signed contracts with the Student Support Services STAR Program or Educational Opportunity Program may not join until official written documentation is received from SSS or EOP.
2. Fraternities or sororities earning five-star status through the Chapter Accreditation Program will be granted the following special exceptions:
   1. Those five-star chapters whose new members GPAs stayed the same or improved the semester they pledged for two consecutive semesters and who have made their new member education programs public documents, will be permitted to pledge first semester freshmen and transfer students the following fall semester. Note: There are currently no fraternities or sororities that are eligible to pledge first semester freshmen.
   2. A waiver of the 2.3 GPA requirement is available to five-star chapters, pending approval from parents/guardians upon review of chapter statistical information.

In order to insure compliance with these policies, the Center for Fraternity/Sorority Life will monitor the eligibility of potential members and inform those who are not eligible to pledge, as well as inform their families and the appropriate fraternities and sororities.

SUNY Plattsburgh has a zero tolerance policy for ineligible membership:

1. Students who pledge, join, accept membership or affiliate in any way with a fraternity or sorority when they do not meet the minimum membership requirements are thereby in violation of College Regulations and are subject to judicial referral which may result in disciplinary action ranging from suspension to expulsion.
2. Furthermore, any member involved (including executive officers) will be held personally accountable and liable for sanctions, including suspension from SUNY Plattsburgh if found responsible for violations of college regulations related to ineligible membership (e.g. aiding and abetting, hazing, risk management violations, etc.).
3. College judicial charges will also be filed against the organization, which may result in disciplinary action ranging from suspension to withdrawal of recognition.

First-semester transfer students must complete an Application to Join a Fraternal Organization and permission must be granted in writing from a parent or guardian to the Center for Fraternity/Sorority Life before they will be permitted to join.

Statement on Unrecognized Groups

Repeated violations of College policies may result in a group losing recognition from the college, the international, and the respective governance councils because they have damaged the reputation of the Fraternity/Sorority Community, violated students' rights, and endangered their welfare. Students may not join these organizations.

Students who pledge, join, accept membership, or affiliate in any way with a former fraternity or sorority whose recognition has been withdrawn are thereby in violation of College Regulations and are subject to judicial referral which may result in disciplinary action ranging from suspension to expulsion. Students who assist in perpetuating these organization are subject to the same disciplinary action.

Contact Information

For more information about Fraternity/Sorority Life at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact:

Allison Swick-Duttine
Director of Fraternity/Sorority Life & Organization Development
Angell College Center 204
Phone: (518) 564-4825
E-mail: allison.swick@plattsburgh.edu