Fraternity & Sorority Life

Social Programming Grants

Grants to host collaborative, non-alcohol social experiences between fraternities and sororities are available through Fraternity & Sorority Life. Past events have included apple picking, snow tubing, trampoline park, Six Flags/Great Escape,  bowling, laser tag/paintball, and more.

Unity Weekend

Unity Weekend is an annual event occurring in the spring that encourages fraternities and sororities to work together to exemplify the four core principles: friendship, scholarship, leadership and service. The week includes the annual A Day of Caring volunteer experience and culminates with the annual Fraternal Excellence Awards ceremony and reception.

Plattsburgh’s Got Talent

Open to All Students, Employees & Community Members

This annual competition highlights talent in the larger Plattsburgh Community. All proceeds are donated to a local cause such as the North Country Honor Flight, Interfaith Food Shelf and the Elmore SPCA. 

Awards Programming

Fraternal Excellence Awards Ceremony & Reception

This annual ceremony, held at the conclusion of Unity Weekend each spring, recognizes fraternities and sororities for their accomplishments in areas of friendship, scholarship, leadership and service. The Chapters of Excellence, along with other Fraternal Excellence Initiative award winners are announced.

Governance Council Officer Inauguration & Chapter Officer Recognition Ceremony

This ceremony is held at the end of each fall to inaugurate the new Inter-Sorority Association and Interfraternity Council executive boards and committee chairs and to recognize outgoing governance council and chapter officers for their outstanding service. Honors given during this ceremony are the Eric A. Murdie President of Excellence and the Council Officer of Excellence.

Pillars of Excellence Awards

Outstanding displays of friendship, scholarship, leadership and service are recognized throughout the year with the Pillar of Excellence Awards. Recipients are announced via Fraternity and Sorority Life social media. Suggestions for individuals or groups that should receive a Pillar of Excellence Award can be sent to [email protected].

National Hazing Prevention Week

National Hazing Prevention Week is held the last week of each September to educate the entire campus about the crime of hazing and how it destroys organizational trust and teamwork. Events include the Walter Dean Jennings Memorial Candlelight Vigil for Victims of Violence and other signature educational initiatives.

Learn more about SUNY Plattsburgh’s Anti-Hazing Program

Future Fraternal Leaders Seminar

Offered each semester, the Future Fraternal Leaders program was developed in 2003 for new initiates of fraternities and sororities (i.e., any member who joined an organization the previous semester is eligible to apply). Future Fraternal Leaders is a five- to eight-week leadership program that introduces future fraternity and sorority leaders to the basic concepts of values-driven leadership while teaching problem-solving strategies to create positive change.

Topics include:

• living your ritual values and action congruence
• dealing with difficult group members
• affecting change through meaningful conversations
• leaving a legacy

The program is developed by the director and leadership development coordinator for fraternity and sorority life and is facilitated by graduates of the seminar.

Organizational Leadership Programs

Training Day

This series of workshops is held at the beginning of the semester to provide training, advice, and suggestions for various chapter officers and chairpersons. These workshops are facilitated by the fraternity and sorority life staff.

Fraternity & Sorority Life Programming Grants

Funding is allocated to fraternity and sorority life annually by the Student Association which is then used for leadership programming grants to help fraternal organizations bring in lecturers and programs that are open to the campus.

Fraternal Summit on Harm and Risk Reduction

This Fraternal Summit is an annual harm and risk reduction program intended to help fraternity and sorority leaders understand the rationale behind risk management policies, to learn the “big four” policies regarding alcohol use and to set community wide goals and expectations about harm reduction. It is held each fall at the beginning of the academic year. Participation is a requirement of recognition for all fraternities and sororities.

Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Development Series

The Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development Series are workshops held throughout the semesters on topics of interest to members. Topics may include how to motivate members, leading with purpose, getting the organization out of financial debt, public relations, helping members in crisis, marketing your fraternity or sorority experience to employers, setting realistic goals, managing risk, dynamic recruitment, personal leadership skill development and more. A minimum of one workshop is held per month and facilitated by students, faculty, staff and alumni.

Auxiliary Groups

President’s Council

Presidents of fraternities and sororities gather together to discuss issues of common concern. 

Committee on Fraternal Affairs (COFA)

The Committee on Fraternal Affairs (COFA) is a standing committee established to advise the College President or his/her designee on any and all issues that relate to fraternity and sorority policy and recognition at SUNY Plattsburgh. COFA makes recommendations to the Inter-Sorority Association and Interfraternity Council. Upon a vote for a policy change by both councils, the change is recommended by the director of fraternity and sorority life and vice president for student affairs to the college president for approval. The committee also serves in an advisory capacity. More information on COFA can be found in the Fraternal Standards Manual.

Fraternity & Sorority Alternative Breaks

Alternative Spring Break — Pursglove, West Virginia

Beginning in 2004, 11 fraternity and sorority members have been selected annually to participate in the Alternative Spring Break trip to The Shack Neighborhood House in Pursglove, West Virginia. During each day of this week-long visit, students participate in community outreach activities that vary each year and have included making home renovations and repairs for the elderly or disabled, overhauling a deserted building into a coal-mining museum, and assisting The Shack with facility maintenance projects. Each afternoon, students assist with The Shack’s free after-school program that includes tutoring, crafts, snack break and playtime.

No More Cancer Rally

Open to All Students

The No More Cancer Rally is an annual student campaign to help raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a cutting edge research facility in Memphis, Tenn. The No More Cancer Rally is an effort to help St. Jude continue its revolutionary discoveries in curing catastrophic childhood diseases. 

Stop Campus Hazing Program