for parents
Greek Life – An Opportunity Awaits There are some exciting opportunities that are available to your son or daughter on campus. Membership in clubs and organizations can be one of the best collegiate experiences a student can have. Membership in a fraternity or sorority is one of the options available to students at J&W.
As a parent, you may have concerns and questions about what fraternity and sorority life is about and whether it is the right choice for your student.
The Positives The positive attributes of fraternity and sorority membership can be significant for many students. Greek membership offers students outstanding opportunities to create special, life long friendships, develop leadership skills, participate in community service activities, and apply classroom learning to real experiences within an organization. Greek members feel a greater connection to their University and build strong relationships with alumni and network with other fraternity and sorority members across the country. Many of today’s corporate, political, social, and religious leaders are alumni members of fraternities and sororities.
The Concerns While there are many reasons to join a fraternity or sorority on campus, parents and students alike have concerns about how membership will affect academics and if the stigma they see on TV truly plays out on campus. A student should be able to effectively manage their time commitments while they are in the initial stages of joining any organization, fraternities and sororities included. There are fees and responsibilities associated with membership but these should never become overwhelming to the student or interfere with their academic schedule or other commitments such as work, other campus organizations, or home life.
While there are many stories of hazing and alcohol abuse in the news, Johnson & Wales University does it’s best to educate and address any negative issues associated with students joining an organization. Hazing is illegal and not tolerated by the university. We address any concerns that are brought forward and feel very strongly that hazing has no place in the fraternities and sororities on our campus. When your son or daughter talks about their sorority or fraternity they should be having an educational and enjoyable experience that allows them to meet new people, make new friends, and have a fun time.
Groups at J&W Johnson & Wales University currently offers membership opportunities in seventeen (17) fraternities and sororities. All of these organizations are inter/nationally affiliated organizations with chapters all over the country and a national headquarters that offers support, advice and direction through a paid professional staff and regional volunteers. In addition, the University provides a professional staff member who serves as the Greek Advisor and oversees operations within the Greek community and all the organizations on campus.
At J&W, students must wait until at least their second trimester to participate in the recruitment process for fraternities and sororities. In addition, a student must have achieved at least a minimum GPA of 2.25 and be enrolled full-time at the Providence Campus to be eligible for membership.
Recognized groups currently on campus:
Sororities
Alpha Sigma Tau
Delta Sigma Theta
Phi Sigma Sigma
Sigma Delta Tau
Sigma Lambda Gamma
Sigma Lambda Upsilon
Fraternities/Social Fellowships Alpha Chi Rho Colony Delta Sigma Phi
Sigma Alpha Mu
Sigma Pi
Tau Epsilon Phi
Tau Kappa Epsilon Sigma Lambda Beta
Kappa Alpha Psi
Phi Beta Sigma
Groove Phi Groove
Unrecognized Groups For a number of reasons, over the years some organizations have lost their recognition or never received recognition from the university to be a fraternity or sorority at J&W. Although that is the case, some groups continue to operate on our campus as unrecognized fraternities and sororities. The university has no oversight or control of these groups and in most cases they are not receiving support from their governing organization as well. We strongly encourage you to be aware of these organizations and to encourage your son or daughter to not consider membership in these organizations. If you don’t see their name above, they are not a recognized or official group on campus.
As a parent, you are undoubtedly concerned about your son or daughter’s college experience and the choices he or she will make. Knowing basic information regarding Greek membership should help you feel educated about this unique and exciting opportunity.
If you have additional questions or would like more information regarding Greek Life, feel free to contact Tanya McGinn Paolo , Director of Student Activities, 401-598-2833
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