Register for Fall Recruitment Here

There are 26 recognized Fraternities within the IFC, each founded on a unique set of principles and values. Recruitment is a time where potential new members get the opportunity to meet members of each of these chapters in order to identify where they believe they best fit. Throughout this rush period, which is typically about 2 weeks long, we encourage those interested in joining an IFC fraternity to interact with as many fraternities as possible in order to find the fraternity they want to join. In order to join a fraternity at UMD, there are several requirements: 12 credits, and at least a 2.5 GPA. While 2.5 is the minimum for the council, individual chapters might have a different GPA minimum, such as a 2.75. Be sure to ask every fraternity you speak with about their specific membership standards.

For anyone considering going through recruitment during the Fall 2018 semester, here are the things you need to know:

• It is in your best interest to attend  Meet the Greeks on Wednesday, August 29th. This will take place on McKeldin Mall from 6-8 PM where you will be given the opportunity to see our fraternities and get information about their upcoming rush events.
• Before participating in events, make sure you create an account on Campus Director  by Friday, August 31st or you will not be permitted to join any fraternity.
• Recruitment officially begins with Meet the IFC on Sunday, September 2nd from 12:30-4 pm at Jimenez Hall. All recognized Interfraternity Council member organizations on-campus will be present for this event. This is a mandatory event.
• In addition to chapter-specific events, every chapter will hold an open house at their facility, or other location if they do not have a chapter facility. These will be held on Wednesday, September 5th, and Thursday, September 6th.
• If a chapter wants to offer you an invitation to join their chapter, they can do so beginning on  September 12th. Bids must be returned and signed by Friday, September 14th.

We know that joining an organization can be confusing for both the student, as well as the parents, so we wanted to include some FAQs here to help everyone navigate this process.

1. How much does it cost to be in a fraternity?
   1. Each specific chapter sets their dues for each semester. However, it is nearly universal that dues are going to be higher during the semester that someone joins a fraternity, as there are often one-time new member dues. From that point forward, the cost per semester should stabilize.
2. If my student joins, do they have to live in a house?
   1. It is not a university requirement that members live in a chapter facility. Should your child join a chapter with a facility, that specific chapter may have stipulations about members living in the house. For any chapter with a recognized facility (found on our Chapters page), there is a full-time adult house director living in the house to support them men and the facility.
3. Will joining negatively impact my student’s GPA?
   1. One of the positive outcomes of being involved in a fraternity is the ability to manage schoolwork, relationships with other people, and the hard work and leadership that is central to the experience. To that end, we have seen over time that the all fraternity men’s average GPA is higher than that of all men at the University of Maryland.
4. What kind of support does the IFC receive from the university?
   1. The fraternity/sorority has a tremendous amount of support. Boasting a staff of 22 (the largest in North America), there is a dedicated team working to help steward the community towards action that aligns with our values. Our staff includes advisors to chapters and governing councils, a team dedicated to facility maintenance and growth, as well people working on special projects for the community, such as sustainability and Greek Alliance.