Joining

The first step in figuring out how to join, is to figure out which council you are interested in joining. We recommend first taking time to learn about our three governing student bodies. 

College Panhellenic Council (CPC) | If you are interested in joining a CPC organization, please fill out the general FSL interest form. Registration for 2024 formal recruitment will open in late spring. For more information about CPC, visit the CPC website. 

Interfraternity Council (IFC) | If you are interested in joining an IFC organization, please fill out the general FSL interest form. For more information about IFC, visit the IFC website. 

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) | You must complete at least 12 Southern Miss credit hours before you are eligible for membership in any NPHC organization. Interested members must attend the NPHC Informational at the beginning of any semester in order to be eligible to join within that calendar year. To learn more about the NPHC intake process, visit the NPHC website. 

It is important to note that the cost of membership varies chapter by chapter. Semesterly dues are determined by individual organizations, in consultation with their inter/national umbrella organization. These are updated ranges for the 2023 - 2024 academic year:

College Panhellenic Council (CPC)

• First semester dues: $300 - $800
• Subsequent semester dues: $500 - $700

Interfraternity Council (IFC)

• Semester dues: $450 - $800

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)

• Initial membership dues: $1,000 - $3,000
• Annual dues: $100 - $300

We believe that membership in fraternities and sororities offers the opportunity to make a large campus feel a little smaller. Membership in one of our organizations will help connect a student to new opportunities and new friends. Membership can create a sense of belonging and community. Fraternities and sororities consistently earn higher GPAs than their unaffiliated undergraduate counterparts. One of the most special parts of membership is the ability to make connections that will last a lifetime. Fraternity and sorority members often remain active university alumni and contribute to campus from their first day on campus until long after they graduate!

You may worry that the extra social events and responsibilities of being in a chapter may take away time devoted to academics. Being a member is a time commitment, but one of the core values of membership is scholastic excellence. All fraternities and sororities require a minimum grade point average that members must maintain to join and remain a member. Organizations often offer access to academic resources and provide accountability for their members. The fraternity and sorority community values the importance of a quality education and academic excellence is a priority. Fraternity and Sorority Life chapter grade reports can be found here. 

Fraternity and Sorority Life supports the Southern Miss Anti-Hazing Policy. Chapter members and leaders engage in annual anti-hazing education through the University and their inter/national organizations. Members are encouraged to contribute to our community of high ideals and report any behavior antithetical to those ideals.

Like members of other student organizations, some may choose to consume alcohol. Also like members of other student organizations, some choose not to drink. Fraternities and sororities at Southern Miss are supported by both their inter/national organizations and the University to ensure they are making safe, responsible, and legal decisions pertaining to alcohol use. Fraternity and sorority membership offers an added layer of support in decision-making throughout college to which many unaffiliated students don't have.

The University of Southern Mississippi values an inclusive community that embraces the diversity of people and ideas, a campus culture characterized by warmth and mutually-supportive connections among students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

The Southern Miss Anti-Discrimination Policy states that "all persons have equal access to educational, programmatic and employment opportunities without regard to age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, gender identity, genetic information, religion, race, color, national origin, and/or veteran status pursuant to applicable state and federal law." 

Fraternity and Sorority Life is committed to supporting those institutional values. Many chapters and councils offer programming that encourages the exploration of individual identities and the ways in which people interact with each other. Although individual chapters ultimately have the right to control their membership, they are supported in their efforts to be inclusive, welcoming organizations.