MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Joining a fraternity or sorority could prove to be the most rewarding decision that a student could make in their years at Stony Brook University. This recruitment process can be fun, exciting, and a tremendous learning experience for students, but any interested student must first realize that the manner in which fraternities and sororities recruit new members is clearly different from other student groups that exist on campus.

The limiting of membership through the establishment of high standards and appropriate guidelines, both academic and non-academic, is not necessarily a negative aspect. New member recruitment and intake, which is often referred to as rushing and pledging, forces interested students to work hard to attain the highest levels of academic and personal excellence. This process also pushes interested students to become involved in community service, cultural awareness, and educational projects throughout the campus and surrounding community. Despite these positive aspects the recruitment and intake process is a time when, in the past, abuses have occurred throughout the nation, and therefore it is necessary to establish a rush and pledge process that is:

  1. Sensitive to the traditions of the current chapters,
  2. Supportive of the scholastic pursuit of the students,
  3. Does not interfere with the lives of students not wishing to affiliate with Greek-lettered organizations,
  4. Does not interfere with the normal day-to-day operations of Stony Brook University,
  5. Allows students to make educated choices,
  6. Promotes objective, non-discriminatory selection,
  7. Promotes inter organizational cooperation and positive image of Fraternity and Sorority life,
  8. A positive experience for the rushee/pledgee.

The following guidelines, put forth by Stony Brook University, and the State of New York must be adhered to:

  1. All students interested in pledging must be full-time regularly enrolled student, must have at least a 2.0 Cumulative Grade Point Average, and must have earned a minimum of 24 credit hours. Credit hours must be accrued during matriculation at a college campus and cannot include Advanced Placement credits or other credits acquired prior to high school graduation. Please see the "Early Pledging Program" option for those who are considering joining prior to meeting the aforementioned minimum requirements.
  2. No pledge process or activities can begin until 2 weeks after the first day of classes and must end 4 weeks before the first day of final examinations. No person may be "held over" for initiation beyond the minimum of 4 weeks prior to final examinations.
  3. All interested students must participate in, and register at, one of the "Fraternity and Sorority Workshop for Prospective Members." These workshops are conducted by the Department of Student Activities and cover topics that may include: pros and cons of fraternity/sorority life, commitment required, presentations from each Stony Brook chapter, rights of the rushee/pledgee, explanation of the recruitment process, hazing, and where to turn if you feel that your rights are being violated. At the end of the workshop attendees will be asked to sign a statement verifying that they know their rights and responsibilities.
  4. The purpose of all RUSH/Recruitment and pledge programs shall be to develop leadership, character, and a knowledge of fraternity/sorority activities. Alcohol or drugs may not be part of the rush or pledge process in any way.
  5. An educational session on how to conduct a positive and effective membership recruitment and training program will be provided by the Department of Student Activities each semester for representatives from all chapters.
  6. Chapter rush and pledge plans must be submitted along with contact information for the chapter members(s) responsible for these activities. This information must be turned-in to the Fraternity/Sorority Program Coordinator each semester and must include a list of all activities, dates, times, and places.
  7. A roster of prospective new members must be submitted to the Department of Student Activities prior to an organization conducting any pledge activities.
  8. Rushees must be informed of financial and other obligations of membership prior to pledging.
  9. Pledges may withdraw from pledging at any time.
  10. Students may only pledge one organization at a time.
  11. The practice of influencing and harassing pledges from an organization by a member of another organization, commonly referred to as "cross-pledging," is prohibited.
  12. Organized pledge activities may begin after 10 a.m. and must end by 10 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday, by 12 a.m. Thursday, and may begin after 10 a.m. and must end by 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
  13. Cross-campus pledging can be defined in one of two ways:
    A. "a fraternity or sorority pledging individuals who are not registered students at the host college/university", or
    B. "students desiring to found a chapter of a national fraternity or sorority on a college/university campus where pledged by a person from outside the immediate boundaries of the respective campus."

    Any fraternity or sorority chapter that has students from another college/university as bona fide members present a situation that is inherently problematic. Questions relating to jurisdiction and liability arise when overall control is lost providing reason enough to prohibit college chapters from pledging students who are registered at different institutions.

    Any time a fraternity or sorority is interested in establishing an interest group, colony, or chapter at the Stony Brook campus, the founding student members of that colony may be pledged only by the appropriate and approved alumni chapter of that national organization. This must be done with prior written approval from the organization's national office or its designee.

    During the pledge period, all pledge activities are restricted to the Stony Brook University campus and must involve only students who are registered to the institution. However, in the interest of maintaining and promoting a highly positive, diversified, and well-rounded educational pledge experience off-campus activities involving cultural events, community service projects, and other educational opportunities should be allowed with mandatory prior written approval secured through the Department of Student Activities.

  14. Pledge activities shall not interfere with classes, academic activities/requirements, and/or work schedules. Those pledges whose class and work schedules conflict with scheduled pledge activities must be excused from those activities and/or those activities must be rescheduled for such a time when they do not interfere with a pledge's work and/or class schedule.
  15. Each pledge activity must be purposeful in keeping with the university's mission of education and human development.
  16. The university recognizes the following as legitimate purposes of pledging:
    A. To instill in the pledges the ideology, history, and ceremonies of the fraternity or sorority.
    B. To instruct pledges on their purpose and responsibility to the fraternity or sorority, to the University and to the community.
    C. To broaden the understanding between fraternity brothers/sorority sisters and the pledges, and to promote a sense of unity between members and pledges.
    D. To carry out activities of campus and civic value.
    E. To continue the tradition of fraternity and sorority membership as a matter of special pride and achievement as long as these traditions do not violate these or other University policies, or place the prospective member in physical or emotional jeopardy.
  17. Exceptions to these Membership Recruitment Policies will rarely be considered. Exceptions will only be considered under extreme extenuating circumstances and only when submitted in writing to the Department of Student Activities. Requests regarding deadline dates must be submitted at least 5 working days prior to the deadline date in question, or they will not be considered.

Early Pledging Program

Fraternities and sororities may apply to pledge individuals prior to their completing 24 credits. Applications for the “Early Pledging Program” must be made in writing to the Department of Student Activities prior to any individual beginning pledging. Applications must include the name, address, and phone number of all applicants.

Prospective candidates for this program must:

  1. Be a full-time, regularly enrolled student, have at least a 2.5 Accumulative Grade Point Average, and earned a minimum of 12 credit hours during matriculation at Stony Brook.
  2. Meet with an academic advisor at the Center for Academic Advising during the pledge period at least once.
  3. Participate in at least two pre-approved Academic Support and/or Personal Growth workshops during the pledge period.
  4. Meet with the Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life on a weekly basis throughout the pledge period.
  5. Submit a completed "Early Pledging Program Report Form" to the Department of Student Activities prior to gaining permission to be initiated.

Auxiliary Groups

Fraternities and sororities are expected to refrain from affiliation with any type of auxiliary organizations. An auxiliary organization is defined as one which does not have an independent existence and for which the primary purpose is to promote and support another, dominant organization.  Auxiliary groups are strictly prohibited from Stony Brook University!