Everything you need for life outside the classroom
Joining a fraternity or sorority shows a commitment to scholarship and leadership and is an opportunity to serve the community at UB and beyond.
Fraternity & Sorority Life exists to provide a platform for leadership development, civic engagement, and philanthropic service as part of the academic and social advisement, and programming for the members of the University’s affiliated Greek-letter, social and fraternal organizations. Collaboration with other campus departments enhances the extracurricular experiences of this sector of the undergraduate student population.
We aim to serve as a resource for the University Community in regard to information and issues related to the UB Greek Community. Our vision is that the University at Buffalo will again have a vibrant Greek system: one that continues to excel academically and serves as the backbone for campus spirit.
As a member of Greek Life, you can have fun, be part of a community, and gain invaluable skills.
Visit our Parents and Family page to find more information about fraternities and sororities at the University at Buffalo.
You are only eligible to participate in new member education, intake or initiation if you meet specific academic requirements, including:
First-year students are not eligible for membership in a fraternity or sorority until they have earned 12 credits and have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA at UB.
There are a few different ways to join fraternities and sororities at UB depending on the chapter and semester. You can search UBLinked for information about each organization’s recruitment process and events. If you’re interested in joining a sorority during the spring semester, please sign up for formal sorority recruitment.
Our standard ways are outlined below, but if you have questions regarding a specific chapter, you can always reach out to them and see when their next recruitment process will take place.
Each semester, you can meet with fraternity or sorority members during a designated time period known as “recruitment.” These events provide an opportunity to learn about the Greek system, meet hundreds of people and consider joining a fraternity or sorority.
When the recruitment process is opened for recognized chapters, the Fraternity and Sorority Life page and associated chapter pages on UBLinked will be updated with information on how to register for recruitment.
At the end of recruitment, you may be invited to join (formerly known as “pledge”) a fraternity or sorority, oftentimes receiving a bid from an organization. During this time period, new members will attend activities and events to learn about their organization and Greek Life at UB. The length of the new member period is determined by each fraternity or sorority, but cannot exceed six weeks.
Students who drop from a pledging process may go through another recruitment process to join a different chapter, but must wait one year from the beginning of their initial recruitment process in order to do so.
The University at Buffalo has a zero-tolerance hazing policy. Find out more information on misconceptions about hazing, what hazing actually is, and how to report a hazing incident.
Once the pledging process has been completed and you are offered an invitation to officially join the fraternity or sorority, you can choose to accept it at this time. Students may not enroll in any other social fraternities or sororities once they are officially enrolled in one.
Panhellenic Sorority Formal Recruitment will occur in February during the spring 2025 semester. If you are interested in participating, check out our UBLinked page for more information.
The following organizations are the Greek-lettered, social Fraternities and Sororities that are recognized and in good standing with the University at Buffalo.
| Recognized Fraternities | Recognized Sororities |
|---|---|
| Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. | Alpha Gamma Delta |
| Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. | Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. |
| Lambda Chi Alpha | alpha Kappa Delta Phi |
| Lambda Phi Epsilon | Alpha Sigma Tau |
| Nu Alpha Phi Fraternity | Delta Phi Epsilon |
| Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. | Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. |
| Phi Iota Alpha | Phi Sigma Rho |
| Pi Delta Psi | Phi Sigma Sigma |
| Sigma Delta Tau | |
| Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. | |
| Sigma Psi Zeta |
| Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. |
There are groups of University students that wrongfully attempt to function and are not recognized by the University. To avoid disciplinary action we discourage you from affiliating with these organizations.
| Chapter Name | What They Call Themselves | Year Removed |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Epsilon Phi (sorority) | A-E-Phi | 2009 |
| Alpha Phi | Alpha Phi | 2021 |
| Alpha Tau Omega | ATO | 2002 |
| Delta Delta (sorority) | Delta Delta | 2009 |
| Kappa Sigma | Kappa Sig | 1997 |
| Phi Delta Theta | Phi Delt | 1998 |
| Sigma Alpha Mu | Sammies | 1995, 2001 |
| Delta Xi Omega & Alpha Sigma Alpha (sorority) | Zeta Phi | 2012 |
UB strongly warns against affiliation with these groups due to their histories of misconduct. It puts students at risk for suspension and or expulsion from the University if they are involved in policy violations. The University at Buffalo does not advise nor control the actions of these off-campus groups. Typically, the instances of hazing are high for these groups as well. University policy mandates a permanent transcript notation for students who are found to be responsible for hazing incidents that involve the injury of another person.
These groups have been advised by the University and their former national headquarters to cease all operations. This includes recruitment, education, induction of new members, and sponsoring and/or participation in on- or off-campus programs. Failure to abide by these conditions on campus will subject students to on-campus judicial proceedings. All activities are subject to litigation by legitimate national organizations.
As a student, if you are recruited by or have questions about unrecognized student groups, please contact Fraternity and Sorority Life.
UB has numerous guidelines and policies related to fraternities and sororities. You can find these guidelines and policies on the Student Life website.
2020: new membership requirement, Hazing Prevention 101 Course.
Fraternity and Sorority Life does not provide advisement and coordination for the Greek-lettered academic fraternal organizations and honor societies. Please consult with your academic department for available information.
Fraternity and Sorority Life
Student Engagement
Student Life
University at Buffalo
150 Student Union, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Phone: (716) 645-6469