Fraternities and sororities have been a part of the Cal State LA experience since 1948! We have over 25 fraternities and sororities on campus from which students experience relationships, community service, leadership development, networking, and personal growth. Our community includes organizations that are community service based, culturally focused, social, and everything between so there's a place for everyone in our growing community! See the pages below to learn more about our community, its members, opportunities, and events. Be sure to follow us on Instagram.
Fraternities and sororities provide an enriching student experience that helps individuals to grow and develop as students who have leadership and social skills, who prioritize their academics and service to community. Membership in a fraternity or sorority is life-long and provides connections long after graduation. Membership experiences focus around the following pillars of fraternity/sorority life
Friendship
The Greek Community provides a home-away-from-home environment you can proudly come back to after graduation. Being part of the Greek Community is a chance to be a part of something greater than yourself. You will also gain lifelong friendships, memories, and a strong sense of belonging.
Leadership
The Greek Community offers endless opportunities for developing leadership skills in its members. Members hold positions within their chapter, ranging from chapter president to committee chair. Today, it takes more than a college degree to be successful. Employers want college graduates who have demonstrated leadership abilities and aren’t afraid to get involved. The Greek Community is able to provide its members with these opportunities.
Philanthrophy and Service
Greeks take pride in community service and philanthropy. Each chapter has a foundation or charity they sponsor through philanthropic events. Sororities and fraternities sponsor a multitude of activities each year to impact the local community and raise money.
Scholarship
Fraternities and sororities strive for high scholarship and developing academic excellence among their chapter members. Fraternities and sororities offer time management, study skills, and other programming to help members be successful in the classroom.
Community reports are created to demonstrate academic, service, and philanthropic efforts of the Greek community.
Campus-Recognized Sorority And Fraternity Transparency Act - AB524
The Annual Campus-Recognized Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Report, which offers insights about recognized fraternities and sororities Cal State LA during the previous academic year, is now available. You can access the report here by clicking the button below.
This report is shared annually in October in compliance with Assembly Bill 524; Sections 66310-66312 of the California Education Code, which requires that institutions in California with fraternities and sororities compile and maintain details about each organization, including information about the organizations, their members, and their conduct.
Chapter Status
In an effort to be as transparent as possible with our community, the Center for Student Involvement has published the chapter status of each chapter chartered at California State University, Los Angeles.
University Status Key for FSl Groups
Good Standing: the organization is officially recognized by the university. These organizations have the privileges of using University facilities and equipment, holding meetings and programs on campus, recruiting members that will be recognized by the University, participating in University-sponsored activities and events, and other benefits outlined in the Cal State LA Student Organization Handbook.
Unrecognized: the organization is not in good standing and is no longer associated with the University, their HQs, or council. The organization and its members do not receive any support or advisement from the University. Unrecognized organizations may not participate in any university-sponsored activity and may not utilize any property owned, operated, leased, or managed by Cal State LA. The University has severed its relationship with these organizations due to significant and serious concerns over the health and safety of our students and university community, and the University would strongly discourage maintaining or seeking membership in these organizations.
Probation: places the organization on probation for a period of time during which the organization is expected to demonstrate exemplary compliance with University policies. Probation may include conditions that the organization must meet to be removed from probation. The probationary conditions may specify the sanctions to be imposed should the organization not comply with the term(s) of probation.
The CSI staff is available during the work week and can be seen on campus at night and weekends for meetings and programs to assist you in your fraternity and sorority experience. Please email us or stop by our office for more information.
Contact Us
Phone: 323-343-5113
Email: iprieto7@calstatela.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
Joining a fraternity or sorority is a lifelong commitment and an excellent investment for your child’s future. Our students are leaders on campus and are often heavily involved in community service and philanthropic projects. Fraternity and sorority members enjoy the friendship of their “brothers” and “sisters” for life. They are highly involved, academically committed, and well-rounded.
There are many benefits to being a member of a fraternity or sorority. Below is a list of how membership can shape your student’s college experience at Cal State LA.
- Offers a home-away-from-home environment.
- Enhances education that happens in the classroom through academic achievement and plans to support members as well as hold them accountable.
- Provides opportunities to give back to the surrounding community, help others and raise awareness to causes through hands-on service and philanthropic donations.
- Increases the student's involvement on campus and within the community.
- Provides leadership skills, activities and experiences that aren't available to non-affiliated students.
- Gives members an advantage of networking with distinguished alumni.
- Develop lifelong friendships, memories and a strong sense of accomplishment.
- Allow students to be part of something greater than themselves.
The number one goal for your student at Cal State LA, should be to graduate. Fraternities and sororities can help your student achieve this as long as they work hard and commit themselves to being successful in the classroom. Most Greek organizations not only have a minimum GPA requirement to join but also to remain a member. Typically, each individual chapter has an elected official who is responsible for keeping track of members and their academic performance. Furthermore, many fraternities and sororities have educational programs, such as tutoring and study sessions, which can assist the entire chapter in excelling academically. Most chapters also offer member scholarships. Since obtaining a degree is the main reason for attending college, our organizations are working to help all of their members be successful in the classroom.
Your student will have financial responsibilities when it comes to joining a fraternity or sorority. In most organizations, there is a one-time new member/initiation fee as well as semester membership dues. Depending on which organization your student wants to join will determine the amount of dues they will have to pay each semester. If your student is really interested in becoming a member of an organization, we suggest that you sit down with them and work out a college budget to determine whether or not joining a fraternity or sorority is within reason. The dues that are paid cover a wide range of areas to keep the organizations in existence. These dues are used to pay for community service and philanthropic projects, social events, parent and alumni events, insurance and national fees as well as general chapter expenses. We encourage students who are interested in joining to ask questions to clarify what is expected of them before they join.
At California State University, Los Angeles, your student’s safety is a top priority. The University forbids hazing and all other activities that interfere with the personal liberty of an individual. Hazing may include the actions that produce bodily harm or danger, mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, fright, or ridicule. Today, all fraternity and sorority policies strictly prohibit any type of hazing activity. And with the California Hazing Law (Penal Code 245.6) hazing can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. If you feel that your student may be participating in inappropriate activities associated with hazing, please call the Center for Student Involvement at (323) 343-5110.
Pledging is an outdated term used for the new member education process. This period of time usually lasts 6-10 weeks and is designed to educate new members on chapter/organizational operations, fraternity and sorority culture on campus and the values of the organization.
In addition to the numerous benefits during college, fraternities and sororities provide myriad opportunities to their members after graduation. Fraternities and sororities provide a strong network for your student locally, nationally and abroad for career development and advancement. Furthermore, the leadership and organizational skills members learn in college will be invaluable in their future careers, and the friends they make will surely last a lifetime.
On average, your student should expect to contribute a few hours per week for meetings and activities. If your student has the time and desire, they can also choose to participate in optional activities, such as holding an office, attending social events, helping out with various projects, etc. Some organizations require more time than others. Advise your child to ask questions regarding time commitments during their recruitment/intake process.
Philanthropic events are events in which fraternity and sorority members will raise money for a particular charitable cause. Many chapters hold events to raise money for campus-wide events and most have charities associated with their (inter)national headquarters.
At Cal State LA, Fraternity and Sorority Life is staffed by Ian Prieto, FSL Coordinator and supported by the Center for Student Involvement. In addition to the support provided by CSI, chapters also elect undergraduate chapter officers to run the day-to-day operations, have alumni advisors, and are responsible to report to a(n) (inter)national headquarters.