Getting Involved with Greek Life
Why Go Greek?
Greek-Letter Organizations promote high academic achievement.
Greek-Letter Organizations promote high academic achievement through activities such as study jams, academic mentors, workshops, networking, and alumni career advising.
Greek-Letter Organizations strengthen leadership skills.
Greek-Letter Organizations provide a variety of leadership opportunities through executive positions and committee roles as well as organizing fundraisers and leading service events.Some of our International/National Greek-Letter Organization also offer leadership summits and conferences.
Greek-Letter Organizations encourage service.
Greek-Letter Organizations support the Santa Cruz community through various service and philanthropic events which promote unity and develops responsibility, appreciation for differences, empathy, and other critical skills needed for future success.
But what about hazing?
Hazing is defined as any action taken which produces bodily harm or danger, mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, fright, or ridicule. Permission or approval does not make hazing acceptable, legal, or defensible. Once a common tradition, hazing has been banned by all national, local, and international fraternal organizations and institutions of higher education. The University of California, Santa Cruz strictly enforces this policy, and organizations found in violation are subject to immediate suspension of campus recognition.
If you are aware of hazing, please contact either the SOAR Staff at 831-459-2934 or Student Conduct at 831-459-1738 or conduct@ucsc.edu
Depending on your comfortability and level of concern, you can utilize the following options:
- SOAR Staff: 831-459-2934
- Student Conduct: 831-459-1738 or conduct@ucsc.edu
- Dean of Students: 831-459-4446
- UCSC Police Department Emergency Number: 911
- Santa Cruz Police Department: 831-420-5800
Academic requirements to join?
Many Greek-Letter Organizations have a Grade Point Average minimum to join and a GPA that each member has to maintain in order to remain active as a member. Additionally, both the Inter-Greek Council and College Panhellenic Council require all active Greek-Letter Organization members to maintain at least 2.0 GPA.
Membership costs?
Finances vary between Greek-Letter Organizations. Most groups will share specific financial requirements at an informational session or first meeting. It’s important to ask about new member period/initial costs vs. quarterly dues.
The time commitment to be a member?
The time commitment varies from Greek-Letter Organizations but the first quarter is the most time intensive as the new member goes through the Greek-Letter Organization education program. The time spent in this program will give you the opportunity to develop your leadership and time management skills, learn about the history of the organization, develop friendships, and allow you to become involved with other organizations. After the initiation into the Greek-Letter Organization, expectations will vary. Each Greek-Letter Organization has weekly meetings and other mandatory events (philanthropies, service, and initiation) throughout the year.
Greek housing?
Greek Life at UCSC does not sponsor or coordinate Greek Housing.
National Honor Societies that use Greek letters?
National honor societies acknowledge outstanding academic achievements, either broadly or in a particular discipline. National honor societies may also use greek letters, but they are not recognized as a Greek-Letter Organization.
What if I want to start a new Greek Letter Organization on campus?
Thank you for expressing interest in wanting to start a new Greek-Letter Organization on campus. For the current 2023 - 2024 academic year, there will be no expansion of new Greek-Letter Organizations. Please note, for some cultural Greek-Letter Organizations and Divine Nine Greek-Letter Organizations may require additional steps to complete for their respective inter/national headquarters. If you would like to meet with the Expansion Council to discuss your interest in expansion, please sign up on this Google Form.
What if I want to bring back a Greek-Letter Organization that was previously recognized by the campus?
Thank you for expressing interest in wanting to reactivate an inactive Greek-Letter Organization. To be considered as a candidate for reactivation, the Greek-Letter Organization must have been recognized by the Office of Records for Greek Life (SOAR) within the last 2 academic years (Fall to Spring). As of the 2023 - 2024 academic year, Delta Sigma Theta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi, and Zeta Phi Beta are eligible for reactivation on our campus. To review our Reactivation Policy, please click here for the PDF.
Slug Greek Excellence Program
SOMeCA is homebase for UCSC’s Registered Greek-Letter Organizations (GLOs). GLOs are student-initiated communities which reflect the diverse interests, cultures, and backgrounds of UCSC students. Student organizations provide creative environments for students to learn collaboration, agency, organization dynamics, integrity of purpose, relations with constituents, and self-understanding.
The purpose of the Slug Greek Excellence Program is to help chapters uphold the values by which they were founded by elevating the learning environments for their members and having a shared set of community values. Our community is built upon: Accountability, Agency, Compassion, Collectivity, Integrity and Mindfulness. These values are a shared set of how we innovate, inspire, and engage. Whether those involved are a student leader or a contributing member, these values are at the heart of your experiences here in SOMeCA.
In order to foster the positive growth and success of the GLO community at UCSC, chapters are expected to provide enrichment to the collegiate experience and the campus community. It is our hope that through participating in our excellence program, GLOs will be able to recognize and critically examine the strengths and areas of improvement for the organization, enhance the individual and chapter experience after feedback is received, create a GLO experience based on organizational and community values, and develop partnerships that will improve chapter functions.
For a full breakdown of the Slug Greek Excellence Program, please download this PDF.
Campus-Recognized Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act
The Campus-Recognized Sorority and Fraternity (FSL) Transparency Act was approved by Governor Newsom in September 2022 and took into effect as law January 1, 2023. The FSL Transparency Act requires each institution of higher education to include in the institution’s requirements for campus recognition of a campus-recognized sorority or fraternity, as defined, a requirement that the sorority or fraternity submit to the institution on or before July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, specified information concerning the sorority’s or fraternity’s members and their conduct. The FSL Transparency Act requires the institution to suspend the campus recognition of any campus-recognized sorority or fraternity that does not comply with the reporting requirements. The FSL Transparency Act requires each institution with sororities or fraternities to compile and maintain the collected information into a publicly accessible report posted, and archived, on each respective campus’ Greek Life internet homepage or its equivalent for a minimum of 10 years and sent through a campus-wide email to all enrolled students on or before October 1, 2023, and annually thereafter.
The information that each GLO is required to report has been integrated into the information that is collected for the Slug Greek Excellence Program.
For the full language of the FSL Transparency Act including the required information to report for each GLO, please visit this link.
Reports
2022 - 2023 Report
