by Kaitlin C. West, Coordinator for Fraternity & Sorority Life
Greek Life. Fraternity and Sorority Life. FSL. While there are various names and abbreviations for these groups, they all mean the same thing. At TCNJ, you will most commonly hear students refer to our community as “FSL”. About 25% of students are involved in a fraternity or sorority.
All student organizations, inclusive of fraternities and sororities, are housed within the Office of Student Life. We currently have over 240 recognized student organizations on campus, with 34 of those organizations being a fraternity or sorority! While each organization offers something unique, at their core, they share a common foundation built upon scholarship, academic excellence, service, and brother/sisterhood.
At TCNJ, we emphasize the importance of a values-based fraternal experience. Each fraternity and sorority has its own set of values and principles that their members should uphold. When thinking about which organization to join, we encourage students to think about their personal values and how they may connect to one of our groups on campus. We want students to join an organization that they feel proud of and are committed to espousing their values in their everyday lives.
It is important that as a parent you are informed about fraternities and sororities here at TCNJ so that you can support your student in making the decision that is best for them.
If your student is interested in joining a fraternity or sorority, here are some of the benefits to consider:
Academic Support
One of the lesser-known aspects of joining Greek Life is the academic support it can provide. To join, our policy states that students must have at least 3 TCNJ units completed (which is equivalent to 12 credits if they are transfer students), be enrolled full time in a degree-seeking program and have a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Many organizations even have higher GPA minimums according to their national requirements. Across the board you will find that organizations have study hours, alumni career mentors, create study groups for members with similar majors, and recognize their members who achieve academic honors.
There are even some fraternities and sororities on campus that have an academic or professional focus. We currently have 5 professional organizations under our advisement: two co-ed business fraternities, one women’s music sorority, one men’s music fraternity, and a co-ed engineering fraternity.
Academics are a top priority for students at TCNJ, and our members take academic excellence very seriously. The cumulative GPA for all fraternity and sorority members consistently falls higher than TCNJ’s cumulative GPA. In 2021, the All FSL Cumulative GPA was a 3.5 while the All TCNJ Cumulative GPA was a 3.45. In Spring 2022, 51% of our community were on the Dean’s List and almost 300 students earned a 4.0 GPA.
Educational Programming
Our office takes a proactive approach to ensure that students are well-informed and feel confident making healthy and safe decisions. We require all members to complete an online risk management module with our partner Plaid Tightrope. The goal of the program is to provide students with important background and context about real-life situations they may face in college. Tightrope offers modules that provide practical education on the topics of alcohol and other drug use, hazing, sexual violence, mental health, and inclusive excellence.
Designed as online modules, students navigate through the interactive courses to gain better knowledge and perspective about managing their risk and how they can make smarter and safer decisions. This series provides the education, skills, and tools necessary for students to successfully navigate the tightrope between a risky situation and an enlightening college experience.
Networking Connections
One of many benefits of joining a fraternity or sorority is that once a student becomes a member, they get connected with others! Our students not only build relationships within their chapter at TCNJ, but they also program with chapters at nearby institutions. Similarly, students also gain a strong connection to alumni. Many of our students have found mentorship, internships, and even job opportunities from networking within their organization.
Philanthropy and Community Service
Our organizations have a commitment to service and bettering the TCNJ community and beyond. In the 2021-2022 academic year, students volunteered over 19,000 hours of their time and raised over $165,000 to benefit over 30 local, regional, and national charities and organizations. Some of those organizations include the American Cancer Society, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, March of Dimes, Special Olympics, St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Meals on Wheels, Trenton and Ewing area schools, Distributing Dignity, and many more.
Leadership
Students have numerous opportunities to increase their leadership skills. Each organization allows students to participate on committees, be influential in decision making for the chapter, and serve in various elected leadership positions.
Our office also offers students various trainings and workshops to develop their skills and equip them with the knowledge and language to effectively articulate how their experiences can be translated to their resume, job search, and beyond. We also provide professional and personal opportunities for growth through attending various conferences. We always bring a group of students (covering most of their costs) so that they can get a new experience and bring what they learn back to their organization.
Lifelong Affiliation
“It’s not just four years, it’s for life.”
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits is that affiliation in an organization goes beyond a student’s four years on campus – we frequently have alumni who come back to support campus events and their organizations long after they graduate. The bonds that are made within our community last a lifetime.
Being involved in a fraternity or sorority has so many amazing benefits but can also be a challenge to navigate and understand. Our staff would love to speak with you or your student to answer any questions you may have about joining any of our groups.
Here are some additional links that you might find useful:
Learn more about each of our chapters:
https://involvement.tcnj.edu/greek-life-fact-sheet/
Learn more about the requirements to join an organization:
https://involvement.tcnj.edu/recruitment/
Contact our staff with any questions:
https://involvement.tcnj.edu/contact-us-2/
Follow us on social media to stay connected!
@tcnjgreeklife