Fraternity and Sorority Life Policies and Guidelines

1. All new members are required to have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA to join an organization. Those who do not are encouraged to work on their academics and then attempt to join at the time that they have achieved this GPA. Please note that some organizations have a higher GPA requirement than this standard.
2. A person who is not in good academic and disciplinary standing, or who is enrolled in a program designed to strengthen their academic progress and standing, may not partake in the new member education program until their status has changed for the better.
3. Only members who are in good academic and disciplinary standing may be involved in new member education activities.
4. All full-time students with less than a 2.5 cumulative GPA, will not be permitted to partake in the new member education program.
5. For Iona students to be eligible to take part in the recruitment and new member education process to join a fraternity or sorority, they must be enrolled on a full-time basis and be at least a second semester freshmen or a transfer student.
6. A fraternity or sorority must submit copies of their new member education syllabus to their moderator and to the Office of Student Development at least 3 weeks prior to the start of New Member Education, or by the specified deadline. The New Member Education process may not commence until the syllabus has been approved by the chapter adviser and the Office of Student Development. This educational program should clearly outline all of the activities planned for the new members.
7. All members of the organization who are currently active and have attended required trainings and development sessions should take part in the New Member Education process.
8. Alumni are not permitted to participate in the New Member Education process.
9. All new member education activities must take place on campus.
10. Regardless of age, alcohol use by new or active members has no place in the New Member Education process.
    • New members should not consume alcohol during the duration of the new member education process.
    • At no time, should activities involving new and active members include the presence of alcohol or individuals under the influence of alcohol. 
11. The approved New Member Education process must be adhered to.
12. All new member educators and new members must take part in new member education programs and workshops conducted by the Council for Greek Governance and the Office of Student Development. Workshops for each new member will be conducted during the new member education program. If a new member does not attend these sessions, they may not continue in the process and will be removed from their organization of choice. Any scheduling conflicts should be reported to CGG and OSD.
13. When a member of a fraternity or sorority has been found responsible for violations of any aspect of the Student Code of Conduct, policies and regulations for students and student clubs/organizations, guidelines for Fraternity and Sorority Life, or other rules and regulations of the University, the fraternity or sorority and/or its individual officers and/or members may be held responsible and sanctioned according to the University Code of Conduct.
14. All members, including new members, will become familiar with and follow the policies of the Council for Greek Governance, the Student Government Association (SGA) and the University as detailed in this Handbook. It is the responsibility of the organization to educate new members of their responsibilities to the organization and the University.
15. All members should be aware of, and adhere to, the relevant laws of the city of New Rochelle, the county of Westchester, the state of New York, and the government of the United States.
16. All members will learn the history of Iona University, the Fraternity and Sorority system, and their own fraternity or sorority.
17. Membership Statuses: There are varying levels of membership status and procedures for affiliation and disaffiliation with Greek-lettered organizations. Refer to the Fraternity and Sorority Handbook for additional information.

1. The Iona University Council for Greek Governance (CGG) believes that all brothers and sisters of a fraternity or sorority have important responsibilities to the students who intend on becoming a member of both local and national chapters. CGG provides a new member education program that is educational, comprehensive, progressive and constructive. The goal is to educate new members and new member educators to effectively carry out their responsibilities to Iona University.
2. The Council firmly believes that hazing has no place in Iona’s academic or social environment. “Hazing” is defined as any action taken or situation created, by one person alone or acting with others, intentionally, recklessly or otherwise, to produce mental or physical discomfort or injury, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule, as part of a person’s initiation or affiliation into a fraternity or sorority. Hazing is not permitted even if the person who is participating in the new member education process gives their consent.
3. All student organizations must adhere to all anti-hazing, Code of Conduct, local, state, and federal regulations.
4. Iona University has a zero tolerance policy in reference to hazing.
5. Alumni
   • Alumni may not participate in any New Member Education activity during the four weeks allotted for New Member Education.
   • Alumni may only attend approved on-campus events during Recruitment Week. Approval must be given by the Office of Student Development. A guest list will need to be provided to the Assistant Director of Student Development responsible for Fraternity and Sorority Life within the designated time frame allotted.
   • In the case that there is an event hosted by Student Development to celebrate the conclusion of the New Member Education process, which can occur on or after the set date of the last day of New Member Education, they may attend as long as the Assistant Director of Student Development responsible for fraternity and sorority life approves their attendance in accordance with college procedures.
   • There may be exceptions to this policy provided in writing from the AVP of Student Development. This may include but is not limited to Alumni representatives of national organizations working on behalf of their organization.
6. In the case that there is an event hosted by Student Development to celebrate the conclusion of the New Member Education process, which can occur on or after the set date of the last day of New Member Education, they may attend as long as the Assistant Director of Student Development responsible for fraternity and sorority life approves their attendance in accordance with college procedures.
7. There may be exceptions to this policy provided in writing from the AVP of Student Development. This may include but is not limited to Alumni representatives of national organizations working on behalf of their organization.

1. The Fraternity and Sorority community at Iona University strives for high academic scholarship. Each chapter should have a scholarship program to provide incentives, coordinate study hours, and to encourage members to achieve high academic goals.
2. All initiated members must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 cumulative GPA to be considered active in their organization. Members that do not meet the required GPA will be required to meet with the Assistant Director of Student Development responsible for Fraternity and Sorority Life to create an academic action plan. The academic action plan will require that these students go inactive to focus on academics. In addition, they will not be permitted to attend any meeting or activities associated with the organization until they meet and maintain the required GPA. Please note that some clubs/organizations may require higher GPA requirements.
3. The Office of Student Development will periodically review the grades in a confidential manner.
4. Upon request, the Office of Student Development is responsible for compiling and distributing grade reports to national headquarters, chapters, and advisers.
5. The expectation is that our members and new members will be academically honest at all times.
6. The Office of Student Development and Council for Greek Governance may publicly honor fraternities and sororities and their individual members who achieve academic honors and provide incentives for academic achievement.
7. Daily class attendance of all new and initiated members is required.
8. All new members are guaranteed a minimum of three hours of undisturbed study time a day during the new member education process in order to further their academic success.

1. Fraternities and sororities should offer a well-rounded social life, and provides the opportunity for developing lifelong friendships. Events should be structured to develop friendships among one’s own sisters and brothers, members of other chapters, and to fellow students outside of the Fraternity and Sorority community
2. Events should support and enhance the mission of Iona University, CGG and the individual organization’s mission.
3. It is expected that all members of Fraternity and Sorority Life come together to show respect for one another and work with other organizations.
4. New and active members will be encouraged to actively participate in other co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
5. New and active members will be encouraged to form friendships with members from other fraternities or sororities, as well as, members outside of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
6. Organizations are encouraged to co-sponsor one event per semester with another club, organization, or the Office of Student Development.

1. Service to the community is a founding principle and core value of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Community service and philanthropies provide opportunities for members of fraternities and sororities to participate in community and reflect on the values of a Christian Brothers education.
2. New and active members are encouraged to provide community service to the University and the New Rochelle community as part of their programming.
3. Members will be involved, engaged, and respectful citizens of the community.
4. Each organization is responsible for going above and beyond the requirements for community service.
5. Each organization should have at least one philanthropic organization of choice that will serve as its main focus for fundraising efforts for that academic year. In the case that the organization has a philanthropy required by their National Headquarters, this may serve as its main focus for fundraising efforts. Organizations are strongly encouraged to have more than one philanthropy.
6. All chapters have the responsibility to participate in the fundraising efforts of the designated philanthropy of the Council for Greek Governance.

1. A fraternity or sorority must consist of five Iona University active members in order to keep affiliated with the University. This will provide enough members to form a functioning Executive Board, which is essential to all organizations. These active members must be full-time undergraduate students who are in good academic and disciplinary standing.
2. Before the new member education process begins, a fraternity or sorority must be in good academic and disciplinary standing and in full compliance with the policies of the Student Government Association, the Council for Greek Governance, the Office of Student Development and the national office, if applicable.
3. A fraternity or sorority must have an adviser as outlined in this Handbook by the start of the fall semester. In the case that an adviser is not in place, the fraternity or sorority must have one prior to the start of the New Member Education process.
4. An adviser should be involved and made aware of all Chapter operations and updated on any and all news regarding the membership.
5. Each Chapter must maintain a current roster with the Office of Student Development, CGG, and SGA. Any changes to the roster must be reported to these three parties immediately.
6. Chapters must adhere to all financial policies outlined in this Handbook. Failure to do so will jeopardize the chapter’s ability to receive funding from the University.

1. Brotherhood and sisterhood are the foundations of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
2. Any action taken within an organization should be in the best interest of the entire Brotherhood/Sisterhood.
3. Fraternity and Sorority membership is a lifetime association. Alumni should be an important aspect of a Chapters motivation to succeed and for building strong relationships.

1. Executive Boards must meet attendance requirements for all leadership development conferences/seminars hosted by the Office of Student Development.
2. Leaders in National fraternities and sororities are highly encouraged to attend conferences hosted by their National headquarters or professional organizations.
3. Leaders in local fraternities and sororities are highly encouraged to attend local Greek leadership conferences hosted by professional organizations.
4. Students who are on the Executive Board of their respective organization should not take on another leadership role in another organization without the expressed consent of the Office of Student Development, their adviser, and organization president.
5. It is encouraged that all members of the Executive Board host a planning retreat prior to the start of the academic year in order to discuss goals and action plans for the upcoming year.
6. All members of the Executive Board must complete a transition binder at the end of their term and submit it to the Office of Student Development. In addition, each organization should submit an end of year report to the Office of Student Development (OSD) and the Student Government Association (SGA).

1. Refer to the Fraternity and Sorority Handbook, emails, and CGG minutes for additional information, policies, and procedures.
2. Please know that violations of the Iona University Fraternity and Sorority Life Policies and Guidelines will be considered a violation of the University’s Code of Conduct and may possibly be a violation of New York State Law, and other laws.
3. Failure to uphold College policies and expectations may result in individual and organizational sanctions.

Iona University has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on hazing.

Iona University policies and procedures in reference to our strong stance on hazing may be found in the University Code of Conduct (CC) including but not limited to:

• Any kind of harassment or physical abuse of another person. (CC 9)
• Threatening or attempting to inflict physical injury, or creating substantial risk of such injury to any person. (CC 11)
• Participating in any activity in connection with initiation into/or affiliation with an organization which recklessly or intentionally endangers mental or physical health or involves the forced consumption of controlled substances. (CC 12)
• Violating the other policies and rules of initiation into/or affiliation with a recognized student organization or athletic team. This procedure is detailed in this Handbook and adopted by the Council for Greek Governance and Student Government Association. Violation of this policy may also constitute a violation of New York State law. (CC 13)

Anti-Hazing Policy

Iona University opposes all forms of hazing. From a legal perspective, hazing is a crime. From an individual student’s perspective, hazing damages the self-esteem of the targets of the hazing.

From an organizational perspective, hazing degrades the values of the organization. From a campus community perspective, hazing creates an environment of disrespect that contradicts the values of our community. For all of these reasons, the University takes a strong position against any and all forms of hazing. It is important to note that the University’s anti-hazing policy applies to every student and all student organizations.

Hazing in the first degree: §120.16
A person is guilty of hazing in the first degree when, in the course of another person’s initiation into or affiliation with any organization, they intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury.

Hazing in the first degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

Hazing in the second degree: §120.17
A person is guilty of hazing in the second degree when, in the course of another person’s initiation or affiliation with any organization, they intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person.

Hazing in the second degree is a violation.