Policies (07-08)

Fraternity and Sorority Recognition at NYU Policy

The Office of Student Activities and the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff are dedicated to the continued growth and development of the NYU fraternity and sorority community. OSA-FSL staff serve to advise and enhance the NYU fraternity and sorority community by providing an atmosphere that embraces chapters and individual members throughout their undergraduate experience.

Recognized fraternities and sororities at NYU must abide by the policies and requirements of the Office of Student Activities, the Inter Greek Council, Student Activities Board, and respective governing councils; Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, and the Panhellenic Council.

OSA requirements:

  • Each chapter must provide an updated organizational roster to the OSA-FSL staff by the designated deadline, rosters are required at the beginning of both the Fall and Spring semesters
  • Chapters must provide OSA-FSL staff an updated proof of $1,000,000. liability insurance each year
  • Chapters must maintain at all times a minimum of 4 NYU undergraduate students
  • Chapters must fulfill all administrative duties/ information requests assigned by the Fraternity and Sorority Life staff
  • Chapters must maintain good standing with their respective governing board and the Inter Greek Council
  • All new member education programs are limited to 8 weeks, all new members must be initiated by the communicated deadline
  • Chapters must abide by the NYU Code of Conduct and New York State Law on Hazing. The office must have a signed Anti Hazing compliance on file for all new and initiated members.
  • Chapters living in special interest housing must abide by all NYU Residential Education and Housing policies.
  • All new members must attend Gateways, the new member education workshop held each semester
  • Chapter Presidents must attend the Fraternity and Sorority Life leadership retreat held each September
  • Chapters that wish to apply for ASSBAC funding must abide by all ASSBAC rules and requirements
  • Individual fraternity and sorority members must uphold the 4 pillars of fraternity and sorority life and strive to be role models within in the NYU community
  • Chapters residing in fraternity and sorority special interest housing provided by the University are recognized by OSA as "chapter houses" and shall be governed by all polices and procedures governing fraternities and sororities at NYU and individuals or groups living in special interest housing. The University does not recognize the residences of chapters not residing in NYU fraternity and sorority special interest housing.
  • Regarding the use of "New York University or NYU" in chapter names, chapters are not an official part of NYU and therefore "at NYU" and not "of NYU". Chapters may identify themselves as being the chapter at NYU (i.e. Alpha Alpha at NYU) but shall not identify themselves as the NYU chapter (i.e. NYU Alpha Alpha).

Starting a New Chapter at NYU

The Office of Student Activities defines new organizations as any Inter/National fraternity or sorority which applies to be a chapter in the NYU community, this applies to Inter/National organizations previously chartered at NYU who have lost recognition from OSA, IGC, or their respective governing board. New fraternities and sororities wishing to apply may not be a city-wide chapter and must be affiliated with a International/National organization. OSA supports the Inter Greek Council policy on expansion and will assist students in the process of recognition.