Social Fraternities

• Philosophy and Expectations of Fraternities
  
• Beta Theta Pi
  
• Kappa Alpha
  
• Kappa Sigma
  
• Lambda Chi Alpha
  
• Phi Gamma Delta
  
• Sigma Alpha Epsilon
  
• Sigma Chi
  
• Sigma Nu
  
• Theta Chi
  

 

Fraternities have existed at Hampden-Sydney for over 150 years, and today about 37% of all students are active members. There are nine social fraternities at Hampden-Sydney with national affiliation. In order of their establishment at the College, these are Beta Theta Pi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Gamma Delta, Sigma Chi, Kappa Sigma, Kappa Alpha, Theta Chi, Sigma Nu, and Lambda Chi Alpha.

A social-professional fraternity, Alpha Chi Sigma, for students interested in chemistry, was founded in 1971. Phi Alpha Delta, Pre-Law, professional fraternity was reinstated in the spring of 2008.

The social fraternity system at Hampden- Sydney is governed by the Interfraternity Council, which is responsible for coordinating fraternity activities and upholding the IFC Statutes.

Every new student interested in joining a fraternity should read the IFC Statutes in the Key with special attention to Article X, Membership, part of which is quoted below:

"Section 1. Fraternities are an important component of the social life at H-SC for many students. In order to introduce new students to the H-SC fraternity system, an Introduction to Fraternities is held during orientation. Following that meeting, new students may sign up for Fraternity Rush (see Article X, Section 1). No freshmen are permitted at fraternity houses or on Fraternity Circle during the week (Sunday through Thursday) until after the Introduction to Fraternities meeting. Until the official opening of Formal Rush no freshmen are permitted to attend weeknight parties on or off campus.

Any fraternity which allows freshmen in the house before the Introduction to Fraternities meeting, or otherwise violates this statute, will be subject to sanctions by the Interfraternity Council's Judiciary Committee and the Dean of Students Office. Any freshman who violates this statute will be subject to sanctions by the student justice system.

Section 2. Each fraternity may hold two registered, formal rush events during the course of the first semester. These events are scheduled by the IFC. A fraternity may petition the Dean of Students Office to hold one additional rush event.

Smokers will be held during the first full week of the second semester. These are also scheduled by the IFC.

A student must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 in order to accept a bid to join a fraternity.

Section 3. After Smokers and continuing throughout the academic year, a fraternity may extend bids to any full-time Hampden-Sydney student who is not a member or a pledge of another social fraternity or of Alpha Chi Sigma. There may be no dual pledging or membership in a social fraternity and Alpha Chi Sigma. A man may pledge a fraternity at any time after Smokers, so long as doing so is in accordance with any and all Dean of Students Office policies."

Academic Responsibilities
Fraternities are responsible for establishing both an environment conducive to the academic success of its members and pledges and the expectation that members and pledges succeed scholastically. Sanctions will be placed against both fraternities and pledges who fail to meet the academic standards outlined in Article X-Membership Criteria of the Interfraternity Council Constitution.

Fall 2010 Fraternity Grade Report

Fraternity	Total Men	Spring Pledges	Term GPA (Brothers)	Term GPA (Pledges)	Term GPA (Average)
Sigma Chi	21	5	3.100	2.640	3.006
Phi Gamma Delta	30	2	3.005	2.771	2.987
Lamda Chi Alpha	30	1	n/a	n/a	2.959
Sigma Alpha Epsilon	28	3	2.938	2.817	2.926
Beta Theta Pi	37	7	2.982	2.586	2.911
All Greek	406	41	2.911	2.647	2.902
Sigma Nu	34	2	2.925	2.378	2.890
Theta Chi	28	4	2.964	2.430	2.886
All IFC	281	34	2.911	2.647	2.880
Kappa Alpha	39	2	2.848	2.770	2.844
All Men's	1063	-	-	-	2.831
Kappa Sigma	20	5	2.783	2.913	2.815
Non-Greek	740	-	-	-	2.794
Pi Kappa Alpha	14	3	2.240	2.494	2.297

 *The all-Greek figures include Alpha Chi Sigma, the all IFC figures do not (Alpha Chi Sigma is a professional fraternity).
**Non-Greek figures indicate the average GPA of all students not affiliated with fraternities on campus.