Just like any other organization, membership in a sorority does have commitments. However, sorority members work, participate in clubs and activities. It is expected that sorority members will participate in certain chapter activities, meet financial obligations, and in some cases, assist with minimal duties within the chapter. Each organization, at minimum, has one weekly chapter meeting lasting on average an hour a week. Other commitments each semester include participating in chapter-hosted philanthropy events, educational programs, attending chapter events and activities, and community service hours. The time commitment varies based on what you put in and what you choose to partake in. However, on average you can expect to commit about 5-10 hours per week. If you choose to become involved in other activities within your chapter, such as intramurals or a leadership position, you can expect to commit more time per week and per month.

Panhellenic refers to the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) which governs our 14 residential sororities. These chapters are women-only organizations and each have a physical chapter facility on Greek Row. There are 26 NPC sororities, 14 of which are at WSU.

Pan-Hellenic refers to the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). NPHC is a collaborative organization of nine historically African American, international Greek fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC organizations are referred to as the “Divine Nine.” We have two active NPHC organization on our campus.

MGC is our Multicultural Greek Council, which is made up of 14 organizations, including sororities, fraternities, an Aztec brotherhood, and 2 NPHC organizations. These organizations are culturally-based and provide a unique Greek experience!

IFC (Interfraternity Council) makes up the 20+ Men’s Fraternities at WSU.  

For more information, visit www.gogreek.wsu.edu.

Yes! You can join as many academic and professional clubs or organizations as you would like. You may only join one Greek organization (not counting academic honor societies) but you may join other clubs on campus. Many women in Panhellenic sororities are members of other Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), hold internships, have jobs, or participate in research on campus. All sororities appreciate having very involved members.

Each new member is paired with an upper class member in the first half of the year. You will likely have a process of meeting several upper class women before being paired with your Big. Sorority bigs are women (traditionally in the member class directly above the new member class) that mentor and support their new member or little. Big/Little reveal occurs when the new members find out who their mentor (Big) is.

WSU takes hazing and hazing prevention very seriously. We follow Sam's Law and encourage all groups to participate in healthy activities that foster connection and community without intimidation or fear.

Sam's Law requires all public colleges and universities in the state of Washington to establish a hazing prevention committee to increase transparency about hazing education and intervention (see below). It also increases the penalties for hazing: under Sam's Law, hazing is a gross misdemeanor instead of a lower-level misdemeanor, and incidents involving death or “substantial bodily harm” could be charged as a felonies.

The law is named after Sam Martinez, a first-year WSU student who died in a hazing-related incident in 2019. For more information about Sam's Law, visit the Washington State Legislature website.

If you do feel uncomfortable at any time or feel you or someone you know may be experiencing hazing, there are many resources you can report to including the Panhellenic Council, the Fraternity and Sorority Life Staff, and The Center for Community Standards (Student Conduct office). If hazing is reported, it is very taken seriously by our council, Washington State University, and the sorority’s national organization. All new members and initiated members also receive hazing prevention programmings each year. 

The WSU Panhellenic Council is in full support of Sam’s Law and stands firmly against hazing.

More information on Sam’s Law here.

Membership in a sorority is for a lifetime so even if you graduate early, you will still be a member, but with alumna status. Once you graduate, you will no longer attend chapter meetings or events with the undergraduate chapter but can be involved with an alumnae group. This includes nursing and other non Pullman based programs.  

On WSU’s campus, the majority of members movie into the chapter facility sophomore (or second) year. Each organization has their own requirements for living in, so be sure to ask what these requirements look like for each sorority you are interested in.

This depends on the specific sorority, although in the majority of cases most women live in the chapter facility for two years.

The best way to know if your financial aid will cover sorority costs is to inquire with the Financial Aid Office at Washington State University. They will be able to answer your specific questions about if the aid you receive can be used to pay for housing or dues. Find out more by visiting: www.financialaid.wsu.edu. 

A sleeping porch is a large room inside a chapter house that contains bunk beds for approximately 10 to 60 women. Not every chapter at WSU has a sleeping porch, but many do. This varies between chapters, and some chapters may even have multiple sleeping porches. While a member’s bed may be on a sleeping porch, most have another room, known as a “day room” where they would keep their belongings and have a closet, desk, and dresser.

If you have specific questions or have other disability accommodation needs please feel free to contact us at pan.recruitment@wsu.edu.

The Student Accommodations and Disability Resources department is a great resource for any student with questions about disability accommodations: https://www.accesscenter.wsu.edu/

Each chapter’s chef or catering company works to accommodate members who have food preferences or allergies. You will need to communicate your dietary needs with your chapter's chef when you join the chapter or move in so that they know and are able to accommodate your specific needs.