Fraternity & Sorority Life

Belmont University is a Christ-centered, student-focused community, developing diverse leaders of purpose, character, wisdom and transformational mindset, eager and equipped to make the world a better place. Involvement in Belmont Fraternity and Sorority Life will provide students with opportunities to grow and develop in a values-based social environment.

Belmont University's Fraternity and Sorority Life Mission is to promote student development by providing opportunities for scholarship, community service, campus involvement and fraternal friendship by ensuring all members a high quality and safe undergraduate experience. Eligibility requirements are as follows:

• A cumulative GPA that meets the chapter's minimum requirements for membership
• A disciplinary record considered in good standing with the university (no violations resulting in probation, limited or institutional)
• Attend all formal recruitment events (NPC Organizations)

At the foundation of Belmont Fraternity and Sorority Life are our core Values; Knowledge, Responsibility, Unity, and Action. Every semester, our chapters execute and attend a multitude of events that align with each of our values, ensuring that these principles are truly engrained into the way our students interact with one another and the world around them.

Aside from the social benefits of joining a fraternity or sorority, our chapters work to make member experiences meaningful by including activities like study groups, fundraising, community service projects, wellness programs, and spiritual development into the culture of this student community.

On an annual basis, Belmont fraternities and sororities record charitable contributions of over $100,000 and log tens of thousands of community service hours throughout the Nashville and global communities. Our fraternities and sororities consistently achieve a cumulative grade point average that is higher than the "All Belmont" student average and the Non-FSL affiliated student average. Our fraternity and sorority members are involved in almost every academic major, club, or student organization and often hold a many of the student leadership roles on campus. Positions like Student Government officers, Orientation Council leaders, Towering Traditions leaders, Bruin Recruiters, Belmont Ambassadors, Spiritual Life Assistants, and Student Activities Programming Board Directors are regularly held by members of fraternities and sororities.

Four of our Sororities are members of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) umbrella group:

• Alpha Gamma Delta (AGD)
  National Website
• Alpha Sigma Tau (AST)
  Local Chapter Website
  National Website
• Kappa Alpha Theta (KAT)
  Local Chapter Website
  National Website
• Phi Mu (PM)
  Local Chapter Website
  National Website

Two of our Sororities and two of our fraternities are members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) umbrella organization:

• Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (AKA)
  Local Chapter Website
  National Website
• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (DST)
  Local Chapter Website
  National Website
• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
  National Website
• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
  National Website

Belmont is home to three Fraternities that are part of the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).

• Phi Kappa Tau (PKT)
  Local Chapter Website
  National Website
• Pi Kappa Phi (PKP)
  National Website
• Sigma Chi (SC)
  National Website

College Panhellenic associations are established on campuses where there are at least two National Panhellenic Conference chapters. Each chapter has a delegation that attends weekly Panhellenic Council meetings. Panhellenic Councils exist to develop and maintain sorority life and interfraternal relations. They take part in all-sorority programming efforts, promote superior scholarship and leadership development, and disseminate information important to sorority women in general. The Panhellenic Council is the coordinating body for all sorority recruiting events.

The Panhellenic Association is an elected body of active sorority members from Belmont. This board leads the Panhellenic Association in its efforts to create a culture of accountability and values congruence while providing programs and events for its member organizations. The Panhellenic Association is a chartered organization at Belmont and works to advocate, educate, and further the fraternal movement at Belmont.

The purpose of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is to foster cooperative actions of its members in dealing with matters of mutual concern. Each of the nine (9) NPHC organizations evolved during a period when African Americans were being denied essential rights and privileges afforded others. Racial isolation on predominantly white campuses and social barriers of class on all campuses created a need for African Americans to align themselves with other individuals sharing common goals and ideals.

The executive board for the National Pan-Hellenic Council is an elected body of active members from Belmont. The National Pan-Hellenic Council is a chartered organization at Belmont and works to advocate, educate, and further the fraternal movement at Belmont. Acting as a haven and outlet, which could foster brotherhood and sisterhood in the pursuit to bring about social change through the development of social programs that would create positive change for Blacks and the country. Today the need remains the same. The primary purpose and focus of NPHC member organizations remains community awareness and action through educational, economic, and cultural service activities.

Membership in a fraternity or sorority will provide a host of incredible opportunities for your student:

• Scholastic Support: Our fraternity and sorority members consistently excel in the classroom. Our most recent grade report noted that the “All FSL” GPA was higher than the All Student and Non-FSL affiliated student GPA.
• Emotional Support: Membership in any student organization will provide your student a place to feel “connected” to campus and to other students. Membership in fraternities and sororities provides this to students along with well-structured and supervised programs (brotherhood/sisterhood retreats, study groups, socials) that will help your student find a support system in this transitional time period.
• Skill Development: Fraternities and sororities teach students a myriad of leadership and life skills that they will use for the rest of their lives. Belmont believes in creating a “learning laboratory” for our students and fraternity and sorority life is no exception. Members in fraternities and sororities have the opportunity to learn and develop in the areas of: budgeting, public speaking, parliamentary procedure, risk management and assessment, communication, time management, graphic design, event planning, event management, report writing, conflict management and many others.

CONNECTION

At Belmont University, fraternities and sororities enable young men and women to establish strong friendships that last far beyond their college years. Affiliation provides members with an opportunity to interact with other students of all ages, backgrounds and interests. Members meet a diverse group of people within the fraternity and sorority community and other student organizations. Membership offers a network of support while students are making the transition to college life.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

The fraternity/sorority community makes academics a top priority knowing your student is at Belmont to get an education. Many chapters have an academic development program which enforces a strict academic policy that includes maintaining a respectable grade point average to participate in chapter activities. Further, each fraternity and sorority has its own scholarship program that will help your student succeed academically as well as learn to effectively manage their time away from classes. Scholarship programs can include study hours, mentors, support technology and/or study files.

LEADERSHIP

The fraternity/sorority community is strongly united and growing in numbers. On campus, fraternity/sorority members have proven themselves as empowered, strong campus leaders. For example, fraternity and sorority members comprise a large percentage of campus leadership positions such as Student Government officers, Orientation Council leaders, Towering Traditions leaders, Bruin Recruiters, Belmont Ambassadors, Spiritual Life Assistants, and Student Activities Programming Board Directors, and many others.

Because fraternity and sorority chapters are self-governing bodies in which the members take on the responsibilities of running the organization, fraternity and sorority life is a special living and learning environment. The hands-on experience of holding an office in the chapter helps members develop leadership, organization and communication skills. Chapters and members interact and make connections with other student organizations and departments on campus as a result.

Fraternity and sorority members learn the importance of dedication, working with others, responsibility and self-reliance. In addition, there are many leadership opportunities within the fraternity and sorority community apart from those within each chapter. Whether your student is a natural leader, wants to cultivate his/her skills or just wants to be involved, fraternity/sorority membership will help your student develop their unique, individual potential.

SERVICE

One of the most gratifying aspects of fraternity/sorority membership is the sense of satisfaction and pride that comes with involvement in philanthropy and community service. Belmont fraternity and sorority students raise tens of thousands of dollars and devote thousands of hours in hands-on service each year to a variety of projects that benefit people on a local and national level. Chapters regularly support national and local organizations such as: St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, Susan G. Komen, CASA, The Children’s Miracle Network, the Blood Water Mission, Habitat for Humanity, and many others.