Fraternity and Sorority FAQs

Q. What are the qualifications of joining a fraternity or sorority at Rider University?
A. The University requires that all potential new members have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and have passed 12 Rider credit hours. Some chapters have additional standards of membership and it is important that you ask each one what they are - they may include higher GPA requirements, community service hours, leadership involvement, etc.

Q. How and when can I join a fraternity or sorority at Rider University?
A. You can join a fraternity at any time during your time at Rider as long as you meet the requirements – you do not have to be a first or second year student! Recruitment takes place throughout the year and includes information sessions, open houses, and individual chapter events. There is also a Formal Membership Recruitment period for sororities that takes place at the start of the spring semester - there will be many opportunities to sign up for that process starting in January!

Q. How do I determine which chapter I want to join?
A. Listen to your intuition. Avoid taking “advice” from friends and ignore rumors. The goal of the potential member is to determine where he/she personally feels the most comfortable and which chapter is the best “fit.”

Q. How do the chapters extend invitations to membership?
A. Every chapter has their own system for distributing invitations. The goal for the chapter is to find men and women who will be happy and contribute to their organization. They will look to their standards, values, and rituals to make their decisions. The majority of bids will be distributed prior to or on Bid Day each semester (usually at the end of the fifth full week of classes).

Q. Will my grades suffer if I join a fraternity or sorority?
A. One of your main focuses at Rider is your academics. Each chapter has GPA requirements that apply to both incoming and active members. The chapters have scholarship programs and can help find you academic assistance if you need it. It's up to you to be motivated and to balance your workload.

Q. What fees are involved?
A. Joining a fraternity or sorority is a financial investment.  Fraternities and sororities charge dues to all members in order to cover their operating and activity expenses. The dues are broken down into two main categories: National Dues and Local dues. The National Dues are paid to the national sponsoring organization and cover things such as liability insurance, conference fees, badges and pin fees, etc. The Local dues are paid directly to the chapter and cover the day to day operations of the organization – events, materials, t-shirts, recruitment activities, manuals, etc.

Q. How much time does it take to be involved with a fraternity or sorority?
A. Generally, you will get out of a chapter what you put into it. If you are as excited as most, you will have no trouble participating fully and attending all events and the rewards will be ten-fold. There are many circumstances when you may choose to take a less active role for a short time and most chapters allow for this flexibility if it is needed.

Q. Do I have to live in the house if I join?
A. Yes (unless you are a commuter). If you are a resident student and the chapter you join has a house or floor with vacant spots, you are required to room select in that house. In order to make room for our large incoming freshman classes and to accommodate the increasing number of upperclassmen who are living on campus, we must do our part to make the campus a comfortable place to live.