Eastern has nine Panhellenic sororities, six National Pan-Hellenic Council fraternities and sororities and 10 Interfraternity Council fraternities.  In order from them to have become an official chapter, there are certain things the students of the organization had to do to become official.

Dean Harwood, director of fraternity and sorority programs, said there is a lot students need to do in order to become an official Greek organization at Eastern.

He said official registration as a student organization will be done by Eastern’s Student Senate and other governing council, in a process managed by the Student Life Office which is a process all student organization have to go through to become official.

New Greek organizations are developed when the average size of the current chapters reaches a point where the number of members could support another chapter he said.

“Fraternities and sororities must complete the student organization online process every year,” Harwood said.  “There are a few things they must have, the two important ones being that they must designate one member as the ‘chapter president’ and have a minimum of 10 current EIU students who are required to complete the online registration process.”

He said like any other Registered Student Organization, they must have a faculty or staff member serve as an adviser.

“As indicated in our policies for fraternities and sororities, the key is to have support and approval from a sponsoring national fraternity or sorority,” Harwood said.

“The next step is to have a large enough interest group of potential members. The fraternities and sororities in each council have different ways of deciding to support a new chapter and join a community.”

He said the chapter must submit a current Constitution or Bylaw.  If the chapter falls below 10 students as active members and it continues to meet the requirements to remain active with it inter or national organization, they will have three academic semesters to return the membership to 10 or more.

“If they do not reach the number needed to return, the chapter will lose recognition and registration privileges,” Harwood said.

He said the chapter must provide a copy of the organization’s anti-hazing policies along with certification of distribution and review of Eastern’s Anti-Hazing Policy.

“Students a part of the organization are required to maintain membership in one of the established campus umbrella councils: Panhellenic Association, IFC or NPHC,” Harwood said.

He said each fraternity or sorority must be formally affiliated with an inter or national fraternity or sorority.

They must be incorporated, operate under the provisions of Title IX of the Educational Amendments and IRS Code Title 26, which permits the organization to exclusively admit men or women and provide a current certificate of liability insurance with a minimum of $1 million coverage.

“They have to have a designated chapter advisor, approved and appointed by the (inter)national organization,” Harwood said.  “Each Greek organization seeking registration must be in good standing with its inter or national organization.”

The process of being chartered by their national organizations can take anywhere from a couple of months to two or three years he said.

Stephanie White can be reached at 581-2812 or at  sewhite2@eiu.edu.