Registration and Criteria for Greek-Lettered Organizations

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life staff has developed the following criteria for initial and continued registration of a student organization under the category of social sororities and fraternities at Mississippi State University to gain and/or maintain status as social sororities and fraternities on the campus of Mississippi State University, a student organization must complete the requirements listed below.

The organization must complete all forms and submit all documentation for student organization registration as required by the Center for Student Activities and as described in the Operating Policy: 91.200: Student and Other University Organizations. The organization should observe all deadlines and requests; therefore, submitting all materials in a timely and complete manner.

The organization must have recognition as a colony or chapter in good standing of an inter/national social fraternity or sorority as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service under the provisions of Section 86.14 of the regulations promulgated under Title IX of the U.S. Education Act Amendments of 1972. Mississippi State University will not register a local organization as a social sororities and fraternities. In order to be established or re-established as a Mississippi State University social fraternity or sorority, the inter/national organization, its staff and alumni/ae, and/or the student organization will submit for consideration relevant materials in a format deemed a. appropriate by the Dean of Students staff which addresses the following items:

inter/national support to the organization and its chapters in general
documentation from the Department of Education or the Internal Revenue Service stating status as a social fraternity or sorority
Advisor within the vicinity of Starkville
chapters located at college campuses in Mississippi or surrounding states
students, faculty, and/or staff interested in establishing/supporting the organization
relevant policies related to risk management (alcohol and drugs, hazing, sexual abuse and harassment, and fire, health and safety), scholarship, member education
previous affiliation with Mississippi State University (if applicable)
information about the support and staffing provided by the inter/national headquarters for colony development

other items as requested by the Dean of Students or Office of Fraternity or Sorority Life.

In support of the relationship with the colony or chapter, the inter/national fraternity/sorority should demonstrate to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life their ongoing communication and support to the group throughout their tenure at Mississippi State University.

All chapters and colonies will respect the commitment to self- governance through active participation in the Fraternity and Sorority community. Each representative council will define the minimum requirements of a member organization to be considered in good standing within the council.

Active membership in a social fraternity or sorority is limited to current students of Mississippi State University, Starkville campus. Candidates for membership must be enrolled full-time at Mississippi State University campus time of joining the organization.

The appropriate organizational officers must maintain accurate records with and follow established University policies in order to maintain registration as a student organization. Please find a full listing of these policies and procedures at the end of this manual and at www.policies.msstate.edu.

The chapter or colony must maintain open lines of communication with the staff of the Fraternity and Sorority Life office through accurate completion and timely submission of established reports. The delineation of established reports of the Fraternity and Sorority Life office includes:

chapter goals
membership roster
officer information
new member information
academic information release
membership recruitment time periods and events
summer/winter break officer information
financial information
semester chapter calendar
parking information (if applicable)
student organization re-registration

The chapter or colony should submit and update these records as the need arises throughout the semester. Additionally, any changes to inter/national policies should be submitted to the Fraternity and Sorority Life office. The Fraternity and Sorority Life office staff will produce a schedule to reflect all due dates referenced in this criteria.

All organizations must provide education to their members about hazing prevention. Education shall be done annually for all members and include knowledge of OP 91.208 – Hazing.

Chapter presidents are required to attend the Fraternity and Sorority Life presidents’ retreat session at which they will learn about university policies and the requirements of the Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Any organization entering into or currently in a group housing arrangement on- campus must:

maintain the chapter facility per the Operating Policy: 91.205: Greek Student Organizations-On-Campus Residential Housing
have their facilities reviewed by the state Fire Marshal.

For compliance with the above-defined policies, all social fraternities and sororities will receive the following privileges:

educational and programming resources available through the Fraternity and Sorority Life office
support of professional staff of the Fraternity and Sorority Life office
assistance with chapter recruitment efforts
assistance with chapter academics
statistical and informational reports relative to scholarship, finances, membership, and other operational areas
ability to lease property (when available) for group living experience

The completion of all above-defined criteria does not guarantee approval of the registration of the student organization under the category of social sorority or fraternity. The Dean of Students and Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will consider all submitted materials and supporting documentation in his/her decision for granting registration privileges. In the decision to grant registration privileges, the Dean of Students and Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will consider the health of the existing fraternity/sorority community and the needs of the university

If granted registration as a social fraternity or sorority, failure to comply with any of the above-defined policies will result in an evaluation meeting between the chapter president and the appropriate Fraternity and Sorority Life staff. Resultant actions could include a probationary period to rectify the situation, alternate provisions to complete the guideline, or recommendation to the Dean of Students for removal of registration privileges for a definitive time period. Listed actions do not include all possible sanctions. The final decision for non- compliance sanctions rest with the Dean of Students.