Fraternity & Sorority Involvement
209B University Center
The University of Montana
Missoula, MT 59812
Phone: 406-243-2005
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We, the members of Greek organizations at The University of Montana, commit ourselves to the high ideals and principles of our national men’s or women’s fraternities. We dedicate our Greek experience to the virtues of diligence, brotherly/sisterly love, unity, loyalty, truth, honor, friendship, knowledge, service, morality, excellence, mutual respect and dignity. Our purpose is not to consider ourselves better than other students, but to better ourselves by incorporating the ideals of our rituals and creeds into our daily lives.
We acknowledge the central role of The University of Montana and its mission. Our actions and activities will complement The University’s mission to provide “high quality and diverse educational opportunities and service to the people of Montana.” The University acknowledges the important role that men’s and women’s fraternities play in the development of students and the achievement of its mission. The University further acknowledges that participation in Greek life can be a valuable and rewarding experience for students.
Therefore, The University of Montana, the Vice President for Student Affairs, chapter leaders and alumni, and the national men’s and women’s organizations, establish this document to define the supportive relationship they enjoy.
The Greek community at The University of Montana was founded on the principles of scholarship, friendship, and human service—principles at the foundation of The University’s educational philosophy. Greek organizations, like all organizations that are part of or connected to The University of Montana, share and must maintain the same values and expectations The University has for itself.
The University serves as the host institution to Greek organizations by inviting national fraternal organizations to establish chapters on campus. Chapters or colonies of national fraternal organizations and the Order of Omega, a national Greek honor society, are recognized student groups of The University of Montana with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities thereof. The University and the men's and women's fraternities recognize that a cooperative relationship exists between them. They share the following expectations:
The University of Montana, men’s and women’s fraternal chapters, and members and alumni of Greek organizations have specific obligations to each other as listed below.
The primary objective of the relationship between The University of Montana and its men’s and women’s fraternities is responsible self governance. The elected officers of each organization are responsible for the interpretation and enforcement of chapter policy and standards, University policies, and the laws of Montana. Chapter advisors, national headquarters, and the Greek Life Advisor provide advice and assistance.
Each chapter must recognize its responsibility in the development of standards of group behavior and must accept the duty to discipline those members or associates who deviate from the standards.
The role and authority of Panhellenic Council (PHC) and Interfraternity Council (IFC), as defined by national policy, is acknowledged and respected. IFC and PHC serve as communication and coordinating entities for issues involving both men's and women's fraternities in the following ways:
Recognizing that academics is the chief purpose for enrollment at The University of Montana, academic achievement is given the highest chapter priority in Greek Life. A wholesome environment that is conducive to good study habits and intellectual efforts is to be provided by each chapter.
The University of Montana expects all men's and women's fraternities to adhere to the academic requirements of their respective national organizations. Further, the goal of each chapter is to maintain a cumulative grade point average at or above the all-University undergraduate grade point average.
Realizing that past preparedness is essential to assume the responsibilities of brotherhood and sisterhood, only those individuals who meet the academic requirements of their national organization shall be initiated. All national organization academic requirements are kept on file in the Office of Greek Life for reference. Any change in a national organization academic policy must be submitted immediately to the Greek Life Advisor for filing.
Individual chapters are responsible for providing an academic program to assist pledges and initiates who fail to meet minimum University GPA standards. In addition, The University of Montana offers information on academic services available to all fraternity and sorority scholarship chairpersons through the Undergraduate Advising Center. All sorority and fraternity members on academic probation should be in direct contact with the academic assistance programs located in the Undergraduate Advising Center. When a member or new member is below the chapter or University-required GPA, he/she will be referred to his/her academic advisor or major department by his/her house scholarship chairperson.
The PHC, IFC, and Office of Greek Life should establish additional academic rewards, honors, and recognition for individuals and chapters whose accomplishments merit special attention.
Allowing consumption of alcoholic beverages at any Greek chapter function or location in violation of the Agreement can result in severe penalties being imposed on the chapter, including cancellation of all chapter rights, privileges and recognition on The University of Montana Campus.
All possession, use, and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages on The University of Montana campus, in Greek chapter houses, on the premises of any chapter, or at any entertainment or function of any chapter, must conform with national chapter policies and guidelines, The University of Montana’s alcohol policies and guidelines, and all applicable state, county and city statutes. Violations are subject to the Judicial Board Process and/or University penalties. The Judicial Board will not adjudicate any violations of national policies, except if the violation is also contrary to UM's policies and/or the provisions outlined in this document.
IFC and PHC at The University of Montana unanimously approve the following policy regarding the consumption of alcohol in men’s and women’s fraternity houses:
There will be no consumption of alcohol in common living areas of residences. Common living areas are understood to be any part of the house or property not being used specifically for sleeping quarters. Residents and their guests of legal drinking age may store and/or consume alcohol in the privacy of their rooms. All federal, state and local laws will be observed. Violation of the above is grounds for action under this policy.
This policy is a minimum requirement for the fraternity and sorority community. Chapters and national organizations are free to have more stringent regulations. The Judicial Board will adjudicate violations of this policy only, not national or local guidelines.
The IFC, PHC, and the Office of Greek Life agree to the following exceptions to this policy:
At events of no more than 2 hours, neither a third-party vendor nor a currently licensed Montana law enforcement officer is required. At events of more than two hours, both a licensed third-party vendor and at least one currently licensed Montana law enforcement officer are required. Written notice identifying the licensed third-party vendor, a copy of the third-party vendor agreement, a copy of the security agreement, a transportation plan, and a risk reduction plan must be submitted five business days in advance of the event; otherwise, authorization for the event will be revoked.
Neither a third-party vendor nor a law enforcement officer is required at events where wine or beer only are being served at a sit-down dinner. A written notice of this function and a risk reduction plan must still be submitted to the Greek Life Advisor thirty days prior to the event.
Should a third-party vendor not be available during Homecoming, and every reasonable effort to hire one has been made (including contacting University Catering), at least two currently licensed Montana law enforcement officers are required at the function.
To evaluate if chapters are meeting the mission and expectations defined above, the Office of Greek Life will meet annually with national and local representatives of the fraternities to discuss and review the prior year’s activities and plans for the coming year. The fraternity officers will advise the Office of Greek Life of chapter progress, problems encountered, and operational efforts.
The chapter evaluation is designed to provide the Office of Greek Life with information on chapter progress, to identify ways the Greek Life Advisor can assist a chapter, to gather statistical data on the Greek community, and to help determine the recipients of Greek awards. Working with IFC and PHC, the Office of Greek Life will develop an evaluation document that will be shared with the national office, the alumni advisors, and the chapter presidents. Chapter officers will complete this document by a time specified by the Office of Greek Life. Failure to do so will disqualify the chapter from receiving awards. Copies of completed documents will be sent to national offices or shared with traveling consultants. The Greek Life Advisor will submit comments to the national office on the report, if necessary.
Following the annual review, the Greek Life Advisor and the Vice President for Student Affairs will confer. Fraternities who do not make progress toward the criteria listed above, who show consistently poor academic standing (meaning below The University’s undergraduate average), who have demonstrated poor intra Greek participation or relations, or who fail to submit a complete and thorough report by the time established by the Office of Greek Life, will be placed on conditional warning for the following year.
The Greek Life Advisor will inform the chapter president, alumni, and the chapter’s national office of areas of concern and suggest improvements. Conditional warning is confidential and will not impede any activity. A satisfactory review the following year will remove the conditional warning.
An unsatisfactory review the following year (based on the aforementioned criteria), or failure to submit a report by the specified time, will result in the chapter being placed on probation for one year.
Probation is not confidential. The Greek Life Advisor will inform the chapter president, alumni, and the chapter’s national office of areas of concern and suggest improvements. Presidents of chapters on probation must meet with the Greek Life Advisor once a semester and show that problem areas are being addressed and improvements are being made. Failure to do so will be reported to the national office and noted for the next review. The Greek Life Advisor will offer suggestions, resources, and assistance for the chapter’s improvement.
A satisfactory review the following year will either remove the probation and place the chapter back in good standing, or remove the probation and continue the chapter’s conditional warning status.
Following a year of probation, should the chapter again show no improvement (based on the aforementioned criteria) or fail to submit a report by the specified time, the Greek Life Advisor may recommend to the Vice President for Student Affairs continued probation or withdrawal of recognition as an invited Greek organization at The University of Montana. The Vice President for Student Affairs presents recommendations to the President of The University. Withdrawal of recognition would preclude participation in recruitment and the ability to benefit from financial or staff resources provided by The University.
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Members of Greek organizations must accept the responsibility of being citizens within the Missoula community and adhere to community and neighborhood norms, as well as all local, state and federal statutes. They must also be respectful of fellow Greek chapter property, privacy, and security. Behavior damaging to property, privacy, and security is grounds for Judicial Board adjudication.
Members need to be aware of neighborhood parking restrictions, the adverse consequences of disruptive behavior, improper language and dress, and the importance of maintaining well-groomed chapter houses and grounds that are acceptable to neighborhood norms.
Respecting the rights and privileges of the neighbors precludes loud and raucous behavior and the use of amplified sound. All activities must be acceptable to the neighborhood environment.
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Employment is another condition for which students may be released from the residency requirements. Students employed in the Greek houses in a job that (1) pays a significant portion of their room and board costs and other living fees (50% or more) and (2) requires the student to reside at the house, may request release from the residency requirement. These student releases will be permitted only at the end of a semester for employment during subsequent semesters. The student granted a release must follow the normal withdrawal procedures when checking out of the residence halls.
Each individual chapter house may have a maximum of two student positions released per academic year. If an approved student employee is not able to continue in his/her position, the chapter house may request another student release to fill the vacancy. The former student employee will become subject to the residency requirement at the time of his/her termination of employment.
No chapter, colony, student or alumni shall conduct or condone hazing activities. Hazing activities are defined as any action taken or situation created, whether on or off fraternity premises, to intentionally produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include, but are not limited to:
Any alleged case of hazing will be investigated and adjudicated by the fraternity's national organization and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs in conjunction with the Office of Greek Life. The Vice President for Student Affairs may refer certain hazing matters to the Judicial Board at his/her discretion.
Any alleged case of hazing will be investigated and adjudicated by the fraternity's national organization and the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs in conjunction with the Office of Greek Life. The Vice President for Student Affairs may refer certain hazing matters to the Judicial Board at his/her discretion.
In keeping with trends of national men's and women's fraternities, The University of Montana Greek community discourages the creation of auxiliary groups to men's fraternities (little sisters) and women's fraternities (little brothers). This statement is in keeping with the recommendations made by the National Panhellenic Conference and its member groups, the Fraternity Executives Association and its member groups, and the National Interfraternity Conference and its member groups.
All Greek facilities must comply with local, state, and federal codes and guidelines. The University of Montana can assist in these areas through consultation and advisement; however, local house corporations are responsible for providing safe and healthful living facilities, appropriate inspections, and written reports.
Health and safety practices are essential for each fraternal group. The number of guests present in a chapter house at any one time cannot exceed local fire codes. Chapter houses should be inspected each spring by the Fire Marshall and the appropriate city or county officials. Written reports from these inspections should be sent to individual house corporations, each active chapter, and The University of Montana Office of Greek Life. A chapter will have until the end of the fall semester, following the preceding spring inspection report, to correct major code violations such as health and fire safety issues.
Alcohol risk management strategies established by each chapter's national office, the Office of Greek Life, and by The University of Montana must be followed to reduce the risk of an alcohol-related injury or death.
Men's and women's fraternities should obtain property and liability insurance to protect their organization and members. Chapters are prohibited from knowingly housing sexual offenders. Chapters may not have as houseguests, individuals who have been expelled from The University of Montana for academic or disciplinary reasons.
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The recruitment guidelines of the National Interfraternity Conference and the National Panhellenic Conference shall be applied to their respective chapters at The University of Montana.
The Office of Enrollment Services will assist each chapter with mail contact information for prospective students. Information provided during Greek recruitment activities must be accurate and compatible with The University’s mission. The Office of Greek Life must approve PHC, IFC, and individual chapter recruitment plans.
Formal, organized recruitment does not end until the prospective new members are offered a bid into a chapter. All recruitment events must exclude the use of alcohol. Violations of these provisions will be adjudicated by IFC or PHC respectively.
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The University of Montana does not condone or tolerate any form of ethnic, racial, or sexual abuse. This includes physical, mental, or emotional behaviors of students and student organizations. These actions include, but are not limited to, date rape, gang rape, verbal harassment, and competitive games that are destructive or abusive.
Promotional or marketing programs must avoid demeaning sexual, discriminatory, or homophobic portrayals of individuals. Activities should promote self-worth, human dignity, and a positive Greek image.
The Greek community will not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation or gender, while maintaining the single-sex status of men’s and women’s fraternities.
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Men's and women's fraternities are under the jurisdiction of the Missoula City Police Department. The city police serve as the first responder. The University’s Office of Public Safety provides back-up on all security visits to fraternities.
University police officers are advised to prepare a desk report including details of the incident. This and a copy of the city report (if available) will be given to the Vice President for Student Affairs for consideration during the annual chapter evaluation and performance review or for immediate review if conditions in the report indicate such a need.
The Campus Security Act of 1990 defines campus to include "any building or property owned or controlled by student organizations recognized by the institution." The law requires the University to report: (1) incidents of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft and other crimes required by law; and (2) arrests or referral for disciplinary action for liquor law violations, drug abuse violations, and weapons possessions. Consequently, the University will report and take appropriate action through this Relationship Agreement and/or criminal justice system on these incidents and arrests occurring in Greek houses.
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