The Importance of Greeks
Chancellor Choi Highlights Importance of Greeks at 2024 State of the University Address
Dr. Mun Choi praised the important role that Mizzou’s fraternities and sororities have on the community and in helping students achieve their highest potential during his 2024 State of the University address on September 25, 2024, at Jesse Auditorium. He highlighted the work of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Interfraternity Council and signaled his desire to increase the approximately 7300 students that participate in Greek life. Click on the link to watch this two minute segment of his presentation.
Fraternities Improve Mental Health, Academic Performance and Alma Mater Loyalty
New research assembled by the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) proves that fraternities foster positive mental health, serve as a success accelerator for students, and engender tremendous loyalty and connection among alumni to support their alma mater.
While college men are experiencing loneliness and depression at increasing rates, fraternities empower students to create a strong support system. This family – this home – that fraternities provide offers help and guidance when a member needs it most. Research shows that this connection can create a strong sense of belonging, leading members to have more positive mental health and less anxiety and depression than other students.
The Proof
- Fraternity members report higher levels of positive mental health, and less depression or anxiety than unaffiliated members.
- Nearly 80% of fraternity men report excellent to good mental health and wellbeing.
- When members seek help, they are twice as likely to turn to a brother than anyone else.
- Fraternity and sorority members believe that good support systems exist on campus for students going through a tough time.
- Fraternity and sorority members are more likely to seek therapy or counseling at some point in their lives.
- Fraternities provide an environment where members can have tough conversations, especially about personal issues like relationships, family and mental health struggles.
- Since the global pandemic, fraternity men are reducing the number of times they drink per week; consuming drinks at a rate of one or fewer per hour; setting a limit on the number of drinks they consume; alternating non-alcoholic with alcoholic beverages.
Students spend 90% of their time outside the classroom. Fraternities capitalize on those hours by preparing men for success in college and in their futures far beyond what their peers experience. And a study of thousands of alumni of diverse backgrounds shows this holds true regardless of an individual’s background or socioeconomic status entering college.
Because of higher expectations, as well as the support and network fraternities provide, members experience greater gains in learning and graduate at higher rates than their peers. Nearly 75% of chapters offer focused leadership development programming at least monthly, and 83% of members say their confidence in their leadership skills increased because of their membership.
Fraternity and sorority members also report higher levels of interaction with people different from themselves, leading to members being more prepared than their peers to join a diverse workforce and community. So, it is no surprise that fraternity alumni are twice as likely to believe their college experience prepared them well for life after college.
Fraternity members can tap built-in alumni networks, finding jobs more quickly than their peers. Research shows almost half of members had a brother helped them find an internship or job and provided them with career advice. Fraternity alumni report being more fulfilled in their careers and lives in every aspect of wellbeing measured, from career to community and financial to physical, because of the relationships and resources they can leverage.
So, while research shows that one in five students considers joining a fraternity but don’t because of concerns around academics or finances, studies show membership is a worthwhile investment.
The Proof
- 83% of members indicate stronger leadership confidence as a result of their fraternity membership.
- Fraternity members show significantly higher learning gains than their peers in their first year of college.
- Despite being less diverse than students in general, fraternity/sorority members reported higher levels of interaction with people different from themselves than did other students.
- Fraternity alumni are twice as likely to feel that their alma maters prepared them well for life after college and that they gained important job-related skills.
- Fraternity alumni find jobs more quickly after graduation and are more engaged in the workplace.
- They’re more likely to thrive in every aspect of wellbeing – career, community, financial, physical and social wellbeing.Fraternity members leverage their networks, with almost half stating that another member helped them find an internship or job and provided them with career advice.
- Fraternity members experience stronger retention and persistence to graduation.
Fraternity men love their collegiate experience – as students and as alumni. In fact, more than 8 out of 10 fraternity members say they would re-join their organizations. Research shows, fraternity membership connects men to the university in a way that nonmembers simply don’t experience. They’re more satisfied as students and as alumni are more likely to recommend and give back to their alma maters.
Members are more engaged inside and outside of the classroom than their peers—they report feeling more supported by their faculty and nearly half serve in leadership roles across campus. They’re also more connected to their local communities, with research showing they spend significantly more time volunteering than nonaffiliated students.
The Proof
- 75% of fraternity members demonstrate strong satisfaction with their overall student experience
- 78% of fraternity members feel a strong connection to campus and are more satisfied with their experience.
- Nearly half of fraternity members serve in other campus leadership roles.
- Fraternity members are more involved in cocurricular activities, and membership promotes student leadership and development, as well as satisfaction with the collegiate experience.
- Fraternity members have stronger interaction with faculty than their peers, with higher rates feeling like their professors cared about them as a person or made them excited about learning.
- Fraternity members spend significantly more time volunteering, mentoring and doing other types of service work, and they feel like they belong in their communities.
- Fraternity members feel a stronger connection to and are more engaged in their communities.
- Fraternity alumni feel a deeper sense of loyalty with their alma mater because of their positive college experiences, and they are more likely recommend their school to others and donate after graduation.
- If they had to do college over again, more than 8 out of 10 fraternity members would re-join their organizations.
- Fraternity members report a greater sense of belonging and feeling of being a valued member of their campus community compared to unaffiliated peers.
For more information on this research, visit https://nicfraternity.org/research/.
Mizzou Greeks Continue Strong Academic Performance in Spring 2024 Semester
Fraternity members at Mizzou continue to lead their campus counterparts in academic performance. During the Spring 2024 semester, active fraternity members on campus posted a collective 3.208 Grade Point Average, surpassing the 3.175 GPA of all undergraduate male students.
This strong performance mirrors the Fall 2022 – Spring 2023 school year, when the combined GPA of all members of fraternities was nearly 3.2. This exceeded the all-male GPA for the University at 3.163. In addition, over 44 percent of fraternity members made the Dean’s List.
MGA is working with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to implement an academic achievement recognition program for all IFC houses as a means of further promoting academic success among Greek students.
Greek Achievements Go Beyond the Classroom
Significant data also exists to show that Greek students have lower rates of depression and a greater sense of well-being than other college students. According to the 2022 Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors Survey, 80% of all Greek students agreed or strongly agreed that they feel a sense of belonging to the campus community versus 65% of all students.
Greek students also provide a much higher rate of financial support to their alma maters after graduation. Data from the University and National sources report that over 50% of the financial donations to the University are from Greek alumni, while Greeks typically represent
approximately 25% of the student population.
Recent research from the North American Interfraternity Conference has found that members of college fraternities gain numerous advantages in personal, academic, and professional development. Among the findings:
Fraternity men experience stronger mental health and wellness:
- Fraternity members report higher levels of positive mental health, and less depression or mental anxiety than unaffiliated students.
- Nearly 80 percent of fraternity men report excellent to good mental health and wellbeing.
- Since the pandemic, fraternity men are reducing the number of times they drink and the number of drinks they consume.
Fraternities are an accelerator for success in college and beyond:
- Nearly 75 percent of chapters offer focused leadership development programming at least monthly, and 83 percent of members say their confidence in their leadership skills increased because of their membership.
- Fraternity members show significantly higher learning gains than their peers in their first year of college.
- Fraternity alumni find jobs more quickly after graduation and are more engaged in the workplace.
Fraternity members exhibit higher levels of peer accountability and willingness to intervene:
- Fraternity members report higher levels of comfort and confidence in practicing peer accountability.
- A greater portion of students who identified as fraternity members reported engaging in peer accountability behaviors compared to unaffiliated undergraduate men.
- Over half (57%) of students who identified as fraternity members indicated participating in a training or educational experience related to peer accountability or intervention. Of all students that received training, 78% received it from their fraternity and 74% from their college or university.
- Fraternity members report higher levels of positive mental health, and less depression or anxiety than unaffiliated members.
- Nearly 80% of fraternity men report excellent to good mental health and wellbeing.
- When members seek help, they are twice as likely to turn to a brother than anyone else.
- Fraternity and sorority members believe that good support systems exist on campus for students going through a tough time.
- Fraternity and sorority members are more likely to seek therapy or counseling at some point in their lives.
- Fraternities provide an environment where members can have tough conversations, especially about personal issues like relationships, family and mental health struggles.
- Since the global pandemic, fraternity men are reducing the number of times they drink per week; consuming drinks at a rate of one or fewer per hour; setting a limit on the number of drinks they consume; alternating non-alcoholic with alcoholic beverages.
Students spend 90% of their time outside the classroom. Fraternities capitalize on those hours by preparing men for success in college and in their futures far beyond what their peers experience. And a study of thousands of alumni of diverse backgrounds shows this holds true regardless of an individual’s background or socioeconomic status entering college.
Because of higher expectations, as well as the support and network fraternities provide, members experience greater gains in learning and graduate at higher rates than their peers. Nearly 75% of chapters offer focused leadership development programming at least monthly, and 83% of members say their confidence in their leadership skills increased because of their membership.
Fraternity and sorority members also report higher levels of interaction with people different from themselves, leading to members being more prepared than their peers to join a diverse workforce and community. So, it is no surprise that fraternity alumni are twice as likely to believe their college experience prepared them well for life after college.
Fraternity members can tap built-in alumni networks, finding jobs more quickly than their peers. Research shows almost half of members had a brother helped them find an internship or job and provided them with career advice. Fraternity alumni report being more fulfilled in their careers and lives in every aspect of wellbeing measured, from career to community and financial to physical, because of the relationships and resources they can leverage.
So, while research shows that one in five students considers joining a fraternity but don’t because of concerns around academics or finances, studies show membership is a worthwhile investment.
Acts of Service Define Homecoming
Mizzou Homecoming wouldn’t be such a legendary success year after year without the members of the fraternity and sorority community and their dedication to 112 years of tradition.
Throughout the Homecoming football game, Mizzou Athletics recognized all active and alumni members and shared examples of the difference the fraternity and sorority community is making year-round.
Mizzou’s fraternities and sororities demonstrated leadership and generosity through acts of service during the 112th Mizzou Homecoming.
• This year’s Tiger Food Fight collected 132,597 pounds of food for the Food Bank of Central and Northeast Missouri, which also benefits Tiger Pantry on campus.
• The Mizzou community rallied to the 40th Homecoming Blood Drive, giving 4,744 units of blood, potentially saving more than 14,000 lives.
More than 850 students gave more than 1,700 hours of their time to volunteer at sites across the Columbia communit
Six Fraternities Raise $58,000+ To Benefit Columbia Community Service Organizations in 2023
Six Mizzou fraternities conducted a variety of fundraising activities and events during 2023 that raised more than $58,000 for three community service organizations serving the Columbia community. These fraternities and the organizations they benefitted include:
$15,000+ To Help People With Spinal Cord Injuries.
A fundraising ice hockey game between Alpha Tau Omega and Beta Theta Pi at Mizzou in late January raised more than $15,000 to help people affected by spinal cord injuries. The third annual BeStrong29 Puck Challenge – Faceoff Against SCI benefitted the BeStrong Foundation, a 501c3 organization started by ATO alum Mick Deaver that provides grants, scholarships, research, and other forms of help to improve the lives of people living with all forms of spinal cord injuries.
$21,400 For Daydreams Foundation.
On Friday, April 28, 2023, Sigma Nu partnered with Delta Upsilon fraternity (white jerseys) to play Alpha Tau Omega and Beta Theta Pi (black jerseys) in the inaugural Day Dreams Bowl tackle football game. Ticket sale proceeds, business sponsors, and other donations combined to total approximately
$15,000 to benefit the Day Dreams Foundation, a non-profit organization in Columbia, Missouri that eliminates financial barriers to participating in extracurricular activities so that every child can fulfill their dream of participating in an extracurricular activity without ever worrying about the cost. Daydreams also promotes healthy lifestyles, goal setting, academics, teamwork and respect for others. Twenty-five members from each of the four fraternities formed the two teams. Two sororities held a cheer competition during half-time. Approximately 300 Mizzou fraternity and sorority members filled the stands, along with parents, alumni, and other students. A great first year start to hopefully a new annual event.An additional $6,400 was raised for Daydreams Foundations during a fundraising lacrosse game held during the Fall by Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Tau Delta, Phi Delta Theta and Beta Theta Pi.
$21,500 to Coyote Hill and RAMS. Alpha Tau Omega hosted events during its own Philanthropy Week to raise awareness and money for RAMS (Rocking Against Multiple Sclerosis) and the Coyote Hill Foundation. The Coyote Hill Foundation helps underprivileged kids in foster care to meet their needs. For RAMS, a week of fundraising activities included a dance show performed by many of the Greek houses on campus
what greeks are known for
National Trends
Nationally, Greeks are known for successful careers and generous support of their alma maters. According to the Gallup Fraternities & Sororities: Understanding Life Outcomes (2014 & 2021); based on 30,000 interviews:
