Community at a Glance
Approximately 8.5% of UMass undergraduate students belong to one of 43 campus greek organizations.
History
The fraternity movement at UMass Amherst dates back to 1868, shortly after male students arrived at the Massachusetts Agricultural College (MAC). Phi Sigma Kappa, the first Greek-lettered fraternity, was founded in 1873 by six men dedicated to promoting morality, learning, and culture. By the early 20th century, other fraternities followed suit, with Phi Sigma Kappa establishing the first fraternity house in 1914.
The first sorority, Delta Phi Gamma, was founded in 1916 after women began enrolling at MAC. By 1931, Delta Phi Gamma split into four chapters, which later affiliated with national sororities, with Chi Omega being the oldest. A Jewish fraternity, Delta Phi Alpha, was founded in 1921, affiliating with Alpha Epsilon Pi in 1933.
Fraternity and sorority life was disrupted during both World Wars, as many male students served in the armed forces. By the late 1940s and early 1960s, Greek life had grown significantly, with around 25% of students affiliated. The university expanded fraternity and sorority housing, and new chapters were established, including Iota Gamma Upsilon in 1962.
However, the 1960s brought a nationwide decline in Greek life, and UMass Amherst experienced a similar drop in membership and housing development. By the 1970s and 1980s, the system began to recover with the addition of National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and multicultural chapters. The 1990s saw the establishment of multicultural Greek organizations, leading to the creation of the Multicultural Greek Council. In the 2000s, the number of chapters and membership grew significantly, reaching over 1,200 members by 2010. Today, Greek life continues to thrive with over 1,500 members.
Oversight
Fraternity and sorority oversight at UMass Amherst has evolved over time. In the early years, fraternities were a small part of campus life, but by the early 1900s, they began to dominate. Initially, the Committee on Student Life managed the system. By the mid-20th century, the Dean of Men’s and Dean of Women’s Offices took responsibility for oversight.
In the 1960s, these offices merged into the Dean of Students Office (DOSO). A Fraternity Managers Association also coordinated housing and operations.
From the 1970s through 2020, Michael Wiseman managed the fraternity and sorority system, guiding the community through growth and focusing on risk management. Today, the program is managed by Student Engagement and Leadership and Off-Campus Student Life, located in the Student Union.
Purpose
Fraternities and sororities at UMass Amherst play a vital role in student life, with membership comprising approximately 8.5% of the undergraduate population. They provide opportunities for leadership, scholarship, community service, philanthropy, and personal growth.
Fraternity and sorority members foster lifelong friendships built on shared values of friendship, love, service, and scholarship.
The university encourages students to explore the 40+ fraternities and sororities on campus, each offering a unique opportunity to grow, lead, and build lasting relationships.
Mission
The Fraternity and Sorority movement at UMass Amherst has a long history of supporting students in their academic and personal growth. Sorority and Fraternity Life (SFL) aims to strengthen this tradition by fostering a system that aligns with the broader mission of the university.
We are committed to helping students develop leadership, academic excellence, service, philanthropy, and strong moral values. Our work emphasizes loyalty, friendship, and a healthy lifestyle, all grounded in the principles of the fraternity movement.
In collaboration with national organizations, alumni, the Amherst community, and the university, SFL strives to support the Greek community with integrity and fairness, ensuring students uphold the highest standards and values.
Scorecard
Each semester, UMass Amherst provides a Scorecard with vital statistics about our organizations.
Originally created by Penn State, the National Scorecard is designed to inform and provide transparency, which over time, may reveal patterns and data that will help chapters. Our UMass scorecard not only highlights many of the outstanding efforts our chapters regularly pursue (e.g., fundraising, community service efforts, and academic excellence) but it also benefits prospective members looking to join the Greek community.
Scorecard data is collected in two ways:
Self-reported roster information to Sorority & Fraternity Life (SFL). Accurate roster information allows SFL to calculate and report both semesterly grade point averages (GPAs) and membership numbers, while the Student Conduct and Community Standards Office manages organizational conduct processes. The violations reported on the below scorecards reflect the number of separate policy violations in which chapter have been found responsible.
Self-reported data such as philanthropy dollars raised and community service hours served; this self-reported data is also collected by many fraternity and sorority executive offices.
Please note, each scorecard reflects a single semester or point in time.
