Throughout the past 18 or 19 years, your daughter has depended on her family for guidance and support. Now, while she is away at college, she is becoming an adult, ready for more independence and responsibility. You are reading this now because your daughter has accepted an invitation to membership—and you deserve to know where her involvement will lead her.

College sororities historically have supported young women during this important transition. Delta Zeta is a dynamic and progressive organization that has responded to many challenges and maintained our positive influence on thousands of young women across North America. Our members go on to lead successful lives, enriched by their sorority experience.

How will joining a Delta Zeta chapter now benefit your daughter now and after college?  The lifetime friendships your daughter will make through her chapter (the local name of a nationally affiliated sorority) can last into post-college years. Membership is a lifelong experience. Joining now is an investment in a member's future. Learn more here about how fraternal life and its leadership lessons can benefit your daughter.

You will be included in our communications pertinent to your daughter's activities and experiences. We invite you to visit Why Join a Sorority on our Delta Zeta education site, Enriching U, to learn more about sorority life. Our magazine, The LAMP of Delta Zeta, will be sent to your daughter in care of your home address, and we hope you enjoy reading it, too. You will also hear from the Delta Zeta Foundation which provides support for Delta Zeta's leadership, scholarship, educational and philanthropic programs. If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our National Headquarters for assistance.   

Coming to college is one of the major life changes that your daughter will go through. Joining a sorority can help make the transition easier. Developing lifelong friendships with the members in her chapter helps make the campus smaller. For many members, these chapters become a home away from home. In addition to the sisterhood, every chapter promotes the values of enhancing leadership, scholarship, philanthropy/service and financial responsibility in their members. Membership helps your daughter maintain and develop the fine ideals which you, as her parent, have instilled in her.

Delta Zeta also offers programs that educate our members about behavioral risks often associated with the college years and how to protect themselves, their sisters and their fellow students.

Will my student's academics be compromised if they join a sorority?  

One of Delta Zeta's strongest tenets is that of academic achievement and excellence. Our Sorority is founded on the principles of learning, not only in the scholastic setting, but in every phase of life. Your daughter must meet certain scholastic requirements to become an initiated member. Her chapter is dedicated to helping her maintain her grades and continue to succeed academically. Your daughter also has the opportunity to apply for national and local Delta Zeta scholarships, which will allow her to continue her academic success.

What is a Philanthropy or Service Project? 

Sorority members take it as part of their mission to support their national philanthropies (non-for-profit causes) financially and physically. Throughout the year, each chapter spends time fundraising and volunteering to help their particular philanthropy. The time spent together on these events is one of the many times that fraternity brothers and sorority sisters can bond, while making a difference to enrich the world.

Our national philanthropies, supported by both collegiate and alumnae chapters, are speech and hearing and The Painted Turtle camp.

How much time will sorority activities take?

The time commitment varies from chapter to chapter, but the first semester/quarter is the most time intensive as the new member goes through the chapter's education program. The time spent in this program will give your daughter the opportunity to develop her leadership and time management skills, learn about the history of Delta Zeta, develop friendships and allow her to become involved with other organizations on campus.

Each chapter has weekly chapter meetings and other mandatory events (philanthropies, service and initiation) throughout the year, but they are planned well in advance. In addition to the weekly meeting, the more your daughter participates in the chapter, the more she will get out of being a member!

What does it cost to be a member? 

The sorority experience is an investment in your daughter's future. The leadership skills, the academic assistance and friendships will benefit your daughter beyond her college days. The perception that fraternities and sororities are only an option for "rich" students is widespread and false. Greek organizations are quite affordable and fees go to services that will positively impact your daughter. Through the Delta Zeta Foundation, we offer scholarships and grants to assist initiated members. Financial information is provided to your daughter prior to joining.

The membership fees your daughter pays are used in many ways. First and foremost, the majority of chapter dues stay within the chapter to meet expenses such as recruitment, new member education programs, college programs, social activities, rent or mortgage payments and local Panhellenic dues. Nationally, the Sorority makes other disbursements such as insurance, business expenses for National Headquarters, travel expenses and membership services. Members can receive information on these disbursements at any time. Your daughter's membership in Delta Zeta also entitles her to a lifetime subscription to the Sorority's national magazine, The LAMP, which we invite parents to read as well.

Are sororities primarily social in nature? 

There is a social aspect to the Greek community and these "social" events include educational programs/workshops, community service events, intramural sports, Parents Days, Homecoming, and dinner exchanges in addition to parties and socials. Today's fraternities and sororities across the nation have adopted a stringent approach to socializing, thereby creating a safer, more beneficial environment for members. Delta Zeta has a risk management and alcohol policy which is strictly enforced. In addition, the Sorority also has national rules to follow regarding the hosting of social events. All organizations sponsor education on alcohol misuse and abuse. Sororities do not permit alcohol in their facilities.

What about hazing? 

Risk Management is an integral part of chapter programming. Hazing is considered a crime in many states. Delta Zeta recognizes hazing as a most destructive and meaningless activity. It has no place in any form of sorority programming and is inconsistent with our standards, goals and values. Members are required to sign documentation stating that they have reviewed and understand Delta Zeta's risk management policies.

What is my role as a parent? 

Take the time to find out more about the fraternity and sorority community at your daughter's school and about Delta Zeta. Check out any information your daughter receives in the mail over the summer related to sorority life. Once your daughter joins a chapter, there will be opportunities for involvement such as Mom and Dad's weekend activities, or attending chapter events to which parents are invited.

Delta Zeta has partnered with Billhighway to assist collegiate chapters in billing and collecting funds from members. Billhighway serves many sororities, fraternities, as well as athletic and youth development groups. As a parent, you, too, can enjoy the convenience, security and ease of use when making a payment on behalf of your son or daughter. All chapter members will have a Billhighway account created for them after joining Delta Zeta. For more information on how you, as a parent, can use Billhighway, please visit the parent site, which has the most up-to-date information and answers to the most frequently asked questions.