FAQ questions:

1. What is a professional fraternity/sorority
2. How many professional fraternities are there?
3. What is the difference between a social and professional fraternity/sorority?
4. What is the PFC? What does it do?
5. What are the benefits of becoming a member of a professional fraternity/sorority?
6. How does a student become involved with a professional fraternity/sorority?
7. What are the qualifications a student must meet to become involved in a professional fraternity?
8. What does pledging a professional fraternity/sorority involve?
9. What is the PFC’s position on hazing?
10. Who determines Greek Life regulations/policy?
11. How many members are in the PFC? In Greek Life?
12. Why is there a $3 PFC membership due?
13. Other questions?

What is a professional fraternity/sorority?
A professional fraternity/sorority is an organization whose principle goal is to help foster and facilitate connections between students of a similar major and/or career path. Each professional fraternity/sorority offers unique insight and support for its members in their academic and professional endeavors and seeks to develop strong social bonds of friendship of brotherhood/sisterhood among its members and alumni. This goal is accomplished through the application of professional, social, and philanthropic components.

How many professional fraternities/sororities are there in Binghamton University?
Currently, there are eight professional fraternities recognized by the PFC: Phi Alpha Delta (pre-law), Delta Sigma Pi (business), Delta Epsilon Mu (pre-health), Theta Tau (engineering fraternity), Phi Delta Epsilon (pre-med), Alpha Kappa Psi (business), Alpha Omega Epsilon (engineering sorority), and Alpha Pi Omega (service). A ninth professional fraternity, Mu Phi Epsilon (music) has received official recognition for chapter status by their national organization and are currently in the process of going through chartering recognition with the PFC.

What is the difference between a professional fraternity/sorority and a social fraternity/sorority?
Social fraternities/sororities are organizations which primarily seek to develop social ties of friendship of brotherhood/sisterhood among its members and some do this on the basis of a specific historical or ethnic heritage. While both professional fraternities/sororities and social fraternities/sororities seek to accomplish their goals and purposes through social and philanthropic components, professional fraternities/sororities maintain an additional professional component for it members. Membership requirements for some, but not all, professional fraternities may also hinge on a student having a certain major. Finally, all social fraternities/sororities are single sex, while all professional fraternities, with the exception of Alpha Omega Epsilon (engineering sorority), are co-ed.

What is the Professional Fraternity Council (PFC)? What does it do?
The Professional Fraternity Council is a council that whose function generally is to represent, oversee, advice, and regulate professional fraternities/sororities on the Binghamton University campus. It is the main channel of communication among the professional fraternities/sororities and with the Binghamton University administration. It is also in charge of solving issues that may arise within the PFC and its affiliated fraternities/sororities. The Professional Fraternity is charged with numerous responsibilities all of which ultimately are linked to the primary purposes of ensuring that the all professional fraternities/sororities are able to offer strong opportunities and insight regarding their designated career/major and are able to offer a positive presence on the Binghamton University Campus. The Professional Fraternity Council accomplishes this purpose through a five person executive board, two magistrates, a Legislative Association composed of two delegates from all affiliated professional fraternities/sororities, and the Governors Council composed primarily of the individual presidents of each of the affiliated professional fraternities/sororities.

What are the benefits of becoming a member of a professional fraternity/sorority?
Professional fraternities/sororities offer students the opportunity to advance their career interests during their college career along with the social aspects of brotherhood and sisterhood. Members in professional fraternities make lifelong friends who last throughout their college career and beyond. Professional fraternities/sororities also offer a vast network of members and alumni who are able to help one prepare for the challenges of graduate school/career and help obtain internships and jobs in order to advance career goals.

How does a student become involved in a professional fraternity/sorority?
First, there is United Rush Forum, which is an event held by the PFC and all of the pre-professional fraternities at the beginning of each semester. It is an informational event for students interested in joining a professional fraternity/sorority. It is also a great chance to first meet and interact with current members of professional fraternities/sororities. During the course of that week, individual professional fraternities/sororities have their own GIMs and rush events geared and targeted for students who are interested in rushing their organization. After the rush period, individual organizations distribute bids to perspective rushes, who, should they choose to accept, are invited to join the semesters pledge class. At the end of the pledge process period, each individual professional fraternity/sorority inducts their pledges as members of their organization. For more specific information regarding GIMs, rush events, or the pledging process of individual professional fraternities/sororities, directly contact the professional fraternity/sorority in question.

What are the qualifications a student must meet in order to become involved?

As per BU regulations, students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.50 and must have completed (not in progress) at least twelve credits at Binghamton University or at another accredited college campus. AP credits do not count in fulfilling this requirement. Thus, first semester freshmen are not allowed to pledge any professional fraternity/sorority. Moreover, individual professional fraternities/sororities at their discretion may set additional requirements, such as a major requirement, a higher GPA requirement, etc. For more information regarding such individual requirements, directly contact the professional fraternity/sorority in question.

What does pledging a professional fraternity/sorority involve?
Each professional fraternities/sororities individual controls and sets its own pledging process to suit its own individual goals and purposes, within the confines of regulations set by the PFC and Binghamton University. Generally, the pledge process for professional fraternities/sororities involves a time commitment on the part of pledges, where they engage in activities designed: to educate and develop a knowledge and understanding regarding the designated career path/major, to participate in meaningful social, professional, and philanthropic events, and to cultivate social bonds of friendship and paths of networking among current and future actors of the designated career path and among fraternity/sorority membership/alumni.

What is the position taken by the Professional Fraternity Council and all affiliated professional fraternities/sororities regarding hazing?
Hazing as defined by Binghamton University and federal/state law is expressly prohibited and condemned. The PFC and all professional fraternity/sorority are committed to upholding and abiding by the rules and regulations set forth by Binghamton University, the PFC and, federal/state authorities. Through the PFC Chief Magistrate, the PFC and all professional fraternities/sororities, actively seek to enforce anti-hazing provisions and to investigate any and all complaints, allegations, or concerns regarding any such purported activity. If you have such an inquiry or concern regarding a professional fraternity/sorority active on the Binghamton University campus feel free to confidentially contact chiefmagistrate@binghamtonpfc.com.

Who determines Greek Life regulations/policy?
The PFC and the seven other councils making up Greek Life are governed by the Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Board which is comprised of one representative of each Council, along with various administrators including the Greek Life Director, and the Director of Off Campus College, Dave Husch. Meetings of the Leadership Board are conducted once a week.

How many students are members of the PFC? Of BU Greek Life?
In the fall semester there are roughly 220-250 students who are members of the PFC. In the spring semester, PFC membership ranges from 250-300 students, depending on how many students have become members from the previous fall semester. There were roughly 720 students who were members of social fraternities/sororities this past fall semester.

Why is there a small PFC membership due?
Professional fraternity/sorrority members are each charged a $3 member due each semester that goes to the Council to support its many sponsored activities & events throughout the year to further the interests of professional fraternities/sorrorities on the BU campus. The money is used to help pay for member recruitment in the United Rush Forum, sports tournaments between the fraternities/sorrorities, contests, festivities, and its school-wide week long of activities that will occur March 23-29. Money is also used to pay for the large amount of paperwork that needs to be filed and maintained by each organization, funding of the website, and various other activities in which a Council budget is needed. All financial transactions are recorded and made of public record.

Other questions?
If you have any other questions not addressed, please send them to contact@binghamtonpfc.com and we will make every attempt to answer them promptly.