Welcome to Ohio Wesleyan University and Our Greek Life Community! | What are Fraternities and Sororities? | Benefits of Membership | Academics | Leadership | Social Interactions | Community Service / Philanthropy | Networking

Welcome to Ohio Wesleyan University and Our Greek Life Community!

The Greek life heritage is a long-standing tradition on OWU's campus. Many individuals during their time at OWU have become affiliated with a Greek organization. The experience alone has become one of the most valued and cherished experiences of their college career. We as a campus value our Greek community and the individuals that contribute to it. Our Greek community like many others stands by four guiding principles leadership, service, scholarship, and brother/sisterhood. Each nationally recognized Greek-letter organization promotes these principles with their individual chapter's values in every day life. The Office of Student Involvement assists our organizations in their every day decisions as Greek members. We are proud of our students and their accomplishments that are achieved throughout their four years at OWU. We are also proud of the impact that our fraternity and sorority organizations have on the campus and surrounding Delaware community.

As the Assistant Director of Student Involvement for Greek Life, I encourage all perspective students, parents, and current students to explore our Greek community. From college to the outside world being affiliated with a Greek organization is a life-shaping experience that continues to be one of the most positive experiences that a person can carry throughout life. My own Greek experiences have influenced me greatly in becoming the person I am today.

Once again on behalf of the OWU community and the Office of Student Involvement, I welcome you. If you have any questions concerning the Greek community, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Fraternally,

Allison A. Bressler
Assistant Director, Student Involvement for Greek Life
740-368-3170
aabressl@owu.edu

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What are Fraternities and Sororities?

Fraternities and sororities are value-based organizations dedicated to the development of character and friendship. Leadership positions, community service projects, academic excellence and a close-knit group of friends are just a few of the opportunities offered by Greek organizations. Fraternity or sorority membership carries academic, moral, and social responsibilities that encourage the development of well-rounded individuals. Membership in a Greek organization helps students make the most of their college experience by joining together with people that share similar interests and ideals.

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Benefits of Membership

While Ohio Wesleyan University has numerous student organizations, none can offer the same challenges and rewards as the Greek community. The Greek community, which has been operating on campus for over 140 years, provides a unique balance of leadership, social interactions, community service/philanthropy and networking opportunities to not only enable students to make the most of their college years at OWU, but also prepare them with skills and experiences for the future.

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Academics

The OWU Greek community recognizes academic achievement as the basis for an individual's future success and is committed to creating an environment conducive to learning and attainment of academic goals. The maintenance of high standards in the Greek community is evident in requiring students to attain a minimum GPA to be eligible to participate in Recruitment, and illustrated by the academic performance of Greeks, who attain an average consistently higher than the all-University average. Each Greek Chapter develops academic programming based on the needs of the chapter members and affiliates with a faculty advisor. Greek members serve as a network of students who have experience with classes. Services of chapters include tutoring programs, time management skill and study skill help, and scholarship opportunities. OWU honors outstanding scholars and chapters at Faculty Scholarship dinners and Scholarship desserts each semester.

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Leadership

Across a wide range of career goals, Greek Life at OWU provides opportunities to develop skills and responsibility that will benefit all facets of life. Each chapter on campus is self-governed, and provides opportunities to participate in the decision making and planning processes of the individual chapter and the larger Greek community. The extensive leadership experience OWU Greeks receive through involvement with other student organizations and activities on campus include regular officer training and goal setting retreats. Leadership training programs at the national and regional levels provide opportunities to learn additional skills in self- governance, and financial management.

Social Interactions

One of the most exciting and attractive aspects of Greek life at OWU, social interactions offers new members the opportunity to interact with older members and alumni and to learn communication skills that will be used throughout life. Members are united through organizational activities such as retreats, formals, annual Greek Week events, parent and alumni weekends, and educational speakers. Greek social events serve as a release from the somewhat stressful college atmosphere. The Greek student organization GAMMA (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol) educates fraternity men and sorority women about social responsibility at Ohio Wesleyan.

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Community Service / Philanthropy

Members of the Ohio Wesleyan Greek community recognize the importance of public service as evident in each chapter's dedication to annual fundraisings and service projects to benefit local communities and special philanthropies. Aside from sponsoring a campus wide clean up with the office of Community Service, fraternity and sorority members participate in many community service projects. Some of these services tutoring at local elementary schools, Adopt-a-Highway clean ups, blood drives with the American Red Cross, clothes and food drives to benefit local shelters, and an annual Easter Egg Hunt for the Delaware area community. Whether raising funds for individual philanthropies or volunteering time to the Delaware community, service is an integral part of the Greek experience at Ohio Wesleyan.

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Networking

A fraternity or sorority is more than a collection of men and women. Greek Life at OWU offers the chance to meet others, broaden an individual's frame of reference, and develop meaningful friendships that will last beyond college. Members also share the fraternity or sorority experience with thousands of other men and women across the countries that are members of other undergraduate National Greek organizations. This National brotherhood or sisterhood provides Greek affiliated students with contacts across the nation, and exposure to career opportunities, in addition to encouraging personal growth and community outreach. These Interactions serve as a benefit both now and in the future.

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