Membership in a fraternity or sorority is a lifetime commitment. All fraternity and sorority members are required to take and pass the FSL new member course. The online course is designed to assist new members of the fraternity and sorority community, as they navigate their collegiate membership. Students will learn about the history of fraternities and sororities and our history’s impact on practices, trends, and issues prevalent today. Students will develop the skills necessary for risk mitigation, leadership development, and creating inclusive environments.

The course is taken online through Canvas. All new members are automatically added to the course, which begins the second 8-weeks of the semester. If a student joins a fraternity or sorority after the course has started, they will take the course in the following semester. 

Course Objectives
Through this course, we will:
1. Review the history of fraternal organizations
2. Critically examine the role of fraternity and sorority membership, including its impacts on diverse student populations
3. Evaluate and discuss campus guidelines and best practices for health and safety

Learning Objectives
By participating fully and completing this course, students will be able to:
1. Articulate what fraternity and sorority life (FSL) is and learn how to differentiate between the four FSL governing councils and their purposes on campus
2. Explain the importance of risk prevention in FSL event planning
3. Examine the role of fraternity and sorority members in creating inclusive campus environments

Course Modules
The six week course is broken into four modules, including:
1. What is Fraternity and Sorority Life?
2. Why is risk prevention important?
3. What role do we play in creating an inclusive campus environment?
4. What is the value of Fraternity and Sorority Life?

Course Completion
All new members of a fraternities and sororities are required to pass the course to be active and in good standing. Failing the course will result in a $100 fine. Fines are billed to the organization; however, invoices include the names of the students who failed the course. Failure is considered any final grade lower than a 60%.