Social Fraternities and Sororities

REGULATIONS OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

4.004 Social Fraternities and Sororities.

(1)     Social sororities and fraternities are student organizations that are founded on the principles of brotherhood/sisterhood and are based on the ideals of friendship, personal growth and service to the community. In keeping with the educational mission of the University, social sororities and fraternities promote the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, and service for their members.

(2)     The United States Department of Education has established requirements for classification as a social sorority or fraternity. Social sororities and fraternities meeting such requirements are permitted to exist as single-sex organizations. In keeping with these criteria established by the Department of Education, the University of Florida classifies social sororities and fraternities as organizations that:

(a)      Do not limit membership to persons pursuing or having interest in a particular field of study, profession or academic discipline;

(b)     Do not serve as honorary societies for academic, leadership, or any other endeavor; and

(c)     Do not permit members to hold membership in other social sororities or fraternities.

In addition, social sororities and fraternities must:

(d)     Have tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code; and

(e)     Limit membership to currently enrolled degree-seeking students at the University of Florida.

(3)     Social sororities and fraternities may exist at the University of Florida as registered student organizations and shall be classified as social sororities and fraternities.

(4)    Social sororities and fraternities shall be governed by policies established by the Division of Student Life and administered through Student Engagement and Sorority and Fraternity Life (SFL).

(5)     The governance structure established by the University of Florida includes student input and participation. Student input and participation is accomplished through authority delegated by SFL to designated student governing councils. Social sororities and fraternities must abide by university policies, regulations, and procedures governing student organizations, as well as policies, guidelines and procedures established by the SFL and the designated governing councils.

(6)      A new social sorority or fraternity seeking registration at the University of Florida must complete the expansion process as outlined in the Policy Expansion for Social Sororities and Fraternities, available from SFL. No social sorority or fraternity shall be registered at the University of Florida without approval by SFL and affiliation with a designated governing council.

(7)     A social sorority or fraternity that operates a residential unit and provides opportunities for housing to university students must abide by facility management policies and standards as established by the University, including but not limited to the following: (a) organizations must have a live-in House Director and be in compliance with related policies; (b) organizations must be in compliance with fire safety standards and must pass Fire Safety Inspections; (c) organizations must comply with building inspection and related policies and must take corrective measures as needed or required.

(8)     The University reserves the right to withhold, revoke, or suspend the registration of any social sorority or fraternity that fails to adhere to University regulations, rules, policies, and/or guidelines.

Authority: BOG Regulation 1.001.

History: New 9-29-75, Amended 3-25-85, Formerly 6C1-4.04, Amended 10-31-99, 6-21-00, 2-5-03, 6-3-03, 12-31-03, 5-30-04, 7-19-05, 9-5-08, Formerly 6C1-4.004, Amended 4-3-15, Amended 6-28-24 (technical changes only).