Standards and Accreditation

Community service is one of the foundations of fraternities and sororities. Each chapter provides support to various charitable causes throughout the year, typically in partnership with their inter/national organization and local charities.

Fraternity and sorority members organize community service events in which members provide hands-on service by giving back to their local community. Often times members

• serve as mentors or tutors for local organizations
• clean local parks
• support food pantries
• pack and deliver goods to local populations such as veterans or those without shelter.
• Fraternities and sororities raise awareness and funds for local charities through programs and events hosted in the community. Some groups may have a baked goods sale, athletic event, or themed dinner nights in which funds raised are donated to charity.

Chapters should strive for, practice, and demonstrate:

• Community Awareness: Recognize how one’s actions impact others and the world;
• Philanthropy: Utilize personal skills and abilities to contribute to community efforts
• Service: Identify and engage in opportunities to assist community and others

The Trojan Fraternity & Sorority Community is grounded in the following learning goals, which informs and drives educational programming.

Chapters should strive for, practice, and demonstrate:

• Self-Governance by understanding and demonstrating principles of governance
• Ethical & Personal Responsibility: Exemplify the courage to make decisions congruent with personal values, the principles of their inter/national organizations, and university
• Cultural Understanding: Understand and respect themselves and others in order to develop and broaden their knowledge, skills, and attitudes of diversity, inclusion, and equity

Cultural Understanding
USC is a global institution and community. As defined in this section as both a process and a goal which includes knowledge, skills, and attitudes, USC and the Trojan Greek community strives for a learning environment that fosters equity, diversity, inclusion, and access for all students. Each semester, chapters, councils, and FSLD will strive to provide or engage in programming around identity development, self- awareness, cultural capacity, and competency of members.

Earning a college degree is why students go to college. Being a member of a fraternity or sorority enhances the academic experience for students, most often excelling beyond their college peers. Members are expected to meet specific GPA requirements and encouraged to meet with faculty, use campus resources for academic support, and are recognized for their high academic performance at regular scholarship events and opportunities to join academic honor societies.

Chapters should strive for, practice, and demonstrate:

• Performance: Employ behaviors to achieve academic goals that meet organization and University standards
• Faculty Partnerships: Establish and foster relationships with faculty through partnerships, involvement and recognitionAcademic StatusStudents involved in a Greek organization are expected to have full time academic status and are fully matriculated into the University at the time invitation for membership is extended. The focus of this standard is to ensure members maintain a primary focus of education at the University of Southern California; members with outside internships, family issues, or other academic agreements may be exempt on a per-person basis at the discretion of chapter leadership per their Bylaws, under the advisement of the national organization.Minimum Grade Point Average StandardsIn order to continue progression of academic means by members of the Greek community, minimum requirements are expected of individuals, chapter officers, and chapters as a whole: 2021-2022 Revised Fraternity & Sorority Standards

Chapters should strive for, practice, and demonstrate:

• Care and concern for self and others: Assess and take action in cultivating environments of well-being, safety, and intervention
• Demonstrate healthy practices and lifestyles in education, work, and leisure

Well-Being & Safety Programming
The chapter will sponsor, co-sponsor, or participate in at least one programming event each semester pertaining to a topic of health, safety, and well-being.

Chapters should maintain documentation to demonstrate attendance and content of program and evaluate/assess for learning and future needs.

These types of events should not only reflect excellence in content alone, but a deep connection and relationship with on-campus resources including, but not limited to, the USC Department of Public Safety in conjunction with the Los Angeles Police Department, Counseling & Mental Health, Title IX, Office of Student Accessibility Services, Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention & Services, other university departments, or inter/national organization experts.