Fraternity & Sorority Life

Greek Life Revitalization

With a focus on fun, friendship and giving back, Greek life helps you become the best version of yourself.

When you join a fraternity or sorority, you build relationships and join activities that transform your educational experience. And the impact lasts long after graduation. You’ll have the support of a strong alumni network as you find your place in the world, as well as the leadership skills to help change it for the better.

By joining a fraternity or sorority at NIU, you’ll help bring these important values to life on campus:

• Social impact: Give your time and talent to make a difference on campus and in the community.
• Academic success: Excel in the classroom to thrive in your career and reach your goals.
• Community service: Help create an environment of respect and acceptance for every Huskie.
• Alumni involvement: Help you create a strong professional network
• Skill development: Gain skills and experience to be a compassionate, effective leader.

Why Is It Called Greek Life?

When the first fraternities and sororities formed in the U.S. more than 200 years ago, they wanted to stand out from other university groups. They decided to use Greek letters for their names, hoping to connect themselves with ancient Greece, a time known for its intellectual and cultural achievements. We still use the term Greek life today when we talk about being in a fraternity or sorority.

Greek Life at NIU

The first sorority was established at NIU in 1944 and the first fraternity in 1947. Over the next several decades, Greek life grew at NIU, and several groups built houses for their members to live in. The NIU Office of Student Involvement and Leadership Development provided support to the groups during this time. In 2018, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life was founded to fill this role.