List of fraternities and sororities at the University of Minnesota

The number of Fraternities and Sororities at the University of Minnesota is extensive. Approximately 11% of undergraduates, 3,400 students, participate in one of the 60 chapters of social fraternities or sororities at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus.^[1] Participation in affiliated groups associated with the Greek System such as honor, service and professional fraternities bring total Greek System affiliation figures significantly higher. Counting past and present, more than half of the University's 200 Greek organizations remain active today, the pioneers of which have had a presence on the University of Minnesota campus for over 145 years. The university's "Greek System" includes professional fraternities, honor societies, service fraternities, and religious fraternities along with the highly visible residential undergrad academic and social chapters.

A comprehensive list of chapters, past and present, segmented by category, follows this brief overview of what these societies are and how they evolved. References for each group show current and former property addresses either owned or leased. Contact information is provided via the references, where available.

The terms "Fraternity" and "Sorority" are used somewhat interchangeably, with men's and co-ed groups always using Fraternity, and women's groups using either Fraternity or Sorority.^[2] For convenience, the term "Greek Letter Society" is a generic substitute. The word, "Greek," in this case refers to the use of Greek Letters for each society's name, and not to Greek ethnicity.

Historical sketch

Editors of the Minnesota Gopher Yearbook created iconic etchings to highlight fraternity and sorority pages, this example from 1922.

The University of Minnesota Greek system is over 145 years old, having grown steadily with the rapid growth of the University. Its first men's fraternity, Chi Psi, dates to 1874, and its first women's fraternity, Kappa Kappa Gamma, dates to 1880, long before the term 'sorority' was popularized as a term for the women's 'houses'.

Yet these pioneers did not themselves mark the beginnings of fraternal presence at the school. Many of Minnesota's early University presidents and department heads were fraternity men or women from 'back East,' having experienced undergraduate life in the flourishing literary societies and old line fraternities that in turn were born out of America's earliest institutions of higher learning. These include William Watts Folwell, the University's first president, who was a member of Alpha Delta Phi at Hobart College, Cyrus Northrop, who was an Alpha Sigma Phi at Yale,^[3] Ada Comstock, Dean of Women, and a member of Delta Gamma at Minnesota, president George Vincent who was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Yale, and president James Morrill who was also an Alpha Sigma Phi, at Ohio State.

Still, because Minnesota's is one of the oldest fraternity systems in the nation, many of the University's Greek chapters are consequently among the oldest of their respective organizations, and often have single-letter or first-series chapter names or designations. Similarly, the age, prestige, size and breadth of the University of Minnesota have resulted in its hosting many of the nation's honor and professional fraternities for most disciplines. As early as 1925, the Minnesota Gopher yearbook reported the presence of 25 national academic fraternities, 18 national academic sororities, and 33 national professional chapters on campus. Most of these, undergrad or professional, are (or were) residential.

Over 90 years later, as of 2017, Minnesota hosts 37 academic fraternities, 23 academic sororities, 61 honors societies, 31 professional societies, and 4 service- or religious-focused chapters.^[4]

Impact on campus, and population

Since inception, these organizations have delivered an outsized influence and benefit to the campus: A first indicator of this impact is the fact of hundreds of pages devoted to the myriad of Greek Letter organizations profiled in each issue of the Minnesota Gopher Yearbook during its century-long publication run.^[5] These organizations have served as a primary hub of the student experience at the University for their entire existence, for active members, regular guests and alumni.

The high water mark for Greek Life participation by percentage, indicated by review of senior photos and club membership, was in 1910 through 1920, when approximately 1/4 of undergraduates participated in one or more of the academic or professional societies.^[6] The peak number of residential chapters came at approximately 75 in 1930.^[7] While membership continued to expand into the 1930s, the membership percentage decreased as the Minnesota campus grew less residential. Through this period, interest in Greek chapter membership was not as strong among commuters, 'night class,' and non-traditional students. The Membership percentage of the overall undergraduate population reached a low point of 3% in the late 1960s. Later, an upturn resulted in a numeric peak that came during the early 1980s: In 1981 the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life reported 3,100 net members, while 3,964 participated in 1984.^[7]:33 In a spike downturn coinciding with the economic recession of that era, participation hit a marked numeric low point in about 2005, but recovering to 1,795 active members in 2011 its population has continued increasing through to the present day. By mid-2014 participation included approximately 2,800 net undergraduate members, as reported in June of that year, reflecting about 8% of the undergraduate population and about 12% of 2013–14's incoming freshmen class.^[8][9] Noteworthy membership gains continue: by 2017, participation had increased to 3,400, or fully 11% of the campus undergraduate population, even prior to adding students in the professional chapters.^[1] Fifty-eight campus chapters are residential as of 2017.^[10]

Building Fraternity Row

Minnesota's fraternities and sororities built up their housing prospects in three distinct phases, according to the 2003 Minneapolis Historical Commission Study.^[7] Before 1900, most early chapters served their membership with rented private homes. Between 1900 and 1917, rentals gave way to properties built for the chapters, resulting in several iconic examples of Beaux Arts, Georgian and Classical styles. Finally, between 1921 and 1936, Minnesota's fraternity chapters engaged in that same popular building spree which was sweeping across other early private and land grant colleges and universities from New York to California. The result of this last phase was the often stately homes occupied by many Greek chapters today, upgrades from boarding house-style clapboard and stucco homes, to the many Fraternity Row mansions that are visible at Minnesota along University Avenue SE, on 4th and 5th Street SE, and the 10th Avenue "Sorority Row," all in Minneapolis. Similarly, the St. Paul campus is home to several stately chapter buildings, or chapterhouses, along Cleveland Avenue. It is a testament to the alumni of many of these chapters that their buildings survived, as so many were financed by the 1920s financial bubble, having endured weak membership eras during the Great Depression and then the twin turmoils of WWII and 1960s anti-establishment unrest. Past university yearbooks, now digitally available, often picture these buildings, some with addresses and photos or professionally crafted etchings. A final wave of chapter building, usually in the Modernist style, occurred during the period 1950 to 1973.^[7]:17

Greek societies also provide a visible link with the past. Residential Greek chapters have been cited as architectural gems, "projecting a positive image through architecture, and setting an architectural standard for more than a century."^[11] Important examples of period architecture include Tudor with half-timber, Georgian and Federal variants of the American Colonial style, Vienna secessionist, English Gothic, Elizabethan or Georgian, and more recently, International Modernist styles. While many of these buildings are significant, enough to warrant the City of Minneapolis declaring the area a Greek Letter Chapter House Historical District in 2003, a few examples should be noted:

• 
  Fiji's Mu Sigma Chapter (Vienna secessionist, Arts and Crafts offshoot)
• 
  ΓΗΓ's Minnesota Chapter (Richardsonian Revival, elements of Queen Anne)
• 
  ΘΤ's Alpha Chapter (International modernist style)
• 
  ΧΨ's Alpha Nu Chapter (English Tudor)
• 
  ΦΣΚ's Beta Deuteron Chapter (Elizabethan Revival)
• 
  ΣΦΕ's Minnesota Alpha Chapter (Carpenter Gothic)
• 
  ΦΚΨ's Minnesota Beta Chapter (Georgian and Greek Revival)
• 
  ΚΚΓ's Chi Chapter (English Tudor, influenced by Arts and Crafts)

• Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) was one of the earliest-built Row mansions, exhibiting the Vienna secessionist style, an offshoot of the Arts and Crafts movement.^[12]
• Gamma Eta Gamma (ΓΗΓ) law fraternity is a smaller example of Richardsonian Revival, perhaps with Queen Anne elements.
• Theta Tau (ΘΤ), an engineering fraternity, is an example of the International Modernist style.
• Chi Psi (ΧΨ) is an exceptional variant of an English Tudor country house, "built to convey masculine dignity and prestige."
• Phi Sigma Kappa (ΦΣΚ) is an Elizabethan-revival "romantic-era masterpiece."
• Sigma Phi Epsilon (ΣΦΕ), built by B.O. Cutter and restored by Phi Delta Theta fraternity, this "gingerbread" home is a showcase of the Carpenter Gothic revival style.^[13]
• Phi Kappa Psi (ΦΚΨ) combines elements of Georgian and Greek revival styles.
• Kappa Kappa Gamma (ΚΚΓ) offers a "dramatic and striking" mix of the English Tudor style, influenced by the Arts and Crafts movement popular at the time of its construction."^[11]

These and many other Minnesota chapterhouses exhibit exceptional elements of their architectural styles. The owners, often the same entities that built these homes, have maintained them in spite of age, sometimes hard use and the financial strain of student organizations that can ebb and flow in popularity. Addresses may be found in the footnotes for these chapters, where they are listed below. Most style descriptions courtesy of the referenced Architecture Minnesota article.^[11]

Constrained somewhat by busy University Avenue and 4th Street, expansion of Greek housing has been discussed at several points. The Zellie study, cited among the references, notes that there had been planned a "Fraternity Court" in the early 1920s.^[7]:28 This stately road was to have been on the site where Williams Arena was later built, to host a number of new buildings between 19th Avenue and Oak Street. This plan conflicted with the University's own development plan for the basketball arena though, and the Fraternity Court was not built, with the exception of the ΑΧΡ house that later was owned by ΧΦ, then leased by ΚΣ, and in fall 2016 by ΘΧ. In the 1960s, an early phase plan for a fraternity housing area on the river flats below the Washington Avenue Bridge was discussed. This plan did not materialize beyond the discussion stage. More recently, Community Student Housing Inc. (CSHI), a consortium of several fraternities, has discussed building shared dormitory space and new house fronts on up to four blocks between University and 4th Street.

Greek chapter oversight

Individual chapters are managed by elected officers. Incorporated alumni groups own the residential chapter buildings where they exist, serving in the role of property manager. Additional local alumni oversight varies by chapter. National organizations provide organizational and operational guidance, extending to disciplinary action where warranted. In partnership with national organizations, University oversight of the Academic and Social chapters is managed on a day-to-day basis by the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life, a unit of the Office for Student Affairs.

Professional and Honor societies are coordinated at a lower level of administrative involvement by the various academic departments within the University and its several colleges, and of these, some operate merely cooperatively, with no involvement from the University at all.

Since gaining its first chapter in 1874, Minnesota administrators have maintained an open, if not always supportive relationship with its chapters . An impulse to exert administrative management on these highly visible registered student organizations has at times been offset by interest in limiting liability exposure where it could be claimed that the administration was responsible but did not do enough to prevent an unsafe or illegal occurrence. Minnesota's Greek System has, on balance, avoided the frequency of harmful events, as have occurred at other large schools; this primarily as the result of self-policing.^[8][21] The original, more active relationship between the Greeks and the Administration had been marginalized somewhat after the turbulent late 1960s and during the lassaiz-faire commuter-student years of 1970–90. This coincided with national scrutiny and bad publicity over hazing events elsewhere in the US. With the return to a more residential campus, both the Minnesota Greek System and its relationship with the University are thriving: An estimated 2,800 Greeks on campus participate in 58 separate undergraduate Academic and Social chapters.^[8] In addition, Professional and honor societies, many accepting undergraduates, number more than 80. Because of this and other factors, the University is again improving its relationship with the Greek Community:

"In March 2012, President Kaler announced the formation of a Greek Community Strategic Task Force (GCSTF) and issued a Charge to the GCSTF Steering Committee which emphasized the need to develop a "sustainable and robust relationship between the University and the Greek community." ^[9]

Criticism

Over the decades, Minnesota's Greek system, like others nationwide, has had its detractors. Most notably in the late 1960s, anti-establishment agitation resulted in decreased interest and participation. This negative environment abated with the end of the Vietnam War. While membership again surged beginning in the late 1970s, the campus population was swelling even faster. While hitting numeric highs, Greeks at Minnesota thus never achieved the pre-Vietnam era participation level as a percentage of the campus. For some, Greeks were "too exclusive." Commuting students may have had little occasion to socialize with them on the largely non-residential campus. Some students chafed at overt culture differences where Prep-era Greek men would wear blazers and ties to Monday meetings. Occasional surveys of detractors would declare a perception that membership was akin to buying friends.^[22] For others, it was simply a monitory concern, with a reluctance to include fraternity or sorority dues into a tight college budget.^[22] The hugely popular movie, "Animal House" also branded for a generation the image of a lethargic, disruptive and academically inferior "frat boy" on the national consciousness.^[23]

Response to criticism

Fixing problems

Greek organizations both nationally and locally sponsor many risk avoidance programs for the real benefits of student safety and well-being, as well as to avoid harmful bad publicity. Hence, these organizations have learned to address criticism quickly: Chapters and national bodies have adopted extensive changes to reduce incidents of hazing and other harmful behaviors. The recent announcement by Sigma Alpha Epsilon to ban "pledging" nationwide is only the latest of such announcements, of revised prospective member programs now adopted by many fraternities.^[24] While not limited to fraternities and sororities, harmful activities like underage drinking and hazing are often headlined as local news stories, with fraternity chapters as the most visible examples.^[25] In this area too, active and alumni Greek leaders have responded to such negative publicity and the resulting criticism with programs that seek to reduce alcohol abuse and eliminate underage or binge drinking, with risk management training, by self-policing their own chapters, and with more stringent procedures to discipline offenders. All sororities and some fraternity chapters have banned alcohol in their living facilities. National fraternities, through the NIC and sororities through their national and local governing boards require member training each year to combat hazing, underage drinking, sexual assault and other harmful behaviors.^[26] Hence, individual chapters are not alone in addressing these problems. Inter-chapter governing boards at Minnesota (listed below by chapter groupings) provide event monitoring services and local risk management training, culminating in the introduction in 2012 of Arkeo, which serves as an inter-Greek cooperative monitoring program to help chapters avoid risk.^[27][28]

Response to perceptions

As to the financial cost of participation, fraternity leaders note that the vast majority of Greek students work their way through school.^[28] In fact, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life claims that the average cost burden for fraternity chapter membership adds 3% to a student budget, and may indeed be less costly on a net basis when factoring reduced summer rents and lower live-in costs versus dorms and private apartments. Finally, the Minnesota campus is markedly more residential than thirty years ago. Development of over a dozen large for-profit private dorms and many upgraded apartments has increased the average quality and quantity of near-campus housing and has increased their average expense. The result has been that fraternities and sororities, previously perceived as among the more expensive housing options now range from "in line with" or even lower than the average cost of dorms or apartments.^[29][30]

Addressing the claim of exclusivity in recruitment materials, Greek leaders will accept that label as another way of saying they promote high standards. All fraternities are by definition self-selective. But, they clarify, so are all friendships. Further, they state, "U" students all have passed a bar of exclusivity by getting into the increasingly selective University itself. With an array of student groups numbering in the thousands, and a multitude of Greek chapter personalities, fraternity and sorority proponents are confident that all students who wish to join a Greek society can find one where they can flourish.^[28] The matter of religious and race exclusivity appears to have passed several generations ago: While some chapters are historically black, Hispanic, or Asian-oriented, there is no race exclusivity or other discrimination exclusivity in any of Minnesota's chapters. All are integrated, and have been for some time. Minnesota was the second Big Ten school (after Wisconsin) to see its fraternities and sororities drop all bias clauses (race, color or creed) from their bylaws and policies. Older chapters have been integrated since the 1950s and 1960s^[7] and the multi-cultural Greek chapters since their founding in more recent years.^[31]

Benefits to student and campus

Greek society participation was strongly correlated with a more positive student experience in a study conducted by the Student Organization Development Center in 1987.^[32] In 2017, the 60 current chapters of the Inter-fraternity Council, Pan-Hellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council and National Panhellenic Council provided 30,000 hours of volunteering in the surrounding community. The organizations also provide fundraising for various organizations in 2017 groups raised $200,000 for various causes.^[1]

Minnesota's Fraternity and Sorority system is over 145 years old.

Community Standards Housing Inc. was incorporated by several chapters to improve Greek Housing. While CSHI's proposed Greek Village development for the 1700 block of University Avenue was not adopted in 2011, in March 2012, University President Kaler followed up on his promise at that time with formation of a Greek Community Strategic Task Force (GCSTF), with the Charge to the group that "emphasized the need to develop a sustainable and robust relationship between the University and the Greek community." He stated, "[The Greeks] get better grades, graduate sooner, and give more money to the University." Under his direction, the UM Foundation has been collecting data on Greek participation for all students, a data point that had been only sporadically kept prior to 2012.^[9]

Academic and social fraternities and sororities

For brevity, the sections below make extensive use of Greek letters, one of the first items in a new member's instruction program. Most fraternities use two or three Greek letters to signify their symbolic or secret names; a few use non Greek words.^[33] The main listing for each fraternity or sorority shows their full name at least once, with references and Wikilinks as available.

Fraternities constituting the Interfraternity Council (IFC)

Listed with dates of local founding and national conference membership, these are men's organizations at the University of Minnesota, voluntarily coordinating their efforts within the campus IFC. While most IFC chapters are based in Minneapolis, several call St. Paul their home. After a period of level membership, for various reasons, fraternity membership is increasing rapidly. Average chapter size is 50, and several chapters exceed 100 men.

Fraternity buildings are generally owned by chapter alumni organizations. Some chapters are non-residential, while a few rent or lease space.

As part of IFC or national organization self-governance, or University disciplinary action, chapters may be suspended ("de-recognized") or closed for a time. When a chapter is closed and/or forfeits its housing, it will be listed as a dormant chapter. See the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life (OFSL) for current recognized IFC members.
(NIC) indicates members of the North-American Interfraternity Conference.
(PFA) indicates members of the Professional Fraternity Association.

Active academic and social fraternity chapters at Minnesota

• ΧΨ Chi Psi, 1874 (NIC)^{[7][34][35][36][pic1]}
• ΦΔΘ Phi Delta Theta, 1881–1994, 2010^[37][38][39]
• ΔΤΔ Delta Tau Delta, 1883 (NIC)^[40][36]
• ΦΚΨ Phi Kappa Psi, 1888 (NIC)^{[41][36][pic1]}
• ΣΧ Sigma Chi, 1888 (NIC)^[42][43][36]
• ΒΘΠ Beta Theta Pi, 1889 (NIC)^[44][45][36]
• ΔΚΕ Delta Kappa Epsilon, 1889 (NIC)^[46][36]
• ΦΓΔ Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI), 1890 (NIC)^{[12][47][48][36]}
• ΑΔΦ Alpha Delta Phi, 1892–1996, 2000 (NIC)^{[49][50][51][36]}
• ΔΧ Delta Chi, 1892 (NIC)^[52]
• ΖΨ Zeta Psi, 1899–1982, 1987–2007, 2016 (NIC)^[53][54]
• ΚΣ Kappa Sigma, 1901^{[39][55][36][pic1]}
• ΑΤΩ Alpha Tau Omega, 1902 (NIC)^[56][57][36]
• ΣΑΕ Sigma Alpha Epsilon, 1902 (NIC)^[58][36]
• ΣΝ Sigma Nu, 1904 (NIC)^[59][36]
• ΦΣΚ Phi Sigma Kappa, 1910 (NIC)^{[60][61][62][36][pic1]}
• ΑΦΑ Alpha Phi Alpha, 1912 (NPHC & NIC)^[63]
• ΣΑΜ Sigma Alpha Mu, 1915 (NIC)^[64]
• ΦΚΣ Phi Kappa Sigma, 1916–43, 2013 (NIC)^[65][36]
• ΑΣΦ Alpha Sigma Phi Colony, 1916–35, 2013 (NIC)^[66]
• ΣΦΕ Sigma Phi Epsilon, 1916–41, 1949–58, 1978 (NIC)^{[67][68][pic1]}
• ΑΓΡ Alpha Gamma Rho, 1917 (NIC & PFA)^[69][70]
• ΤΚΕ Tau Kappa Epsilon, 1917–40?, 1948–63, 1979–87, 2014^{[39][71][pic1]}
• ΠΚΑ Pi Kappa Alpha, 1922–36, 1986–2000, 2006 (NIC)^[72]
• Triangle, 1922 (NIC)^[73]
• ΘΧ Theta Chi, 1924–2000, 2013 (NIC)^{[74][36][pic1]}
• FH FarmHouse, 1931 (NIC)^[75][76]
• ΑΕΠ Alpha Epsilon Pi, 1949–73, 2004 (NIC)^[77][78][79]
• ΣΠ Sigma Pi, 2008 (NIC)^[80]

Chapters whose names changed

ΘΦ - Theta Phi, 1879–91 (local), became ΨΥ ^[81]

Thulanian, 1889–1924 (local), became ΘΧ ^[82]

Varsity Club, 1893–97 (local), became ΚΦΥ (see ΖΨ) ^[83]

ΚΦΥ - Kappa Phi Upsilon, 1897–99 (local), became ΖΨ ^[83]

ΑΤΔ - Alpha Tau Delta, pre-1902 (local), became ΑΤΩ ^{[49]:8th ed}

Acacia Club, 1903-06, became Acacia Fraternity ^[84]

FLX Club, 1906–10 (local), became ΦΣΚ ^[85]

ΧΡΘ - Chi Rho Theta, 1907–16 (local), became ΣΦΕ ^[86]

Svithiod, 1911–21 (local), became ΧΔΞ (see ΧΦ) ^[87]

ΞΨΘ - Xi Psi Theta, 1914–23 (local), became ΦΕΠ ^[88]

Omar Club, 1914–15 (local), became ΑΘΨ (see ΑΣΦ) ^[9][89]

ΑΚΦ - Alpha Kappa Phi, 1915–16 (local), became ΦΚΣ ^[90]

ΑΘΨ - Alpha Theta Psi, 1915-16 (local), became ΑΣΦ ^[9][91]

Mandarin Club, 1919-1923 (local), became ΜΔΦ (see ΛΧΑ) ^[92]

ΧΔΞ - Chi Delta Xi, 1921–28 (local), became ΧΦ ^[93]

Sphinx, 1922–25 (local), became ΛΧΑ ^[94]

ΜΔΦ - Mu Delta Phi, 1923-1925 (local), became ΘΚΝ (see ΛΧΑ) ^[92]

ΦΕΠ - Phi Epsilon Pi, 1923–70, (see ΖΒΤ) ^[95][96]

ΘΚΝ - Theta Kappa Nu, 1925–33, dormant. (See ΛΧΑ) ^[97][92]

ΦΒΔ - Phi Beta Delta, 1925–31, dormant, (see ΠΛΦ) ^[98][99]

ΦΚ - Phi Kappa, 1947–59, became ΦΚΘ ^[100]

Dormant fraternity chapters

ΔΥ Delta Upsilon, 1890–1986, 1991-2018 (NIC), dormant ^[101][102]

ΨΥ - Psi Upsilon, 1891–1993 (NIC), dormant ^{[103][36][pic1]}

ΘΔΧ - Theta Delta Chi, 1892–1984 (NIC), dormant ^[49][104]

ΘΝΕ - Theta Nu Epsilon, 1893–1900?, -1934 (later NIC), dormant ^{[49]:VIII-26 [105][106]}

Acacia, 1906–1978, 1983–93 (NIC), dormant ^{[107][108][109][pic1]}

ΘΞ - Theta Xi, 1920–65 (NIC), dormant ^[9][49][110]

ΒΣΕ - Beta Sigma Epsilon, 1924–30 (local), Jewish, dormant ^[111]

ΧΣΦ - Chi Sigma Phi, 1924–30 (local), dormant ^[112]

ΛΧΑ - Lambda Chi Alpha, 1925–38, 1947–59 (NIC), dormant ^[49][113]

ΠΛΦ - Pi Lambda Phi, 1925–31 (NIC), dormant ^[98]

ΤΔΦ - Tau Delta Phi, 1928–52 (NIC), Jewish, dormant ^[79][114]

ΧΦ - Chi Phi, 1928–43, 1946–94 (NIC), dormant ^[115][116]

ΦΚΘ - Phi Kappa Theta, 1947–61 (NIC), dormant ^[49][117]

ΖΒΤ - Zeta Beta Tau, 1949–53 (NIC), (1914–70 as ΞΨΘ or ΦΕΠ), dormant ^{[79][118][119]}

ΒΣΨ - Beta Sigma Psi, 1963–83 (NIC), Lutheran Church, dormant ^[49][120]

ΔΣΦ - Delta Sigma Phi, 1967–71, 1985–86 (colonies only) (NIC), dormant ^[121][122]

ΩΝΑ - Omega Nu Alpha, 2000–13 (local), dormant ^[123]

The Frontispiece section for the 1916 Minnesota Gopher Yearbook shows a representation of the sororities

Multicultural (MGC) and national Panhellenic councils (NPHC)

Originally ethnic or language-affiliated, these organizations are now fully integrated – as are Minnesota's general Greek letter organizations. Their historical affiliation may be reviewed by reading their local or national histories. Some of the men's groups also participate in IFC events, and the women's groups in PHC events.

MGC and NPHC chapters are non-residential. The inter-Greek councils often cooperate on programs and policies, as do individual chapters from among the several Greek councils.

Listed with dates of local founding and national conference membership, these are either men's or women's organizations, voluntarily coordinating their efforts within the larger Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) and for some, in the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). See the Office for Fraternity and Sorority Life (OFSL) for current MGC and NPHC chapters.
(NALFO) indicates members of the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations;
(NAPA) indicates members of the National APIA Panhellenic Association;
(NPHC) indicates members of the National Pan-Hellenic Council.

Men's NPHC chapters ΑΦΑ Alpha Phi Alpha, 1912 (NPHC & NIC)[177] ΩΨΦ Omega Psi Phi, 1921 (NPHC)[178] ΚΑΨ Kappa Alpha Psi, 1924-1967+, 1978 (NPHC, NIC)[179][180] ΦΒΣ Phi Beta Sigma, 1985–89, 2008 (NPHC & NIC)[181] Men's MGC chapters ΔΛΦ Delta Lambda Phi, 1987, (MGC), gay, bi and progressive men[182][183] ΣΛΒ Sigma Lambda Beta, 1999 (MGC & NIC) Latino interest[184] ΒΧΘ Beta Chi Theta, 2006 (NAPA & NIC) South Asian interest[185][186] ΠΔΨ Pi Delta Psi, 2011 (NAPA) colony, Asian-American interest[187] ΣΒΡ - Sigma Beta Rho 2013-2015 (NAPA & NIC), South Asian interest, dormant[188]

Women's NPHC chapters ΑΚΑ Alpha Kappa Alpha, pre-1945-59+, 1979 (NPHC)[49][189][190] ΔΣΘ Delta Sigma Theta, 1975 (NPHC)[191] ΖΦΒ Zeta Phi Beta, 1997 (NPHC)[192] ΣΓΡ - Sigma Gamma Rho, 1970-2005+ (NPHC), dormant [193] Women's MGC chapters ΣΛΓ Sigma Lambda Gamma, 2000 (formerly NALFO), Latina and multicultural[194] ΔΦΩ Delta Phi Omega, 2011 (NAPA), colony, South Asian interest[195] ΑΦΓ Alpha Phi Gamma, 2014 (NAPA), Asian interest[196] ΣΨΖ Sigma Psi Zeta, 2014 (NAPA), Asian interest[197][198]

Frontispiece from the 1922 Minnesota Gopher Yearbook introducing the year's list of honors societies.

Honor, professional, service and recognition societies

Honorific, professional and service organizations have a similarly long history of activity on the University of Minnesota campus. They are currently not grouped with the social fraternities and sororities.^[1] However, some also associate with social fraternities and societies. They may also use of chapter and national organizational hierarchy, and their use of Greek Letters as identification. Some of these are populated by graduate students, a few exclusively so. As a rule, the honor and professional societies focus on specific academic, professional or service missions. Historically too there has been significant crossover and cooperation between types; some professional societies have revised themselves into non-residential honor groups. In contrast, several professional organizations have gone the other direction to conference among the academic and social chapters.^[199] But most remain oriented toward senior students (including 3rd and 4th year students) and graduate students. Social/academic fraternity or sorority membership is not a requirement for these groups. Individuals who meet a group's criteria may join or be "tapped," or asked to join, as may non-Greek students. Multiple affiliations may be allowable as membership is frequently not exclusive to one group - see individual societies for details. Activity varies; some of the professional and service groups are residential, while the honors societies may meet only quarterly or annually, if at all. The cut-off line where any campus organization falls within these headings or without is by long-established convention; those formed prior to 1990 are listed under the subheadings used by various volumes of the Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities, which for more than a century has been the data source of record for such organizations. Newer groups have been placed in categories similar to Baird's. The latest version of Baird's, 1991, was published before the national development of some of the societies here, and therefore, position and inclusion is, in some cases, assumptive.^[49]

The Phi Beta Kappa Key. Minnesota's chapter was formed in 1892.

Honor and recognition societies

Honor societies recognize students who excel academically or as leaders among their peers, usually within a specific academic discipline. Because of the age, size and research focus of the University of Minnesota, it hosts a wide variety of these organizations. Members commonly include the society on their résumé/CV, which may serve to bolster grad school acceptance, publishing merit, and professional opportunities.

Listed by date of local founding with national conference membership, these are co-ed, non-residential, achievement-based organizations which self-select members based on published criteria.

At graduation, or at times of formal academic processionals, graduates, administrators, PhD holders and post-doctoral fellows wear academic robes in the colors of their degree, school and other distinction, according to a voluntary Intercollegiate Code that governs customs such as formal academic regalia. In addition, various colored devices such as stoles, scarfs, cords, tassels, and medallions are used to indicate membership in a student's honor society; cords and mortarboard tassels are most common. Phi Beta Kappa, the first honor society, locally founded at Minnesota in 1892, has used      Pink and      Sky blue since its national founding in 1776. Hence, students tapped for ΦΒΚ may wear tassels or other society-approved items, in these colors. Like most schools, the University of Minnesota allows such regalia for honor society members. Stoles are less common, but they are used by a few honor societies. In academic circles, colors are well-known, and follow long-standing protocols. The ACHS website lists the colors for their 68 member organizations, and the Honor society WP page lists others.

Multi-colored tassels, cords and stoles are noticeable over black graduation robes.

Many honor societies invite students to become members based on scholastic rank (the top x% of a class) and/or grade point, either overall, or for classes taken within the discipline for which the honor society provides recognition. In cases where academic achievement would not be an appropriate criterion for membership, other standards are required for membership (such as completion of a particular ceremony or training program). These societies recognize past achievement. Pledging is not required, and new candidates may be immediately inducted into membership after meeting predetermined academic criteria and paying a one-time membership fee. Some require graduate enrollment. Because of their purpose of recognition, most honor societies will have much higher academic achievement requirements for membership than professional societies. It is also common for a scholastic honor society to add a criterion relating to the character of the student. Some honor societies are invitation only while others allow unsolicited applications. Finally, membership in an honor society might be considered exclusive, i.e., a member of such an organization cannot join other honor societies representing the same field. Governance requires a faculty sponsor and each society remains faculty-guided, usually with alumni input.
(ACHS) indicates members of the Association of College Honor Societies.

Active honor and recognition societies

ΦΔΦ Phi Delta Phi, 1891, legal honors[200] ΦΒΚ Phi Beta Kappa, 1892, academic honors [49][201] ΣΞ Sigma Xi, 1896, graduate science and engineering honors [49] Mortar Board, 1903–19 as local, 1919 (ACHS), scholarship, leadership and public service honors[202][203][204] Iron Wedge, 1911-197x, 1985 (local), Greek interfraternalism, merit and leadership, Seniors, now secret[205] ΑΩΑ Alpha Omega Alpha, 1908, graduate medical honors [49] ΦΥΟ Phi Upsilon Omicron, 1909 (ACHS), family and consumer sciences honors[206] ΤΒΠ Tau Beta Pi, 1910 (ACHS), engineering honors[203][207] ΦΛΥ Phi Lambda Upsilon, 1910 (ACHS), chemistry honors [49][208] Order of the Coif, 1915, law school graduates honors [49] ΓΣΔ Gamma Sigma Delta, 1917, agriculture honors [49][209][210] ΤΣΔ Tau Sigma Delta, 1917-20xx, 2012 (ACHS), architecture and allied arts honors[203][211][212] ΠΛΘ Pi Lambda Theta, 1917 (ACHS), women's education honors[213] ΔΦΔ Delta Phi Delta, 1919, art honors[214] ΗΚΝ Eta Kappa Nu, 1920, IEEE affiliation, electrical engineering, computer engineering honors.[49][215] ΞΣΠ Xi Sigma Pi, 1920, forestry honors [49][216] ΒΓΣ Beta Gamma Sigma, 1921 (ACHS), business academic honors[203][217] ΠΤΣ Pi Tau Sigma, 1922 (ACHS), mechanical engineering honors[218] Block and Bridle, 1923, animal livestock honors[219] ΧΕ Chi Epsilon, 1923 (ACHS), civil engineering honors[203][220] ΙΣΠ Iota Sigma Pi, 1923, women's, chemistry and related sciences honors [49][221][222] Phalanx, 1925 (earlier?)-1950+, military, cadets honors, dormant [223]

Plumb Bob, 1926 (local), technical studies honors[224] ΕΣΠ Epsilon Sigma Phi, 1927, extension student honors[225][226] ΟΚΥ Omicron Kappa Upsilon, 1929, dentistry honors[227] ΡΧ Rho Chi, 1930 (ACHS), pharmacy honors [49][228][229] ΣΕΣ Sigma Epsilon Sigma, 1930, freshman women, scholarship honors[230] ΠΣΗ Pi Sigma Eta 1930, mortuary science honors [231] ΒΑΨ Beta Alpha Psi, 1931, accounting, finance and information systems honors [49][232] ΣΘΤ Sigma Theta Tau, 1934 (ACHS), nursing honors[203][233] ΩΧΕ Omega Chi Epsilon, 1934 (ACHS), chemical engineering honors[234] ΨΧ Psi Chi, 1936 (ACHS), psychology honors[203][235][236] ΦΑΘ Phi Alpha Theta, 1937 (ACHS), history honors[203][237] ΚΤΑ Kappa Tau Alpha, 1948 (ACHS), journalism, mass communication honors[203][238] AAS Arnold Air Society, pre-1949, Air Force cadet honors [49] ΠΔΦ Pi Delta Phi, 1950 (ACHS), French honors [49][239][240] ΤΒΣ Tau Beta Sigma, 1952 (NIMC), co-ed band honors[2][241] ΦΖ Phi Zeta, 1952, graduate veterinary medicine honors [49][242] ΣΓΤ Sigma Gamma Tau, 1953 (ACHS), aerospace honors[49][243] Silver Wings, 1954, National defense oriented service organization [49][244] ΑΚΔ Alpha Kappa Delta, 1956 (ACHS), sociology honors[203][245] ΠΚΛ Pi Kappa Lambda, 1958 (ACHS), music honors[203][246] ΣΦΑ Sigma Phi Alpha, 1958, dental hygiene honors[247] Evans Scholars, 1958, (residential) golf caddies honors[248] ΑΕ Alpha Epsilon, 1960 (ACHS), agricultural, food, and biological engineering honors[203]

ΠΑΞ Pi Alpha Xi, 1968, horticulture honors[249][250] ΡΛ Rho Lambda, 1974, women's Greek leadership honors[251] ΦΚΦ Phi Kappa Phi, 1974, honors, all disciplines [252] ΟΔΕ Omicron Delta Epsilon, 1977 (ACHS), economics honors[203] Order of Omega, 1979, Greek society leadership honors [49][253][254] ΣΠΣ Sigma Pi Sigma, 1979 (ACHS), physics honors[203] ΣΛΑ Sigma Lambda Alpha, 1979 (ACHS), landscape architecture honors[203][255] Golden Key, 1982, high achievement in academics, leadership & service[49][256] ΑΕΔ Alpha Epsilon Delta, 1993 (ACHS), pre-med honors [257][258] ΦΛΣ Phi Lambda Sigma, 1993, pharmacy leadership society[259] ΚΚΨ Kappa Kappa Psi, 1994 (NIMC), band and performance honors[260][261] Collegiate Scholars Nat'l Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), 1999 (ACHS), high achievement[203][262] ΠΑΑ Pi Alpha Alpha, 2010, public administration honors [263] Order of the Sword & Shield or ΟΣΣ Omicron Sigma Sigma, 2011?, honors for homeland security, intelligence, emergency management and protective security disciplines[264] ΤΣ Tau Sigma, 2014, honoring transfer students for academic achievement and involvement[265][266] ΣΑΛ Sigma Alpha Lambda, 20xx, leadership and service honors[267] ΣΛΧ Sigma Lambda Chi, 2017, construction management honors[268][269] ΦΒΔ Phi Beta Delta, 1990?, international scholars honors[270] National fraternity key societies - There are many of these, often provided to members of national academic and social fraternities and sororities. They provide a subtle way of noting fraternity membership on a résumé, and tying it to academic achievement.

Chapters whose name changed

ΘΣΦ - Theta Sigma Phi, 1911–68+, women's journalism honors, became the Assn for Women in Communications,[271][272] Honors Society of Agriculture, 1915–17 (local), agriculture honorary, became ΓΣΔ [49]:VI-119 [273] ΓΕΠ - Gamma Epsilon Pi, 1918–33, women's, commerce honorary, dormant, See ΒΓΣ [274] ΟΝ - Omicron Nu, 1923–1980+, home economics, became ΚΟΝ [275] ΘΝ - Theta Nu, 1944–52 (local), women's band honorary, became ΤΒΣ [276] ΤΩ - Tau Omega, 1943–53, aerospace engineering honors, became ΣΓΤ - Sigma Gamma Tau [277] Angel Flight, 1954, auxiliary to Arnold Air Society, became Silver Wings [278] Dormant honor and recognition societies ΠΒΝ - Pi Beta Nu, 1888–93+ (local), senior honors, limited to five per class, dormant [279] Scabbard and Blade, 1903–80+ (ACHS), military honors, dormant? [203][280] ΔΣΡ-ΤΚΑ - Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha , 1906-1980+, 2012?-2014? forensics honor, dormant [281][282] ΛΑΨ - Lambda Alpha Psi, 1908–24+ (local), languages honors, dormant [283] ΜΦΔ - Mu Phi Delta, 1908–15+ (local), men's and women's music honors, dormant [284] Grey Friars, 1909–70+, (local) Senior men, of honors and service to the University, dormant [285] Association for Women in Communications, 1911–59+, women's journalism honors, dormant [286][272] ΣΔΨ - Sigma Delta Psi, 1914?-1970+, national athletics recognition society, dormant ? [49][287][288] ΚΡ - Kappa Rho, 1914–34+ (local), women's forensics honors(?), dormant [289] Skin and Bones, 1915–31+ (local), woman's inter-sorority honors, juniors, dormant [290] White Dragon, 1916–68+ (local), Juniors, inter-fraternity honors (originally ΧΨ, ΦΚΨ, ΨΥ, ΑΔΦ, ΔΚΕ, later included others), dormant [291] ΖΚΨ - Zeta Kappa Psi, 1917-19xx, women's forensics honors, dormant [292] ΔΦΛ - Delta Phi Lambda, 1917–31+ (local), women's creative writing honors, dormant [293] Incus, 1917–31+ (local), medical honorary, dormant [294] Silver Spur, 1918-1959+, leadership honors, dormant, national disbanded in 2006 [295]

ΤΥΚ - Tau Upsilon Kappa, 1919–31+ (local), men's inter-fraternity honors, dormant [296] Mortar and Ball, 1920–48+, advanced military cadets honorary, dormant [297] ΩΗΜ - Omega Eta Mu, pre-1921-19xx (local), dentistry honorary, dormant [298] ΠΑ - Pi Alpha, 1921-19xx (local), art honorary, dormant [299] ΦΣΦ - Phi Sigma Phi, 1921–70+ (local), music and University Band honors, became the BSO [300] ΑΠΩ - Alpha Pi Omega, 1922-19xx (local), School of Mines honorary, dormant [301] ΔΣΨ - Delta Sigma Psi, 1922–1924+ (local), scholarship and investigation in Norwegian literature, dormant [302] ΣΓΕ - Sigma Gamma Epsilon, 1922-1944+, earth sciences honors, dormant [303] ΠΔΕ - Pi Delta Epsilon, 1922-19xx, journalism honorary, dormant? [304] ΠΕΔ National Collegiate Players or Pi Epsilon Delta, 1922–1970+, theater honors, dormant, national disbanded [49] Torch and Distaff, 1922–1931+ (local), home economics honors, dormant [305] ΚΒΦ - Kappa Beta Phi, 1923–1935 ?, financial honors, dormant [306] ΚΟΝ - Kappa Omicron Nu, 1923–80+, (ACHS), humanities honors, dormant [203][275] ΑΔΣ - Alpha Delta Sigma (AAF), 1923–68+, advertising honors, dormant [307] ΠΤΠΣ Pi Tau Pi Sigma, 1925 military, signal corps honors, dormant [308] ΑΣΠ - Alpha Sigma Pi, 1926-1964 (local), senior men's education honors, dormant [309] Phoenix, 1930–59+ (local), junior men's service and recognition, dormant [310] ΗΣΥ - Eta Sigma Upsilon, 1933–1964 (local), senior women's education honors, dormant [311] Orbs, 1935-66+ (local), women's medical technology honors, dormant [312] Commacini Club, 1936-43 (local), architecture honorary, dormant [313] ΒΦΒ - Beta Phi Beta, pre-1943-44+ (local), General College honorary, dormant [314] ΣΓΤ - Sigma Gamma Tau, 1943–96?, aerospace engineering honors, dormant [277][315] Chimes, 1948–70, junior women's honors, dormant [316] ΟΔΚ - Omicron Delta Kappa, 1976–2010, leadership and academic honors, dormant [317] ΓΘΥ - Gamma Theta Upsilon, 1990–2006 (ACHS), geography honors, dormant [203][318]

Religious-themed fraternities and sororities

Primarily active during the 1940s and 1950s, these groups were formed in response to student interest in Greek life for those who required a closer association with peers of the same faith tradition. Some were local organizations, some national. Some were residential, and all were co-ed unless noted. Note that some religious-themed and residential fraternities and sororities are listed under the Academic and Social groups by their choice. Many other religious-oriented groups on campus are NOT designed to resemble fraternities, and are not listed here. Groups are listed by date of local founding.

Other student organizations

The 2013–14 University of Minnesota Student Group search page included over 1,100 unique organizations. Major groupings include Greek-affiliation societies as listed on this page, which are further subdivided into academic/social, honors, professional societies, service groups, or recognition groups.

References

For active groups, stable chapter website links have been referenced when available. Alternatively, either a national website or the group's University of Minnesota portal has been noted, which, in turn, may provide contact information and/or a link to a current organization website as reported annually at the time of the group's registration. Student groups are required to register each year, making the University of Minnesota portal page a convenient place to find up-to-date contact information.

Where an address is noted these are from (A) Minnesota Gopher yearbooks dated 1888–1967, (B) chapter websites, (C) national organization websites, (D) The Conservancy website, showing annual Student Organization Directories, or (E) the Zellie Fraternity Row study for the City of Minneapolis Historical Preservation Commission, cited below.

External links

• Links to informational pages (IFC, Panhel, etc.) about all of the fraternities & sororities at Minnesota
• Office for Fraternities and Sororities Life at the University of Minnesota
• University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
• Minnesota Gopher Yearbook Archive
• University of Minnesota Conservancy - an archive
• List of Famous Minnesota Greeks