Sorority and Fraternity Costs

[AGDee]

I definitely remember being ticked off about being nickled and dimed to death as a collegian. It seemed like every time I turned around there was something else we had to pay for. It got to where you'd be wondering "Why am I paying dues then?". I like the idea of an all inclusive, although I would think that dates would have a formal fee that was separate, as alumnae do, in a budget system like that. Chances are, since nobody attends everything, that it all equals out over the year. If you didn't go to 4 mixers but went to formal and someone else went all the mixers but didn't go to formal, the costs all even out.

I also liked the concept that we implemented after I graduated, which was a purchase fund. At the beginning of the semester, you'd put a certain amount in your fund (like $50) and then when you ordered special t-shirts or favors, etc, it came out of your purchase fund. When you graduated, if you had money left in that fund, it was refunded to you or you could just donate it to the chapter. It was easier than coming up with $8 here and $10 there on a really tight budget. It took some extra accounting, but it was really helpful. Since we didn't have an all inclusive budget, like for formal, you could also pay for those types of things from your purchase fund. Since I always had more money in September than any other time of the year, I would've liked that system as a collegian.

Dee

[Zillini]

Interesting seeing all the different dues/fees charged, even with some of them being rather dated. As Bama_Alumna said early on, it's sort of taboo to talk about money during recruitment here. I was unaware that the Green Book said costs must be disclosed. I'm going to research this some more.

Even though averages are disclosed by our Panhellenic, I don't think the PNM's or their parents pay too much attention. Our chapter tries very hard to be right in the middle of the pack. Still, I often see some pretty surprised new members when that first bill gets sent.

ADPi uses an all inclusive billing and at least the members I've worked with over the years like it that way. They want to know up front exactly how much it's going to cost for the entire semester and year. The only additional costs to them should be for t-shirts and such. This way they can budget their own money accordingly.

However, I understand the logic that some have pointed out that it can be unfair to charge members for a formal and then they aren't able to attend. That's one of the reasons why we try to plan these well in advance so that members can adjust their schedules accordingly. Of course we're not able to accomodate 150 members schedules. That's just the way it goes sometimes, but they all know it ahead of time.

But if we used that logic for social functions, in all fairness we'd have to apply it to everything. Major problems with meal plans come to mind. We charge all members for meals regardless of whether they eat at the house or not. We don't issue refunds if they don't eat.

Off on a tangent:

Speaking of meals, there's something that I found rather surprising when I first started here. The University of Alabama requires all women who pledge a sorority to cancel their University meal plan and sign up for the sorority's plan. I'm not sure if new fraternity members have to do the same thing because not all the men's houses have meal plans.

I don't know if the University is trying to cut down on potential overcrowding in the cafeterias or what. It's one of those things I've always meant to ask someone about, but keep forgetting. Perhaps some of the knowledgable Bama folks here have the answer.

[flirt5721]

Our dues are $430 each semster for active and $500 for new member a semster. However if you want to live in the house its more. For a single room its $400/month and for a double is $350/month. I also love the fact the we use Omega Financial to pay our due, so we can pay online and also give payment whenever before the due date.

[bekibug]

Indeedy, OmegaFi is purty spiffy.

[33girl]

Originally posted by Zillini
However, I understand the logic that some have pointed out that it can be unfair to charge members for a formal and then they aren't able to attend. That's one of the reasons why we try to plan these well in advance so that members can adjust their schedules accordingly. Of course we're not able to accomodate 150 members schedules. That's just the way it goes sometimes, but they all know it ahead of time.

But if we used that logic for social functions, in all fairness we'd have to apply it to everything. Major problems with meal plans come to mind. We charge all members for meals regardless of whether they eat at the house or not. We don't issue refunds if they don't eat.

And this is a very different situation that what Little E and I are talking about...our chapters are/were much smaller than that. And we didn't have a house with an institutional size dining room/kitchen.

[Zillini]

Gotcha 33girl. I hope you didn't take any offense as I was only explaining our situation.

Frankly there are times when I envy chapters that don't have houses. Housing and meals add a whole other set of headaches. Repairs, maintence, staff, even preparing menus that everyone likes are a real challenge. We're lucky to have such a beautiful house and we've got a waiting list for members who want to live in. (We can only house 39 of our 150 members.) But it's alot of work to make it all run smoothly.

[Rosealum]

During the formal recruitment parties at my school, there MUST be at least 1 display with all the finances listed. It is a lot easier on everyone upfront to know if someone can't afford it if payment plans can't be worked out.

[CarolinaDG]

It makes sense. It would stop a lot of girls from dropping. I remember a rumor going around that one sorority asked in second round what the PNM's parents did and made (which, for the record, they don't actually... I was in there). My thought was, so what if they do? At least you'd get it all out up front... can this person really afford to be here, or are we "wasting" a bid on a girl who's just going to drop when she hears she needs to write a check for $400 right away?

[33girl]

Originally posted by CarolinaDG
It makes sense. It would stop a lot of girls from dropping. I remember a rumor going around that one sorority asked in second round what the PNM's parents did and made (which, for the record, they don't actually... I was in there). My thought was, so what if they do? At least you'd get it all out up front... can this person really afford to be here, or are we "wasting" a bid on a girl who's just going to drop when she hears she needs to write a check for $400 right away?

"My dad works for Enron!" Yeah, that would have worked LOL.

Seriously, asking what someone's parents do the minute you meet them is really intrusive and offensive and not necessary. Plus it's pointless - you never know - the parents could be both working at Burger King and the PNM has a trust fund reserved for her from a great aunt or something. Not to mention the people who have "high prestige" jobs that are in debt up to their eyeballs.

By all means, have financial info available so the PNMs can judge for themselves if they can afford it - but for someone else to make that decision from stereotypes and assumptions is pretty repulsive.

[broomstick]

I pay about $1,800 a semester for rent at my frat, but that includes all utilities, high speed internet, cable, and 9 catered meals a week (lunch and dinner monday through thursday and lunch on friday).

our dues are only about $300 or so a semester.

[ArizonaDelt]

DTD fraternity fees (including food mon-fri):

$250/month first two months (while you're a pledge)
$150/month for actives.

If you want to live in the house after your freshman year, your total cost (food, rent, etc) is $650/month. I am trying to be an RA this coming year (2006-07) to cover some of the costs of my dues seeing as how I'm struggling to pay for school right now (parents are not helping at all). Before y'all give me a hard time about being an RA, it only requires 5 hours a week commitment and you get a free dorm AND $700/semester for food. That would allow me so much more freedom!

[jwright25]

Our Panhellenic started something new with Fall 2005 Formal Recruitment. Each chapter submitted a detailed accounting of the financial obligations for new members. Not just numbers, but descriptions of what you actually get for your money. Additionally, chapters were expected to list what ADDITIONAL costs might be incurred. For example, my chapter was the highest by about $30, but we do not charge members for any social events. Other chapters had to list that they charge for informal, formal, etc.

We laid out the brochure very nice and professional, yet with fonts and designs matching the other Panhellenic recruitment handouts. We had fun quotes like "If being Greek means buying my friends, then it’s the BEST investment I ever made!!"

At least in the chapter I advise, and reportedly in the others as well, there were MANY MANY fewer financial issues amongst the new member classes. Everyone was well informed, and no one depledged for financial reasons.

[ilikehazing]

The majority of ours are around upwards of 1000 a semester, not living in the house.