Gamma Phi is colonizing at UCF this fall. We do offer a payment plan for new member dues, but everything must be paid in full by the time of initiation, including your badge, although we offer a couple of very reasonably priced badge choices. There are also payment plans for future semesters (you can spread your dues out monthly). This policy applies to all chapters.
My daughter joined Pi Phi this year, and they also offer a payment plan, but it is considered an exception to the rule, not an "automatic option." We received a parent packet 5 days after Bid Day, and this appears to be their national policy. However, we didn't have to pay anything right away...the charges were due a couple weeks before initiation to Pi Phi's GreekBill website.
I am also in favor of cost transparency. We have been trying to get the Panhellenic to be more up front about dues at the campus where I advise, because every chapter has new members drop due to costs. Quite a few women assume there are scholarships, loans, promissary notes, payment plans, etc. for every group, and while some groups may offer these, they're often not for new member dues. The scholarships tend to be for tuition for initiated members...some are "emergency" based, and some are competitive. Freshmen don't tend to have a lot of experience with finances, so I think the more we can do to make it transparent, the better. I think the advice to call the Greek Life office is very good.
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Gamma Phi Beta
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