Why Go Greek?

Contrary to some of the negative portrayal of Greek-letter organizations in the media, the benefits of Going Greek are many and varied! Here are some of the key benefits:

You make lifelong friends and build a network of resources

• Greek Life provides a great support system during college and beyond
• There are over 6 million members of Greek life nationwide. This provides for an extensive, dynamic network that offers a plethora of academic and professional opportunities

You’re going to be among leaders

• 85% of student leaders on colleges and campuses across the US are also involved in Greek Life
• Two-thirds of the members of Congress and 80 percent of Supreme Court justices are members of fraternities or sororities
• Half of all S & P 500 officers and directors are Greek
• More than 85 percent of student leaders on some 730 campuses are involved in the Greek community

You’re likely to succeed academically and graduate

• A U.S. Government study shows that more than 70 percent of all those who join a Greek organization graduate, while under 50 percent of all non-fraternity/sorority students graduate – that’s 20% HIGHER for Greeks

You’ll make a significant public service commitment

• Greek undergraduates raise anywhere from $7 to $20 million a year for local and national charities
• Greek students dedicate over 10 million hours a year as volunteers or to community service initiatives

Why Omega Phi Beta?

Greek Life is an ever growing, expanding system. With dozens of sororities in existence you, or your love one, have many Greek-letter and women’s organizations to choose from. So what makes Omega Phi Beta different?

Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded on March 15th, 1989 by seventeen visionary women with the intent of fighting against the injustices that women, particularly women of color, have been subjected to in our society. Our founders were academic scholars, student leaders and overall extraordinary women that laid the foundation for a sorority that not only believed in, but actively promoted women’s rights.

Membership in Omega Phi Beta means a life-long commitment to your community, your sisters, and yourself.

A Beta Woman is a better woman! Not better than other women, but better than she used to be.

Leadership

Omega Phi Beta recruits strong, intelligent, dynamic women that are interested in promoting the advancement of their communities. Our programs help develop the leadership potential of our members and assist them in all their professional and personal endeavors.

Academic Excellence

Our academic standards often exceed those set by colleges, universities and other organizations. Our current GPA standard for membership eligibility is a 2.75, among the highest of all NALFO organizations. Additionally, OPBSI has developed academic initiatives aimed at ensuring the academic success of all our members.

Service

Omega Phi Beta focuses on developing leaders who hold service to their community as an integral part of achieving gender equality. OPBSI is consistently engaging in community service efforts to better our respective communities. Our members raise funds and awareness through the local programming initiatives, staff domestic violence hotlines, volunteer at their local women’s shelters, and collect needed items for women and children living in shelters.

Becoming a Beta

Interested in becoming a Beta? There are several roads to membership:

• Collegiate
• Alumnae/Professional
• Expansion
• Honorary

Collegiate

The most common way to become a member is through one of our existing chapters or collectives at an accredited four-year university. Contact a Beta at your school for more information or to express your interest. To find out if OPBSI is chartered at your college or university visit our Chapters and Collectives page – Collegiate Chapters and Collectives.

Basic Requirements for Collegiate Membership:

• Must be an undergraduate or graduate student enrolled at the College/University of an existing chapter or collective
• Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.7
• Must have completed at least one full term/semester (first term Freshmen not eligible)
• May not be affiliated with any other fraternal organization except an honorary or academic/professional one

Alumnae/Professional

In some cases women interested in membership were either unable to pursue it during their undergraduate years or became familiar with OPBSI post-graduation. There are many ways that an alumna or professional member can contribute to the Sorority and benefit from a network of sisters, empowered and motivated to change the world! If you  share our sorority goals and have a passion for creating a new standard for women in the professional and academic worlds as well as in the community, please contact your local Beta at an Alumnae Chapter or Collective. To find out if OPBSI is chartered at a city near you, visit our Chapters and Collectives page – Alumnae Chapters and Collectives.

Basic Requirements for Alumnae/Professional Membership:

• Must posses a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college/university
• Must be gainfully employed, or enrolled in a Graduate program at an accredited college or university
• If enrolled in a Graduate program, must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) or 3.0
• May not be affiliated with any other fraternal organization except an honorary or academic/professional one

Expansion

Expansion is the process of starting new chapters of Omega Phi Beta. OPBSI is always interested in opportunities to expand to supportive colleges and universities. The requirements for membership under an Expansion program are the same as for either a Collegiate or Alumnae/Professional program. If you are interested in pursuing membership through an Expansion program please contact us at Expansion@OmegaPhiBeta.org.

For more information on how to start a chapter of OPBSI, please fill out the following form:

Information Request Form

Information Request Form

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Honorary

The Alpha Alpha Chapter of Omega Phi Beta provides an honorary sisterhood opportunity for remarkable, professional women, who exemplify OPBSI’s mission, vision, goals, and values and epitomize one or all of the following evaluation criteria:

1. A woman who lives her life with integrity.
2. A woman who embraces her capacity to lead and inspire others to make a difference and be a catalyst for change.
3. A woman who is actively involved in her community. She is engaged in service-learning; where she is interested in providing service in response to community-identified concerns and the connection between her service and her role in society.

In order to be considered for honorary membership, a candidate may not be affiliated with any other fraternal organization except an honorary or academic/professional one, must be 35 years of age or older, and she must be nominated by an active member of the organization.

Anti-Hazing Policy

Hazing refers to any activity expected of someone joining a group (or to maintain full status in a group) that humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate. In years past, hazing practices were typically considered harmless pranks or comical antics associated with young men in college fraternities. Presently, hazing extends beyond fraternal organizations and is experienced by school groups, university organizations, athletic teams, the military, and other social and professional organizations.

According to StopHazing.org, “Hazing is a complex social problem that is shaped by power dynamics operating in a group and/or organization and within a particular cultural context.”

Since Omega Phi Beta’s inception in 1989, we have and will continue to take a strong stance against hazing. Our Anti-Hazing initiatives are designed to bring awareness and resources to our membership and the community at large.

Omega Phi Beta defines hazing as:

“…any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off Sorority premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: paddling in any form; creation of excessive fatigue; physical and psychological shocks; quest, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities; the wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts; morally degrading or humiliating activities; late work sessions which interfere with scholastic and educational; success; and any other activities which are not consistent with fraternal law or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution and respective state.”

Omega Phi Beta believes in providing constructive, encouraging, and educational programs and activities during the New Member Education Program for both prospective and current members. OPBSI is opposed to any form of hazing including any activities which do not contribute to the positive development and welfare of its membership and prospective members. Omega Phi Beta believes that true sisterhood is nurtured in an atmosphere of social and moral responsibility.

Any member who engages in hazing a prospective member does not represent Omega Phi Beta or its ideals. Members involved in hazing will be subject to disciplinary action by the Standards Board of the Sorority. Furthermore, any member who engages in hazing is in violation of the law and may be criminally prosecuted and/or sued in a civil court of law for monetary damages.

OMEGA PHI BETA IS AN OFFICIAL SPONSOR OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-HAZING HOTLINE

If you believe that you have been hazed, or if you know somebody who may have been hazed, please call our toll-free Anti-Hazing Hotline at 1-888-NOT-HAZE or (888) 668-4293 or send an e-mail to Policy@OmegaPhiBeta.org. This is an anonymous service.