Community History

Fraternity and Sorority Life has been at the University of Iowa for over 160 years since the founding of the first chapter, Beta Theta Pi, in 1866. Since the founding of the first chapter on campus, the Fraternity and Sorority Life community has grown to 40+ chapters across 4 governing councils (Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Panhellenic Council) with over 3,800 students and 16% of the undergraduate student population. The community saw rapid growth with the establishment of the first 2 Panhellenic chapters, Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi, in 1882 and the first National Pan-Hellenic Council chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., in 1914. Out of the active chapters on campus, 23 have been established for over 100 years and 13 chapters have single letter designations in their inter/national organizations. The University of Iowa is also home to 2 Alpha Chapters, meaning that they were founded here on

campus in Danforth Chapel. The 2 Alpha Chapters include Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1986, and Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., founded in 1990. Our chapters are all unique in their own way, rich in tradition, and deeply intertwined with the history of the university itself.

Defining Opportunity 

Being a part of the Fraternity and Sorority Life community at Iowa means caring about Fraternity and Sorority Life's five opportunities. Fraternities and sororities are the opportunity at Iowa to find your place to belong, to serve, to lead, to thrive, and to succeed as a student and throughout life. By joining a fraternity or sorority, you have the opportunity to begin your legacy at Iowa. 

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