Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

What is Greek Life like at Pepperdine?

By becoming a member of the Greek community, what your son will find is a community of leaders, scholars and some of the most spirited and involved students at Pepperdine. Greek life is a chance for students to grow close to men and women around them in a safe environment where leadership and excellence are not only encouraged, but mutually practiced and pursued among friends.

Will my son live in a "house"?

Pepperdine is a different Greek system in that we do not have Greek housing. As the campus is located in Malibu, Greek housing is not permitted by the local council. However, many Greeks live on campus and with the small size of the school, there is a lot of interaction among members. Many upperclassmen choose to live off-campus with fellow sisters, but there is not a formal housing system like many of the larger schools.

Will my child have to deal with hazing?

Since moving to a national Greek system in 1997, Pepperdine has seen a near elimination of hazing of any sort. New Member Education is a time when Greeks build new members up and educate them on the group's history and traditions - it is not an experience designed to be harmful in any way to your student. The Greek Councils and Student Organizations Judicial Board are in place to ensure that no one is hazed and that violations of campus policy are dealt with swiftly and appropriately.

What are the Pepperdine Greek standards on alcohol?

Pepperdine's Greek system and campus administration takes the University commitment to being a dry campus very seriously. Furthermore, the "dry campus" policy extends to events hosted by student organizations off campus, meaning groups cannot simply "take the party elsewhere" without accountability and repercussions. According to campus policy found in the Student Handbook and Student Organizations Handbook, Pepperdine student organizations cannot have alcoholic beverages present at any event on or off campus. Although it would be impossible to say that no drinking, whether underage or legal, ever takes place off campus, groups and individuals are held strictly accountable to this policy by University administration and the Student Organizations Judicial Board. Simply put, you can rest assured the University and Greek community is committed to maintaining an alcohol and hazing free environment for your son or daughter.

What are the financial obligations?

Each group has its own fees, and they range from $400-600 per semester for activities. Some groups may offer payment plans or fundraising opportunities to try to offset some of the costs. Most would agree that the benefits of being in a fraternity or sorority far outweigh the monetary costs.

Will my son's studies be negatively affected?

Our Greeks put a strong emphasis on scholastic achievement. The minimum requirement to join a Greek Organization is a G.P.A. of 2.5, however many organizations hold an internal policy of maintaining a 2.75 GPA or higher. Most group have an Academics Chair or committee to encourage members to keep up in their studies.

Where should I send recommendations?

Recommendations are not a mandatory part of a recruitment application at Pepperdine, although many potential new members do choose to have an active or alumni member from one of the chapters complete a recommendation on their behalf. These letters can be mailed to:

Student Activities- Greek Recommendation Letter
[Name of specific fraternity]
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263-4201