What is a fraternity or sorority?
Fraternities (men) and sororities (women) are student associations—sometimes referred to as secret, Greek-lettered societies. Fraternities and sororities have been part of the higher education landscape for almost two centuries. The first fraternity at the UMass Amherst (then the Massachusetts Agricultural College) was founded in 1869, and the first sorority was founded in 1916. Most fraternities and sororities are affiliated with a national organization, although our campus hosts three UMASS-Amherst only chapters—often called “locals.” Social fraternities and sororities should not be confused with the many academic and honor societies that operate on the campus. Go to the section on Greek Life for more.
