We are glad your organization is interested in joining MGC. Our expansion policy can be a bit complex so we suggest that if you have not done so already to contact the Iowa State Sorority Fraternity Engagement. Staff there can help get you in contact with the appropriate resources. The process itself of becoming a full member of the council consists of four phases. You can also seek assistance from our council leadership team via the Officers page on this website.

Phase One: Approval by the University Committee on Fraternities and Sororities

Organizations interested in joining the Multicultural Greek Council must first be approved by the University Committee on Fraternities and Sororities (UCFS)  and be recognized as a Greek Organization before submitting an application for transitional membership. Information about UCFS can be obtained through the Iowa State Sorority Fraternity Engagement.

Phase Two: Transitional Membership Application

Once organizations have received approval from UCFS they should submit to the Council President, Council Adviser, and Greek Affairs staff a Transitional Membership Application Packet. This packet should contain:

  • Description of their organization, its purposes, values, and what they want to do on campus, and how they can better the council.
  • Statement from each interested individual about why they want to bring their organization to campus and what they hope to gain.
  • An anticipated timeline of their chartering process.
  • A list of goals for recruitment and a model of recruitment practices.
  • A roster of interested students containing names, emails, and indications of individuals serving as president and secretary or their equivalents.
  • Names, emails, permanent addresses, phone numbers of any supporting inter/national organization staff or alumni.
  • Copy of current organizational constitution and documented meeting minutes.
  • Copy of inter/national constitution, bylaws, rules, or policies regarding colonization and expansion.
  • Descriptions of the amount of financial, planning, and other support and supervision currently received and expected to be received from inter/national organization.
  • Number of current chapters and colonies in the inter/national organization and any expansion efforts on the behalf of the inter/national organization
  • Written statement by the interested party that:
    • They will abstain from any activities that could be considered hazing under the Iowa State University definition.
    • They will obey all council and university policies.
    • They will work to promote the mission and vision of the council.
    • They acknowledge failing to abide by this agreement they risk losing recognition by the council and or Iowa State University.
  • If the organization is returning to campus, they must include:
    • Reasons why the chapter left campus.
    • How the issues were since resolved.
    • Proof that all undergraduate members at the time of leaving campus have since graduated from Iowa State University.

Once the application packet is reviewed and approved by the Council President and Adviser, packet will be sent to the Council Executive Board for discussion and approval. Then once approved by the Council Executive Board the packet will be distributed to current member organizations with a set date that the interested parties will present in person to the General Assembly.

Interested parties will present to MGC General Assembly, followed by a closed debate and voting to approve one calendar year of transitional membership. Should the decision be to deny transitional membership, the interested party has the option to reapply for membership.

Phase Three: Transitional Period

All new organizations must remain in transitional status for a minimum of one academic semester. This time is to allow the organization to get organized, recruit, and be part of the community without all the obligations of full membership. The transitional organization has one calendar year from the time they are approved by the general assembly to either submit to Council President, Adviser, and Greek Affairs Staff a Full Membership Application Packet and get approval of the general assembly for full member status *OR* request from the body an extension of their transitional period by no more than one academic semester

Should the transitional organization fail to attain full membership status by the end of their transitional period they will lose recognition by the council and must wait one calendar year to reapply for transitional membership again.

As long as organizations are in transitional status they will be expected to:

  • Be represented at MGC general assembly in accordance with the council governing documents, same as full members.
  • Pay dues in accordance with the council governing documents.
  • Stay in good standing with Greek Affairs and Student Activities Center.

Questions about expectations and procedures can be directed to council leadership or Greek Affairs Staff.

Phase Four: Full Membership Application

Once transitional organizations have completed a minimum of one semester of transitional membership and they feel they are ready to move on to full membership in the council, they should  submit to the Council President, Council Adviser, and Greek Affairs staff a Full Membership Application Packet containing:

  • Description of their organization, its purposes, values, and what they want to do on campus, and how they can better the council.
  • Proof that they are in good standing with Iowa State University, Greek Affairs, and their inter/national organization.
  • Statement from each interested individual why they want to bring their organization to campus and what they hope to gain.
  • An updated anticipated timeline of their chartering process.
  • A list of goals for recruitment and a model of recruitment practices.
  • An Odysseus roster containing a number of members equal to or greater than that set by their inter/national organization who are full-time students with indications of individuals serving as president, treasurer, and secretary or their equivalents.
  • Proof that they are a recognized student organization at Iowa State University.
  • Proof of an organization average GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
  • Proof of an on or off campus fund account.
  • Names, emails, permanent addresses, and phone numbers of any supporting inter/national organization staff or alumni.
  • Names, email, address, and phone numbers of at least one faculty or staff serving as adviser.
  • Copy of current organizational constitution and documented meeting minutes
  • Written statement by the organization that:
    • they will abstain from any activities that could be considered hazing under the Iowa State University definition
    • they will obey all council and university policies
    • they will work to promote the mission and vision of the council
    • they acknowledge failing to abide by this agreement they risk losing recognition by the council and or Iowa State University

Once reviewed and approved by the Council President and Adviser, the packet will be sent to the Council Executive Board for discussion and approval. Then, once approved by the Council Executive Board the packet will be distributed to Member Organizations with a set date that the interested parties will present in person to the General Assembly. The transitional organization will present to MGC General Assembly, followed by a closed debate and voting to approve full membership.