The Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life (OSFL) is available to provide support to our four councils and 68 organizations as we prepare for the Fall 2020 semester and as we work to promote a safe return to campus. Information regarding recruitment updates, how to join sororities and fraternities, and links to council websites are available on our website.
Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life COVID-19 Updates
Sorority and Fraternity Life
Indiana Memorial Union Student Involvement TowerIMU Suite 371
900 E. 7th Street
Bloomington, IN 47405
- Phone: 812-855-4311
- Fax: 812-855-3584
- Email: osfl@indiana.edu
Monroe County Health Department Regulations
The Monroe County Health Department has issued updated formal Public Health Regulations for Residential, Communal Living Facilities. These regulations “are intended and meant to provide helpful and uniform health guidance for these facilities, to reduce the likelihood that these facilities will experience concentrations of COVID-19 such that closure would be required, to prevent conditions likely to contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in Monroe County, and to protect the general public and public health in Monroe County.”
The regulations outline clear expectations and guidance pertaining to occupancy, shared living and dining facilities, meal plans, shared bathrooms, shared sleeping spaces, laundry facilities, guest policy prohibiting “non-essential” visitors, gathering sizes, face covering policies, quarantine and isolation plans, and record-keeping policies.
Housing Guidance
In partnership with the Monroe County Health Department, OSFL provided guidance, which includes recommendations regarding crisis management, facility arrangements, and cleaning, to those who own and operate the Greek housing facilities. In addition, OSFL requested that all housed Greek Organizations communicate and provide updates to students and family members regarding their plans for the Fall 2020 semester. Students, parents, and family members should contact the owner or operator of their chapter facility directly for information regarding these plans.
OSFL has also asked that Housed Greek Organizations do the following:
- Provide a list of students living in the facility, contact information for their house corporation board members, and contact information for employees to OSFL.
- Develop plans and expectations for residents experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and who test positive or presumed positive for COVID-19. This includes plans for self-isolation and quarantine with a private room and private bath, as well as quarantining close contacts and other member(s) in the facility by providing them with a private room and private bath.
- Develop plans should the facility need to be locked down or is no longer habitable due to concerns of a potential outbreak.
- Develop plans if the House Director or other employee(s) are sick and unable to complete their duties.
- Communicate their plans regarding COVID-19 prevention, risk mitigation, and response with members, parents, and campus partners.
- Provide information regarding housing plans for the 2020-2021 academic year to OSFL.
- Develop internal policies, procedures, and accountability mechanisms for their members to help ensure they follow IU and public health guidance and organization policies.
Houses Directed to Quarantine
- Phi Kappa Tau
To access the Virtual Resource Guide and Resources for Quarantined Students and Chapters, please visit our Community Resources page.
Event Restrictions
In-Person Gathering Limits
As we work to keep the campus and greater community healthy, a number of public-health informed event restrictions have been put in place in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19. All student organizations, including sororities and fraternities, must abide by University, City and County guidelines for in-person gatherings and activities. In-person event restrictions are as follows:
- Any events on or off-campus with 25 people or more must be approved by the University Event Request Committee.
- All student organizations must follow the Fall 2020 student organization guidance from the Student Involvement and Leadership Center.
- In-person gatherings at private residences, including Greek and Student Organizations houses, are limited to 15 persons per Executive Order 20-03 from the City of Bloomington. This includes in-person gatherings among residents living at the facility.
- In-person gatherings at commercial properties indoors are limited to 100 people, and up to 150 people outdoors (Monroe County Public Health Order issued on July 17th). These events, whether on or off-campus, with 25 people or more must be approved by the University Event Request Committee.
In addition, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life has implemented further event restrictions for the Fall 2020 semester to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among the sorority and fraternity and greater campus community. A directive to suspend in-person events and activities was issued at the start of the semester and lifted on September 14; however, the following restrictions are still in place:
Recruitment
Sororities and fraternities are not permitted to host any in-person recruitment events in their facility or at private residences. Recruitment events can only take place at commercial properties or at event venues approved by the University Event Request Committee. All recruitment events must be approved in advance by the University Event Request Committee. All public health guidance for events (including physical distancing and wearing face coverings) must be followed regardless of the approved gathering size.
Initiation
Sororities and fraternities are not permitted to host any ritual services (e.g. pledge/pinning, initiation, etc.) in-person unless they receive written approval from the Assistant Dean for Sorority and Fraternity Life. Requests can be submitted using this form online. Your chapter coach and headquarters liaisons can assist you with making adjustments and adaptations to help you create meaningful experiences for your members virtually. We strongly encourage organizations to submit the University Event Request Form for events less than 25 individuals as well to help expedite the review process.
Social Events with Alcohol
Sororities and fraternities are not permitted to host any in-person events with alcohol at private residences or at Housed Greek and Student Organization facilities. Any events with alcohol, regardless of the number of attendees, must be held at a commercial properties(both on- and off-campus) and must be approved by the University Event Request Committee. All sororities and fraternities are also required to follow the student organization event guidance from the Student Involvement and Leadership Center, as well as policies outlined in the OSFL Social Events Policy.
Event Guidance
All events, no matter the size, must abide by the following public health guidance:
- Face coverings are required and must be worn by all attendees
- Physical distancing of 6 ft or more must be maintained
- Contactless transactions (including food and ticket transactions)
- Provision of sanitization stations or hand sanitizer
- Guest list must be maintained and submitted upon request