Greek Centennial Fund
About the Fund
The year 2013 marked the 100th year celebration of Greek Life at the University of Maryland. The Greek Centennial Fund -and its corollary funds- provide UMD fraternity and sorority members in five main areas:
Leadership Development
Fraternities and sororities foster and promote leadership better than almost any other collegiate experience. One role of the Department of Fraternity and Sorority Life (DFSL) is to ensure chapter members have the opportunity to develop increasing levels of leadership experience. The Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Fund (FSLF) ensures that DFSL can continue to offer leadership classes, retreats and programs to members of recognized fraternities and sororities at no cost to the students.
Promoting leadership development within each chapter is also a vital endeavor. To help chapters continue to advance leadership development in a global society, a Chapter Leadership Fund (CLF) within each organization allows any member of that respective chapter to attend any local, regional, national or international leadership conference, academy or retreat. Cost should never prohibit a member of a fraternity or sorority from attending a leadership experience that can benefit both the individual and the chapter.
Scholarship
Scholastic achievement and academic success are principle values of every fraternity and sorority at the University of Maryland. Yet some students are unable to afford to join because they cannot meet the financial requirements of being a student and joining a Greek-letter organization. The Fraternity and Sorority Scholarship Fund (FSSF) provides any student on campus the opportunity to join a fraternity or sorority and meet the financial needs of college.
In addition to the FSSF, each individual chapter is encouraged to establish its own scholarship fund to provide financial aid. While some students would be forced to suspend or withdraw from chapter membership due to financial hardship, a Chapter Scholarship Fund (CSF) ensures students in each chapter have access to funds that will allow them to remain active members of the organization.
Sexual Assault Prevention
Sexual assault remains a national problem on college campuses. As campus leaders, members of fraternities and sororities have a duty to lead the movement in making campuses and chapters safer. The Sexual Assault Prevention Fund (SAPF) supports sexual assault prevention support staff and programs such as the Ten Man Plan / Ten Woman Plan a well-established and nationally recognized program that focuses on changing the culture within our chapters so that all members act on their personal responsibility to prevent sexual assault.
Diversity and Inclusion
Different is good. Fraternities and sororities are unique in how they help traditional-aged students develop, identify, and clarify personal values. In order for our members to become the next generation of society's leaders, they must acquire the knowledge, experience, and cultural competencies necessary to succeed in a multicultural society. We believe there is no better place to hone those skills than in a fraternity and sorority. The Diversity and Inclusion Fund (D&IF) supports academic, chapter-specific, and community wide programs and support staff that help chapters focus on fostering a more diverse and inclusive community.
Facilities
We believe every chapter should have the responsibility of managing its own facility. To that end, the Fraternity and Sorority Facility Fund (FSFF) provides funding to build and maintain housing for every recognized fraternity and sorority. Only through a shared living and learning environment can students truly optimize the potential for personal and professional development that exists within F/S Life. A physical structure the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life will ensure a continued level of support for Fraternity and Sorority Life by the University and will allow a place for representatives from any chapter to gather and share in the benefits of community.
For more information about the Greek Centennial Fund, please contact us at sagiving@umd.edu or 301-314-4900.