For Parents

Now that your daughter has been accepted as a member of Alpha Chi Omega, she will embark on the eight week new member period which is an exciting time, that requires dedication, and she will have all of her new sisters by her side as she completes the process. Joining a sorority is an important decision for your daughter, as it is a wonderful lifetime commitment that will provide her with a support system in college, memories and lasting friendships, and even opportunities for involvement after graduation.

The New Member Process

Each week, your daughter will attend new member meetings. During these meetings the Vice President of New Member Education and her assistant will teach your daughter about Alpha Chi Omega and what it means to be a sister. This is a fun time for learning, reflection, and making new friends with the other women in her new member class. After these eight meetings, your daughter will be initiated as a full sister of Alpha Chi Omega, being officially welcomed as a lifetime member.

Alpha Chi Omega provides your daughter with opportunities for campus involvement, leadership, and a support system of the chapter as well as of the national organization. All of these opportunities are available to all sisters, and the opportunity to grow through them is an amazing aspect of our sisterhood.

Sisterhood as a Support System

When your daughter becomes a lifetime member of Alpha Chi Omega, she gains the sisterhood of all those in her chapter as well as all Alpha Chi Omegas across the nation. On campus, sisters act as friends, roommates, and mentors to one another. New member classes become quite close providing your daughter with a community of women sharing a common experience. A key relationship within Alpha Chi Omega is that between big sisters and little sisters. After a system of mutual preferencing, your daughter will be matched with an older sister to act as her big sister. The main function of the big and little relationship is to provide a mentor to the little sister, someone that can give her advice and support her in times of trial and success.

Campus Involvement

At William & Mary, Alpha Chi Omega can act as a bridge to other clubs and activities for your daughter. Our members are passionate about many different activities and are always happy to help other sisters get involved. There are many ways to get involved within Greek life as well, by participating in Panhellenic council or attending events hosted by other Greek organizations. Being a sister in Alpha Chi Omega means being an active student at William & Mary.

Leadership

It takes the combined effort of all of our sisters to make Alpha Chi Omega the sorority it is. An executive board presides over the sorority, and abundant non-executive positions are needed to keep Alpha Chi Omega running smoothly. This means that there are plenty of ways for your daughter to foster key skills that will carry over into every aspect of life.

The National Organization

When your daughter joins Alpha Chi Omega, she joins a nation-wide organization and the support of collegiate sisters and alumnae. Scholarships are available to our members, as well as a network of professionals that all share the bond of Alpha Chi Omega. More information about our national organization and it’s many benefits can be found at alphachiomega.org

Responsibilities & Expectations

In Alpha Chi Omega, we have five standards that help to guide us as we make our way through college, and even after graduation. These are character, leadership ability, academic interest, personal development, and financial responsibility. We maintain these standards because our sisterhood means a lot to us, and in order for it to function properly, everyone must do their share. As sisters, we keep each other accountable, helping us to grow into the women we have the potential to be. Good character is encouraged, and if rules are broken, a standards board will meet with the sister privately in order to provide an opportunity for positive behavior change. Leadership ability is seen in all of our members, and sisters can cultivate this through the many ways previously mentioned. Academic interest is incredibly important to us, and a GPA requirement does exist for membership. We provide resources for our sisters such as tutors and rewards for good grades. Individually, Alpha Chi Omega believes in the personal development of members in their cultural appreciation, the social awareness and personal presentation. Because of our rich history rooted in music, our members have a deep appreciation for the fine arts. Financial responsibility is maintained through the timely payment of dues. Dues pay for our wonderful social events, required merchandise, and programming that our national organization provides to help us grow. We are passionate about maintaining these five standards because they make Alpha Chi Omega unique. Sisterhood is incredibly special, but it doesn’t just happen. Through the work of all of our sisters, we preserve the caring environment that is Alpha Chi Omega.

Questions about your daughter joining Alpha Chi Omega? Email our VP New Member Education, Katie Ault, at keault@email.wm.edu