FSL Policies and Procedures

Listed below are policies and procedures relevant to the Fraternity and Sorority Life community.

University Policies and Procedures

Johns Hopkins University Relationship Statement

The relationship between the University and the Fraternity/Sorority Community at Johns Hopkins University is mutually beneficial. Greek-letter organizations enhance the quality of life for students by increasing the range of opportunities for meaningful participation leading to personal growth and development. Thus, in the spirit of cooperation and in an effort to strengthen Fraternity and Sorority Life at Johns Hopkins University, individual chapters, along with the University, hereby agree to affirm the values of brotherhood/sisterhood, scholarship, leadership, service, alumni relations, financial management, involvement, education, health/wellness, and individual growth and development. This document reflects the expectations of both the Greek-letter organizations and the University to assure a quality relationship exists.

PDF Document: Relationship Statement – Version 7.18

Hazing

Pledge/New Member Process

  1. The new member process can be no longer than six (6) weeks in the fall or spring. The six (6) week new member process does not include the following: Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, or Spring Break. This means if the new member process is scheduled to occur during any of the aforementioned breaks in class attendance for students, those breaks will not count against the total new member process. (i.e. New member process can be seven (7) weeks because spring break and Thanksgiving break do not count against the new member process timeline)

Homewood Undergraduate Off-Campus Party Registration and Safety Policy

To facilitate a safe and healthy social environment for all students, all registered Johns Hopkins student organizations are required to follow policies for party registration and safety.

Events Involving Alcohol

If a fraternity or sorority does desire to sponsor an event at which alcohol will be served, it must receive permission of the Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life prior to the event taking place. The conditions under which permission will be granted are as follows:

  1. Only beer and/or wine may be served. Kegs and other bulk quantities are not permitted unless they are managed and served by a third-party vendor and approved by University officials.
  2. The organization must agree to follow the procedures for assuring that persons attending the event who are underage will not be served (e.g. the employment of a licensed third-party security vendor). In addition, the organization and/ or individuals in the organization may be subject to University disciplinary action if underage patrons are served alcoholic beverages.
  3. Publicity (posters, etc.) for events at which alcoholic beverages are served must not include any mention of beer/ wine. “Refreshments available” or some facsimile thereof will be acceptable. News-Letter ads may publicize beer/wine, but it cannot be the main thrust of the ads.
  4. Persons who violate or attempt to violate these regulations (restrictions) will be asked to leave the event and may be subject to university disciplinary action. The Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life limits the number of events at which alcohol may be served. Organizations that violate the alcohol policy will lose the privilege of serving alcohol at their events and may be subject to University disciplinary action.
  5. No alcoholic beverages may be purchased through student organization funds nor may the purchase of alcoholic beverages for members or guests be undertaken or coordinated by any member in the name of or on behalf of the student organization.
  6. The sale of alcoholic beverages at Johns Hopkins’ student organization events must be through a State of Maryland licensed vendor and must be sold on a “per drink” basis to individuals; “open bar” events are prohibited. Beverages should be sold at reasonable market value and prices should be included in the event contract. Profit sharing is prohibited. Free drink vouchers are prohibited. The distributing of drink tickets/vouchers at student organization events is prohibited.
  7. No member of Johns Hopkins’ student organizations, collectively or individually, shall purchase for, serve to, or sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21. It is the role of the third party vendor to acquire, distribute and monitor the alcohol.
  8. Alcohol events hosted on campus by Johns Hopkins’ student organizations must comply with University policies regarding the reservation of adequate security and age verification procedures.
  9. All recruitment activities hosted by a Johns Hopkins’ student organization must be dry, meaning no alcoholic beverages will be served.
  10. Johns Hopkins University student organizations may not collect admissions fees (cover charges) in order to defray the cost of alcohol.

Fraternity and Sorority Life Social Events Procedures

The purpose of the Word Document: FSL Social Event Procedures (PDF) is to promote the management of risk associated with the use of alcohol. Additionally, this document reinforces policies set forth by the inter/national fraternities and sororities represented at Johns Hopkins University. This procedure also reinforces polices set forth by Johns Hopkins University, specifically the Homewood Off-Campus Party Registration and Safety Policy, and the Events Involving Alcohol Policy.

Digital Recruitment Procedures

Potential new members are required to register via Hopkins Groups to become eligible to participate in recruitment/intake whether they receive a bid or not. When conducting a recruitment/intake event, a laptop is required at a sign-in table in your room for potential new members to register. Make sure every person you speak to in reference to joining your organization is registered. Registering online is non-binding.

When potential new members register they release their grades and judicial records to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Johns Hopkins University, and the respective chapter officials. This is the process that legally allows the University to “pull” grades and judicial records. They also acknowledge our hazing policy and release Johns Hopkins University of all liabilities during events.

State and Local Laws

Baltimore City One-Day Liquor License Guidelines

A one-day temporary license is required when alcohol is being sold or is provided as a part of the ticket costs for an event. No license is required for wedding or private party so long as tickets are not being sold or there is no cash bar. Under the provisions of state law, one-day licenses may only be issued to non-profit organizations (which include fraternities and sororities). This guidelines can be found PDF Document: here.

Baltimore City Social Host Regulation

For the purpose of extending the provisions governing the issuance of citations for certain “neighborhood nuisances” to include various types of “unruly social events”; specifying the responsibilities of owners, operators, tenants, and occupants of and persons with possessory interests in a premises to prevent use of those premises for neighborhood nuisances and unruly social events; prohibiting these persons from conducting, causing, permitting, aiding, or condoning neighborhood nuisances and unruly social events on their premises; providing for the civil liability of the parents and legal guardians of juveniles who violate this prohibition; repealing criminal penalties for violations and providing for enforcement by civil citations; defining certain terms; providing for a special effective date; and generally relating to the civil enforcement of certain activities involving conduct that disturbs the quiet enjoyment by others of private or public property or that includes underage consumption of alcoholic beverages

Any person who violates a provision of this subtitle is guilty of a misdemeanor and, on conviction, is subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 60 days or both fine and imprisonment for each offense.

The new ordinance can be found here.

President Information

Please log in to Blackboard to access president information.

Chapter Management

Insurance

All chapters at Johns Hopkins University are required to have proof of two million dollars ($2,000,000.00) of social liability insurance. Johns Hopkins University must be named as an additionally insured on the document. Chapter liability insurance coverage must include not less than $1,000,000 in coverage per occurrence, and include coverage for Host Liquor Liability and Sexual Misconduct and Molestation. National offices should send a copy of the insurance to:

Johns Hopkins University
c/o Jessica Snell
Associate Director, Fraternity and Sorority Life
3003 N. Charles St.
The LaB
Baltimore, Maryland 21218

All insurance paperwork must be updated annually within thirty (30) days of the current certificate’s expiration date.

Faculty Advisor

All fraternal organizations must have a faculty/staff advisor.

Responsibilities of Faculty/Staff Advisor:

  1. Assist chapters with the design, implementation, update, and administration of their academic plan.
  2. Assist with the interpretation of University policy and procedure.
  3. Assist individual students in the chapter that may be experiencing academic hardships.
  4. Congruence Assessment Program (CAP) support – Assist or provide programming in their area of expertise.

Interested in being an advisor? Please check out this Advisor Resource Presentation

Minimum GPA Requirement

A 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA is required for any student to join a chartered fraternal organization. Second-semester freshmen will have their grades calculated to determine if they are eligible to participate in fraternity and sorority life.

Minimum Membership Requirement

All chapters at Johns Hopkins University must have at least five (5) members. If your chapter has fallen below five (5) members, you will have one (1) year to raise your total over five (5) members. If you do not do this your organization will no longer be recognized.