Conduct and Sanctioning:
For information regarding the conduct and sanctioning of current or past fraternities and sororities, please contact our office or the Dean of Students /Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct.
If you believe a chapter or organization has violated university or department policy, or local, state, or federal law, you can report it using any of the methods below. For violations of an organization's own rules, regulations, or policies, please contact the organization's headquarters directly.
Organizations Currently Under Sanctions:
The following organization(s) have either completed or are currently completing sanctions as a result of investigations conducted by the organization's inter/national headquarters (HQ), the Dean of Students Office/ Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct Institute (DOS/Conduct.), Fraternity & Sorority Commons (FSC), or a combination of the three.
| Organization | Incident Date | Policy Violation(s) | Status | Sanction(s) |
| Theta Xi | 04/2023 | Disorderly, Lewd, Harassing, or Indecent Conduct | Disciplinary Warning | All members must participate in a service project during the first week of Fall 2023 classes |
| Pi Kappa Alpha | 03/2023 | Alcohol Policy Violation | Disciplinary Probation | Fraternity Disciplinary Probation effective through 04/2024 |
| Chi Phi | 02/2023 | Violation of a Published Rensselaer/Student Government Policy or Regulation | Disciplinary Probation | Fraternity Disciplinary Probation effective through 12/2023 (Completed) |
| Acacia | 02/2023 | Alcohol Policy Violation, Violation of the Law | Disciplinary Probation | Fraternity Disciplinary Probation effective through 01/2026 |
| Lambda Chi Alpha | 07.2021 | Alcohol Policy Violation | Disciplinary Probation (Completed) | Fraternity Disciplinary Probation effective through 07/2022 (Completed) |
| Sigma Chi | 11/2021 | Alcohol Policy Violation, Failure to Comply, conduct which endangers the safety of the Institute / Community | Disciplinary Probation | Fraternity Disciplinary Probation through 05/2023 (Completed) |
| Alpha Epsilon Pi | 04/2020 | Rensselaer Alcohol and Other Drug Policy; Hazing; Violation of Published Rensselaer/Student Government Policy or Regulation | Disciplinary Suspension- Completed | Fraternity Disciplinary Suspension effective through 12/2021 (Completed) |
Unrecognized Organizations:
Fraternity & Sorority Commons has long been a key part of the student experience at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). However, due to severe safety concerns and violations of the Handbook of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Conduct, some organizations have had their recognition suspended in recent years. The list of these unrecognized organizations is updated every five years.
Organizations that have lost their recognition due to conduct violations are not overseen or managed by the university or their respective councils.
These include:
| Organization | Incident Date | Policy Violation(s) | Status | Sanction(s) |
| Theta Chi | 10/2017 | Rensselaer Alcohol and Other Drug Policy | Disciplinary Suspension | The fraternity is under disciplinary suspension effective from 5/2018 through 7/2030. Upon reinstatement, the fraternity will be placed on social probation until 5/2032. |
Make Informed Decisions:
"Off-campus" or "underground" organizations, as well as suspended organizations, are not recognized at RPI. These groups no longer have the rights and privileges of recognized student organizations and lack affiliation, supervision, or advising from RPI. They are not subject to university oversight, do not follow the established rules for social Greek-letter organizations, and do not provide the university with the names of their members.
Students and families are strongly urged to carefully assess the list of recognized social Greek-letter organizations before making any decisions about joining. It's crucial to avoid affiliating with or attending events hosted by unrecognized student groups. These groups are not integrated into our community due to serious safety and conduct violations. They operate without oversight and fail to comply with the standards set by governing councils, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Commons, or the institution as a whole. The institution has no record of their leadership or advisement. Moreover, affiliating with these organizations violates the student code and could result in disciplinary action, potentially leading to your removal or suspension as a student.
Recommendations:
We highly value our partnership with recognized fraternities and sororities that comply with our Code of Student Conduct, adhere to our Standards of Excellence, and align with the policies and values of their inter/national organizations and our local governing councils. If you have any questions about Sorority and Fraternity experience, please contact our staff.
We encourage students to consider ONLY joining recognized clubs and organizations: Fraternity & Sorority Community