UNDERGRADUATE MEMBERS

Undergraduate members must maintain a minimum cumulative and semester grade point average. Active members are required to fulfill financial requirements such as annual dues to the Board of Directors.

Every undergraduate chapter is required to fulfill the following expectations:

National Philanthropy

All chapters raise funds annually for the “I Have a Dream” Foundation (IHDF). IHDF is a nationally recognized model that works towards ensuring all children in this country have the opportunity to pursue higher education. IHDF has grown to 64 cities, serving more than 10,000 children from low-income communities. The children, called Dreamers, participate in a year-round program of mentoring, tutoring, cultural exposures, and community service activities from elementary school through high school. Upon graduation, Dreamers receive financial assistance for either a college or vocational education.

 

National Service Project

In an effort to raise consciousness among young people, members participate in community service and philanthropic projects. In addition to individual and regional activities, chapters must also complete activities pertinent to the National Project set forth annually by the Board of Directors. National Projects have included: the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, National Arthritis Foundation, HLA Bone Marrow Registry, Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Girls, Inc. and the American Heart Association.

 

Community Service

In addition to the national philanthropy and national project, undergraduate chapters dedicate themselves to a variety of causes including: Women Aware, Upward Bound, Adopt-A-Child, Adopt-A-Highway, and an endless string of philanthropic efforts for such causes as AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Cancer, Go Red, and Homelessness Relief. Chapters and colonies partake in service projects of their choice on their campuses and/or in their local communities. Each year, our chapters complete hundreds of service hours across the country.

Programming

Each chapter must host and organize educational programming around each of our awarenesses: educational, cultural, political, and social. Chapters have hosted programs such as: Blatino, Interracial Dating, Platanos and Collard Greens, voter registration, Political Jeopardy, and Traces of The Trade. These programs offer knowledge to their peers. Their efforts are recognized not only by their universities for their accomplishments, but also by the Board of Directors.

O.W.L.S. in CUS

In an effort to help women familiarize themselves with our Sisters and Sisterhood, all undergraduate chapters have voluntary interest groups known as the “Organization of Women Looking for Sisterhood in Chi Upsilon Sigma”, or O.W.L.S. in C.U.S. The interest group is an official branch of our organization for women preparing to seek membership into Chi Upsilon Sigma. Because we consider our sisterhood to be a lifelong commitment, we encourage women to be sure that becoming a member of a sorority is for them.

In addition, O.W.L.S. in C.U.S. is an opportunity to raise or strengthen grade point averages to meet the membership grade requirements, participate in community service events and fundraise. Most importantly, we consider it the first step in “getting to know” Chi Upsilon Sigma. The ideals set forth to participants of O.W.L.S. in C.U.S. are to achieve academic excellence, promote and gain appreciation of various cultures, enhance leadership skills through fundraising and community service activities, and become a productive member of their respective colleges or universities and the communities at large.