A Century of Community: The History of Fraternity & Sorority Life at Maryland

Fraternity and Sorority Life at the University of Maryland has evolved over more than a century to become a vibrant, diverse, and values-driven community. What began as a small group of students living together after a campus fire in 1912 has grown into a dynamic network of organizations that foster leadership, service, scholarship, and lifelong connections.

Foundations and Early Growth (1913–1940s)

Fraternity life at Maryland officially began in 1913, when Gamma Pi—later affiliated with Sigma Nu—became the university’s first recognized Greek-letter organization. Just a few years later, in 1920, women were admitted to the university and established the first sorority, Sigma Delta, which would eventually affiliate with Kappa Kappa Gamma.

As enrollment grew in the 1920s and ’30s, so did the fraternity and sorority system. By the 1940s, fraternities and sororities were a central part of campus life. Student leaders formed the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Association (PHA) to organize recruitment, promote standards, and plan large-scale events.

Post-War Expansion and the Rise of Fraternity Row (1940s–1960s)

The end of World War II brought a wave of returning veterans to campus, sparking a major expansion in fraternity membership and activity. In 1954, the university opened Fraternity Row—a series of Georgian-style houses built to provide a central location for fraternity and sorority organizations. Notably, several sororities were among the original residents.

A few years later, in the early 1960s, the university constructed a sorority housing complex known as the “Graham Cracker,” which housed several Panhellenic chapters and helped formalize a structured Greek housing system. During this time, fraternities and sororities thrived socially and philanthropically—but remained largely racially and culturally exclusive.

Breaking Barriers: Integration and Inclusion (1970s–1990s)

As the civil rights movement reshaped college campuses across the country, so too did it begin to transform Maryland’s fraternity and sorority community. In 1971, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. became the first historically Black Greek-letter organization to establish a chapter at UMD, followed by Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in 1973. These trailblazing chapters laid the foundation for the establishment of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) at UMD in 1976.

By the 1990s, culturally based fraternities and sororities representing Latinx, Asian-American, and other marginalized communities established chapters at Maryland, including Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. in 1995—the first Latina sorority on campus.

Modernization and Council Growth (2000s–2010s)

In 2003, culturally-based fraternities and sororities founded the United Greek Council, later renamed the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), creating a home for organizations rooted in shared cultural identities and traditions. With the addition of MGC, Maryland’s community now spans four governing councils—IFC, MGC, NPHC, and PHA—each with unique values and programming.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Maryland’s Greek-letter organizations focused increasingly on leadership development, service, and campus engagement. The community celebrated 100 years of Fraternity and Sorority Life in 2013, with more than 80 organizations across social, service, professional, and culturally based fraternities and sororities.

Toward Equity (2020–Present)

Recent years have prompted deep reflection within the fraternity and sorority community—both nationally and at Maryland. In response to calls for racial equity and cultural inclusion, the university and student leaders made significant investments in creating a more inclusive fraternity and sorority experience.

In 2023, the university dedicated The Agora, a gathering space on Fraternity Row for MGC and NPHC organizations. Funded through student and university support, The Agora is a symbol of progress—acknowledging past exclusion while creating new possibilities for connection and belonging.

A Community with a Future

Today, with more than 50 recognized chapters across four governing councils, Fraternity and Sorority Life continues to offer students opportunities to grow as leaders, serve their communities, and build lifelong relationships.

As we look to the future, we remain grounded in our core values—and inspired by the generations of students who have shaped our story.