Events and Programs

Celebrating Tradition, Building Connections

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Each year Fraternity and Sorority Life holds programs such as Meet Fraternity and Sorority Life, Community Chapters, and more to develop and support a sense of community and belonging throughout our membership. The events additionally educate non-affiliated students on the benefits and importance of Fraternity and Sorority life as part of their co-curricular experience on campus.

Chapter Events

Our chapters are hosting meaningful, educative, and impactful events every week for their membership and the greater campus community. You can learn more by following their social media accounts or filtering using the “Fraternity and Sorority Life Event” category on Engage to find FSL-specific events.

Greek Program Board

The Greek Programming Board (GPB) at George Washington University is dedicated to building a strong and vibrant Greek community by fostering collaboration and engagement among members and chapters. By establishing and maintaining a positive presence and reputation on campus, the board aims to support the growth and success of Greek life at GW. Through member-developed and member-led programs, the board creates meaningful opportunities for personal growth, relationship-building, and lasting memories that contribute to member retention and satisfaction. Grounded in the philosophy of education through engagement, the board emphasizes experiential learning and collaborative, transformative leadership to inspire impactful connections and experiences within the Greek community.

Members interested in joining GPB are always encouraged to email the GPB staff advisor, E'Quince Smith at etsmithgwu [dot] edu (etsmith[at]gwu[dot]edu) to learn more.

Leadership Development

Leadership development is weaved throughout many facets of the Fraternity and Sorority Life experience. Every semester we hold officer and new member retreats where newer and seasoned members of our community think critically about how they model leadership and develop their own leadership using experiences, shortcomings, and lessons learned. We focus on team-building activities, getting to know the communities that makeup Fraternity and Sorority Life, developing leadership skills, setting goals for the year, and so much more! We also host monthly community chapter events focusing on one of the priority development areas that the Fraternity and Sorority Life team has set for the year.

Hazing Education at GW

At George Washington University, we are committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment where hazing has no place. Through education, prevention, and accountability, we equip our students with the tools to recognize, report, and prevent hazing behaviors.

National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW)

Each year, GW observes National Hazing Prevention Week (NHPW) to raise awareness about the risks and realities of hazing. This week emphasizes that hazing is not only about physical harm—it also affects mental health, relationships, and overall student well-being.

Our most impactful program continues to be the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training, which focuses on peer support and mental health awareness. Students practice how to check in with one another, intervene in difficult situations, and potentially save lives. As presenter Julia Duff reminds participants: “QPR is meant to be like CPR, meaning that anyone can do it.”

Organizations across campus also take part in NHPW by hosting speakers such as Lianne Kowiak, who shares the story of her son lost to hazing, organizing anti-hazing commitment tabling, and launching social media campaigns. These efforts show that while there is no one-size-fits-all approach to hazing prevention, our community shares a strong commitment to creating a culture of care.

Student & Community Feedback

Students, staff, and organizations engage deeply with hazing prevention programming. A common piece of feedback is around scheduling—while evening events work for some, they can conflict with late-night classes. Moving forward, we plan to offer programming at multiple times of day, including mornings, lunch hours, and evenings, so more students can participate.

Ongoing Prevention & Education

GW’s commitment to hazing prevention extends beyond NHPW. Following the Stop Campus Hazing Act (2024), GW creates and maintains a task force to ensure all students receive annual hazing education.

For fraternity and sorority life, requirements include:

• Online Hazing Prevention Module (completed each fall by all members; tied to chapter registration).

• Hazing Education & Prevention Extension (a one-hour in-person training for new and returning members each spring).

These ongoing requirements ensure that hazing prevention remains a consistent educational priority.

University Policy on Hazing

Hazing of any kind—planned, attempted, or carried out—is strictly prohibited at GW because of its potential to cause mental, physical, and psychological harm.

We encourage preventative reporting, even before hazing occurs. Students who self-report or seek emergency help in hazing situations may face lesser disciplinary action, recognizing their choice to protect community safety.

For full details, visit our Anti-Hazing Policy.

Why Hazing Prevention Matters

Observing NHPW and engaging in hazing education is critical for student safety and well-being. Hazing often hides behind the labels of “tradition” or “bonding,” but its harms are real and lasting. By raising awareness, debunking myths, and equipping students with tools to intervene, we empower the GW community to create a culture of dignity, respect, and care.

Looking Ahead

We will continue to expand hazing prevention efforts by encouraging fraternity and sorority chapters to collaborate on social media campaigns, debunk hazing myths, and directly engage students in conversations about community values. We also plan to revive past traditions, such as the banner signing, to symbolize our collective commitment to being an anti-hazing campus.

At GW, hazing prevention is not just a policy—it is a shared responsibility to protect one another and build a safe, supportive campus community.

Order of Omega

What is Order of Omega?

• Founded in 1959 at the University of Miami (FL), the Order of Omega is the premiere honor organization for Fraternity/Sorority leaders.  Order of Omega’s goal is to recognize undergraduate fraternity and sorority leaders at our collegiate chapters in the United States and Canada.  Undergraduate students, who belong to a recognized fraternity/sorority and who exemplify high standards in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and involvement within their respective organization and the fraternity/sorority community, are selected for membership by the local collegiate chapter

Purpose of Order of Omega

• To recognize those students who have attained a high standard of leadership in inter-Greek activities, to encourage them to continue along this line, and to inspire others to strive for similar conspicuous attainment.
• To bring together the most representative fraternity and sorority members, and to create an organization that will help to mold the sentiment of the institution on questions of local and intercollegiate affairs.
• To bring together members of the faculty, alumni, and student members of the institution’s fraternities and sororities on a basis of mutual interest, understanding, and cooperation
• To be eligible for membership in Order of Omega, a student shall meet the following minimum requirements:
  • Must be an undergraduate sophomore, junior, or senior
  • Be in good standing with your FSL organization
• The membership application is shared with eligible applicants early in the Spring semester.

Members interested in learning more about the Order of Omega are encouraged to email the Order of Omega staff advisor, E'Quince Smith at etsmithgwu [dot] edu (etsmith[at]gwu[dot]edu).