What is IFC?
The college fraternity is an institution unique to the United States. In the 18th century, all colleges were small and religiously orientated. There were no such things as electives, and the faculty preferred a student's mind to be more concerned with academics and religious entities rather than current events. Student organizations were frowned upon and highly discouraged. It is understandable then, that students would seek to form fraternal groups to the needs not being met by their academic institutions. Hence, what we know as the fraternity or Greek letter organization, was formed. The first Greek letter society was formed when a student was denied admission into a William and Mary literary society. The rejected man, along with four friends, organized a society of their own, using Greek letters to name it Phi Beta Kappa. That first meeting was on December 5, 1776, and now, well over 200 years later, there are nearly 70 nationally recognized fraternities.
The fraternity system at USC exemplifies what Greek Organizations should be. With 23 fraternities and 10 sororities, boasting membership from 12 to over 100, the Greek Community here has established itself as one of the most diverse, exciting, and well respected systems in the country. Recognized nationally as a trend-setter in Greek life, USC Greeks are constantly being recognized for academic, athletic, philanthropic, and social achievements. The Greek Community has been, and still is, one of USC's proudest traditions.
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the coordinating and governing board of the fraternities. IFC is made up of 13 executive officers in charge of various aspects of Greek Life, as well as the president and delegate from each fraternity. Our goal as an organization is to lead USC's Greek Community, one of the nation's strongest, in the right direction. As a whole, the purpose of the IFC is, in accordance with the objectives outline by the National Interfraternity Conference, to assist the fraternity system in the development of fraternity members through intellectual, social leadership, and humanitarian pursuits. Most All-Greek events at USC are planned and organized by the IFC, rush being one of the biggest. Simply put, we work to continue the proud tradition of being Greek at USC.
The Panhellenic Executive Board is the elected body of representatives of the University of Southern California's sorority system. Panhellenic strives to maintain and encourage the highest scholastic, ethical and communal standard, while furthering the ideals by which USC's sororities were founded.
Today, the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils serve as governing boards to the Greek Community here at USC. For more information about these councils or the Greek Community, please contact us so we can help.