Fraternities

Fraternity life was destined to be an early success with the formation of two local fraternities in January of 1964, just six months after Wilmington College became a four-year institution. Sigma Phi Kappa was the first to be officially recognized by the college, followed by Pi Sigma Mu. Delta Epsilon became the third local fraternity when they began in February of 1967.

                UNCW FRATERNITY HISTORY

Pi Sigma Mu became an affiliate member of Pi Kappa Phi on November 2, 1964 and a colony on December 13, 1967. They were approved as a chapter on February 24, 1968, making them the first fraternity to receive a national charter. Sigma Phi Kappa became a colony of Tau Kappa Epsilon and awarded their charter on January 24, 1970. Delta Epsilon joined Delta Upsilon as a colony on November 21, 1969 and was granted a charter on February 2, 1974.

The name of the school was changed to the University of North Carolina Wilmington on July 1, 1969 and a period of rapid growth followed. However, fraternity involvement at UNCW in the early 70’s mirrored the national trend on most college campuses and saw a dramatic drop in participation. Delta Upsilon became a casualty of this era and folded.

Fraternities soon rebounded as UNCW enrollment doubled to nearly six-thousand students from 1975 to 1985 and five new fraternties were established. They all started as local fraternites and had unique non-traditional names like Un Kappa Fifth; De Kappa Tate; Signa Phi Nuthin'; Tappa New Keg; and Psychos. They respectfully became chapters of Chi Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Kappa Sigma and Delta Tau Delta. The Greek system now had the most fraternities in school history with seven. Chi Phi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Kappa Sigma and Delta Tau Delta flourished while the other three struggled to survive. Sigma Phi Epsilon terminated their colony. Pi Kappa Phi, one of the two original fraternities, was able to reorganize and keep their charter while Tau Kappa Epsilon disbanded. 

The next growth spurt occurred between 1990 and 1993 when Lambda Chi Alpha, Sigma Nu and Kappa Alpha Order planted new chapters. Sigma Phi Epsilon’s second attempt at opening a chapter succeeded when they awarded a charter to Tau Delta Theta, a local fraternity that began in 1988. The Greek system at UNCW remained strong until the late nineties when membership became stagnant or declined. Theta Chi opened a chapter that lasted a few years before folding. Lambda Chi Alpha closed its chapter and Sigma Phi Epsilon failed again. 

Since 2005 fraternities have seen tremendous growth. Tau Kappa Epsilon and Lambda Chi Alpha reactivated their dormant chapters while Delta Chi, Alpha Tau Omega, Phi Gamma Delta and Pi Kappa Alpha established new chapters. Today UNCW has twelve fraternities and Greek membership exceeds 10% of the overall student body making it a vibrant part of the campus life.

                        UNCW IFC FRATERNITY TIMELINE

                                   Here you'll find all fraternities that currently or have ever existed at UNCW.

© 2008 - 2012 UNCWGreeks.com, All Rights Reserved

UNCWGreeks.com is an independent website and is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, any fraternity, sorority, or UNCW.

Inactive Fraternities