I Transferred To NMU And THIS Happened - NMU Blog

Hey, I'm Jessica! I am currently a junior here at NMU. I first came to Northern Michigan University at the start of my sophomore year. Transferring from a bigger university downstate, I had no idea what to expect at my new college. However, I knew I wanted to be involved on campus right away. Although in the height of Covid safety protocols, Fall Fest 2020 soon came around (NMU's annual back-to-school event where students can find out more about student organizations, volunteer agencies, and local businesses). I was a little overwhelmed by the number of clubs and organizations offered to students, but my attention was, for some reason, directed towards a table advertising the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority. After learning more about the group, receiving a warm welcome at the event, and determining it would be a good fit for me, I became a member.

I soon found out that leadership positions are available in the group and I now hold four of them, including Vice President Recruitment, Marketing, Administration, and Co-Finance. What I love about these positions is that they allow me to practice my leadership skills. As the VP of Recruitment, I now take responsibility for all incoming members of Alpha Gamma Delta. This means I promote our recruitment events throughout campus and on social media. These activities have allowed me to create connections with different departments and services on campus.

Although four leadership positions may seem like a lot (and on top of a full course schedule!), our current members of the Alpha Gamma Delta chapter help me if I need it. But, the reason I hold so many positions is because of the low membership and knowledge of Greek Life at NMU. Greek Life on campus is not promoted the same as other clubs and organizations due to the low enrollment of members, but we are committed to expanding our visibility on campus. We want to make sure that every student is aware of the unique opportunities Greek organizations can provide. Once word gets out that Northern Michigan University has Greek Life on campus, I am positive that membership will grow. It is just a matter of time until that happens!

No matter what sorority or fraternity you may be interested in, it will open the door to endless opportunities. For example, Greek Life gives back to the community through service (also known as philanthropy). With Alpha Gamma Delta, our philanthropy is fighting hunger. We volunteer with Meals on Wheels and Feeding America to help our community and better ourselves as women. Our volunteering with these groups provides the satisfaction of assisting our community and its members.

Along with volunteering, there are other opportunities when becoming a member of Greek Life, including academic support, social involvement, and friendships. In fact, all Greek organizations offered at NMU are academic. That means that there is a minimum grade point average required for all members. Not only is there a GPA requirement, but there are many ways for the Greek organization to support you academically. With Alpha Gamma Delta, our chapter provides “proctor hours” which is when a member is at the library at a certain time to help you study or just to do homework with. It is a great way to focus on classwork with another member that you can look up to.

→ Takeaway

Greek Life is a wonderful community on campus and I'm so glad I was able to quickly become a part of it when I transferred to NMU. Whether you would like to try something new or open the door for new opportunities, Greek Life is a good place to start. Alpha Gamma Delta helped me figure out who I was and where I wanted to go in the future. I hope you, too, can find that same inclusivity and consider becoming a part of Greek Life at NMU.