Governing Councils

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) is the governing body for 20+ men's fraternities at the University of Kentucky. IFC works with member chapters to coordinate programs and activities that benefit the members, as well as advocate for the needs of fraternities at the University of Kentucky. The council is led by an executive board that is elected by the chapters each November. 

Joining an IFC organization is a great way to get involved on campus and continue pursuing high academic performance and service to the community. Interfraternity Council chapters participate in a formal recruitment at the start of each semester. Additionally, many groups will extend membership bids throughout the semester. 

Visit the IFC Website

The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC, or "Divine Nine" or "D9") at the University of Kentucky is the coordinating body of nine historically African American fraternities and sororities. At the University of Kentucky, we host eight active organizations. UKY NPHC works with the eight active chapters to provide educational and cultural programming for members of the University of Kentucky and Lexington community. These programs focus on topics ranging from academic success, community service, social action, engagement, and more.

NPHC's signature programs are the NPHC Annual Homecoming Step Show, NPHC Open House held during K Week, NPHC 101, and NPHC Week, a week of engaging programs for students.

Students that are interested in joining an NPHC fraternity or sorority should start by learning about each organization, connecting with chapter members, and attending NPHC 101. NPHC organizations recruit throughout the academic year and participate in membership intake (informally known as "taking a line"). Membership intake is organized by each chapter independently and at different times during the academic year. UKY NPHC has a focus on service, scholarship, and celebration through the art of stepping, strolling, hand signs, calls, and apparel-all of which is reserved for only members of the respective organizations. 

Visit the NPHC Website

The Panhellenic Council is the governing body for 14 National Panhellenic Conference sororities. Panhellenic is led by an Executive Council who work with member organizations to coordinate leadership, service, and recruitment activities for the members. 

Panhellenic sororities are organizations of committed women who work diligently to provide support to their national philanthropies, the academic efforts of their members, and the University of Kentucky community.  

Panhellenic organizes a primary recruitment each August for the 14 National Panhellenic Conference sororities. Primary recruitment is a mutually selective process that is designed to maximize the number of women joining sororities each year. Women participating in recruitment should register in advance and will receive an informational booklet in June that includes information about our chapters, recruitment, and how to register. 

Visit the Panhellenic Council Website

The United Greek Council is the governing council at the University of Kentucky and currently includes nine chapters. The United Greek Council (UGC) was established in the Fall of 2014 to be a governing body for special-interest and culturally based fraternities and sororities. UGC is led by an Executive Board who work to coordinate with the member chapters to plan social, educational and service programs for their members and the campus community.  

UGC's primary goal is to be welcoming and growth-oriented. The council works towards these goals by focusing on collaboration within the council and between the council and other student organizations and fraternities and sororities on campus. They seek to be a resource for students wishing to start new chapters of special-interest or culturally based national fraternities and sororities on the University of Kentucky campus. 

The current member organizations of UGC are Kappa Beta Gamma, a social sorority, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a fine arts fraternity,  Phi Sigma Rho, an engineering, STEM adjacent sorority, Sigma Alpha, an agriculture sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota, a fine arts sorority, Sigma Phi Lambda, a faith-based sorority, Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. an Asian-Interest sorority, Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity, Inc., a multicultural fraternity, and Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc. a multicultural sorority. These organizations conduct recruitment independently throughout the year.  

Visit the UGC Website