Each chapter in Zeta Psi has a unique name composed of one or two Greek letters. A colony petitioning Zeta Psi to become a chapter chooses a name for its chapter upon receiving its charter. From this point on, the name is fixed. Even if the chapter goes inactive—in that it has no undergraduate members—the name will be taken up by any group that re-establishes a chapter at the university campus.

The name can be based on many different factors. For instance, it is common for new chapters to take on an element from an existent chapter that has helped them form. Theta Xi chapter in Toronto adopted the Xi from their neighbor chapter in Michigan. In turn, every chapter in Ontario has a "Theta" as part of their name from their relationship to the Toronto chapter. Other times, a name is related to other factors like the Roman Catholic Villanova University chapter being named Alpha Omega chapter due to the Christian significance.

A one or two-letter name can only be re-used if the chapter possessing the name is pronounced "deceased." This has not happened since 1892.

Chapters

Name Chartered Institution Location Status Notes Reference
Phi June 1, 1847–1971;
1975 		New York University New York City, NY, US Active
Zeta May 23, 1848–July 22, 1852;
November 21, 1881–1972 		Williams College Williamstown, MA, US Inactive [a][b]


Delta November 24, 1848–2009;
2011–2014;
2019 		Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ, US Active
Omicron Prime
(See Omicron Epsilon) 		June 3, 1850–January 4, 1882 Princeton University Princeton, NJ, US Deceased [c] [2]
Sigma September 4, 1850 University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA, US Active [3]
Chi November 19, 1850–1988 Colby College Waterville, ME, US Inactive [d][e]
Epsilon April 21, 1852–1861;
1864–1987 		Brown University Providence, RI, US Inactive [f]
Rho Prime July 12, 1852–1857;
May 25, 1865–1867;
February 17, 1882–December 1892;
1985–1998 		Harvard University Cambridge, MA, US Deceased [2]
Alpha Prime March 5, 1852–1856 Dickinson College Carlisle, PA, US Deceased
Psi Prime
(See Psi Epsilon) 		November 19, 1853–1864 Dartmouth College Hanover, NH, US Deceased [2]
Psi Epsilon
See Psi Prime 		May 6, 1871–June 1873;
1920–2007;
2012 		Dartmouth College Hanover, NH, US Active [g] [4]
Kappa October 22, 1855 Tufts University Medford, MA, US Active
Theta Prime March 4, 1856–1871 Union College Schenectady, NY, US Deceased [h] [5]
Tau October 2, 1857–2014;
2020 		Lafayette College Easton, PA, US Active
Beta Prime
(See Xi) 		1858–1861 ? University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, US Deceased [i] [6]
Pi Prime 1858–1859 Amherst College Amherst, MA, US Deceased [j][k] [5]
Upsilon January 16, 1858–1871;
December 11, 1885 		University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC, US Active [l]
Xi
See Beta Prime 		May 20, 1858–1971;
1976–2002;
200x ?–2019 		University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI, US Inactive [m] [7][8]
Gamma Prime 1861–1865 Georgia Military Institute Marietta, GA, US Deceased [n][o] [5]
Eta Prime August 13, 1861–June 1872 Pennsylvania College (now: Gettysburg College) Gettysburg, PA, US Deceased [p] [5]
Omega Prime
(See Omega Alpha) 		November 5, 1864–December 30, 1868;
1878–1887 		University of Chicago (now: Old University of Chicago) Chicago, IL, US Deceased [q][r] [5]
Pi January 13, 1865–December 21, 1893;
1951 		Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY, US Active [s]
Lambda December 27, 1867–1994 Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME, US Inactive
Beta June 28, 1868–1881;
1893–2011;
201x ? 		University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA, US Active [t]
Psi December 31, 1868 Cornell University Ithaca, NY, US Active
Iota June 10, 1870–2017 ? University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, CA, US Active [9][10]
Gamma Second 1874–1875 United States Naval Academy Annapolis, MD, US Deceased [u][v] [11]
Gamma June 11, 1875–1887;
1905–1972;
1974–1993;
1998–2008;
2020 		Syracuse University Syracuse, NY, US Active [w] [12]
Alpha (Originally Mu) December 12, 1879–1936;
1981–2009 		Columbia University New York City, NY, US Inactive [x][y] [13][14][15][16]
Theta Xi March 29, 1879 University of Toronto Toronto, ON, CA Active [z]
Alpha Psi January 3, 1883–1970;
1979 		McGill University Montreal, QC, CA Active
Nu November 27, 1884–2020 Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH, US Active ?
Eta May 11, 1889–1974;
1976 		Yale University New Haven, CT, US Active
Mu January 8, 1892–1963;
1975–1987;
1992–1998 		Stanford University Stanford, CA, US Inactive [17][18]
Alpha Beta August 26, 1899–1982;
1987–2001;
2016 		University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN, US Active [aa][19][20]
Alpha Epsilon 1909–1979;
1992 		University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana, IL, US Active
Lambda Psi 1910–1932;
1997–2008 		University of Wisconsin–Madison Madison, WI, US Inactive [ab]
Phi Lambda 1920 University of Washington Seattle, WA, US Active [ac]
Pi Epsilon 1921–2012 University of Manitoba Winnipeg, MB, CA Inactive [ad] [21]
Sigma Zeta 1924–1995;
2000–2009 		University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA, US Inactive [ae]
Sigma Epsilon 1926–1971;
1978–1994;
2013 		University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC, CA Active [af]
Mu Theta 1930–1994;
200x ? 		University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, CA Active [ag]
Alpha Mu 1938–1988;
1997–2007;
20xx ? 		Dalhousie University Halifax, NS, CA Active [22]
Omega 1947–1971;
1977–1993 		Northwestern University Evanston, IL, US Inactive
Theta Phi 1947–1977;
19xx ?–2008;
20xx ? 		University of Western Ontario London, ON, CA Active [ah]
Rho 1956–1991 Middlebury College Middlebury, VT, US Inactive [ai]
Omicron 1958–1973;
1987 		Nebraska Wesleyan University Lincoln, NE, US Active [aj]
Theta 1960–2012 University of Connecticut Storrs, CT, US Inactive [ak]
Pi Sigma 1960–1994;
199x ?–2018 		Pennsylvania State University State College, PA, US Inactive [al][am] [23]
Omicron Sigma 1962–1970 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR, US Inactive
Chi Gamma 1967–1975;
1977–1979;
1983–2006;
2013 		University of Calgary Calgary, AB, CA Active
Tau Gamma 1968 Purdue University West Lafayette, IN, US Active
Delta Chi 1969–1971;
2010 		American University Washington, DC, US Active
Pi Kappa 1969–1998;
2008 		Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg, PA, US Active [an]
Sigma Phi 1970–2016 University of Illinois at Chicago Chicago, IL, US Inactive [ao]
Tau Delta 1973–2002 Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA, US Inactive [ap]
Alpha Pi 1975 Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA, US Active [aq] [24]
Upsilon Mu 1975–2009 University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA, US Inactive
Phi Epsilon 1976 University of Maryland, College Park College Park, MD, US Active [ar]
Pi Tau 1976 Worcester Polytechnic Institute Worcester, MA, US Active
Beta Tau 1977 Tulane University New Orleans, LA, US Active
Iota Alpha 1979–2005;
2008 		University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, US Active
Rho Alpha 1979 Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge, MA, US Active
Psi Zeta 1979–1984 Ohio State University Columbus, OH, US Inactive [as] [25][26][27]
Iota Delta 1981–1998;
2014 		University of California at Davis Davis, CA, US Active
Alpha Omega 1984–1999 Villanova University Radnor Township, PA, US Inactive
Omicron Epsilon
(See Omicron Prime) 		1983 Princeton University Princeton, NJ, US Active [at]
Kappa Phi 1984 Cooper Union New York City, NY, US Active
Delta Alpha 1990–1995 University of Colorado Boulder, CO, US Inactive
Alpha Nu 1991–2007 Claremont Colleges Claremont, CA, US Inactive
Tau Alpha 1992–1998 Texas A&M University College Station, TX, US Inactive
Theta Tau 1995–2002 University of Vermont Burlington, VT, US Inactive
Psi Kappa 1996–1998 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, US Inactive
Mu Alpha 1999–2003 Texas Tech University Lubbock, TX, US Inactive
Delta Kappa 2000–2004 University of New Brunswick Fredericton, NB, CA Inactive
Nu Delta 2000–2007;
2011 		Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY, US Active
Alpha Theta 2001–2010;
2015 		University of Waterloo & Wilfrid Laurier University Waterloo, ON, CA Active
Nu Sigma 2003–2016 Seton Hall University South Orange, NJ, US Inactive [au] [28]
Tau Theta 2005 University of Ontario Institute of Technology Oshawa, ON, CA Active
Beta Sigma 2007–2008 University of Georgia Athens, GA, US Inactive
Mu Pi 2007 Binghamton University Binghamton, NY, US Active
Sigma Gamma 2007 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC, US Active [av]
Iota Omicron 2008 University of Oxford Oxford, ENG, UK Active [av]
Gamma Epsilon 2009 Georgetown University Washington, DC, US Active
Theta Eta 2009 Brock University St. Catharines, ON, CA Active
Theta Psi 2010 Queen's University Kingston, ON, CA Active [av]
Sigma Omicron 2011–2014 University of St. Andrews Saint Andrews, SCO, UK Inactive
Theta Omicron 2012 Trinity College Dublin Dublin, IE Active [av]
Iota Nu 2013 University of Nevada, Reno Reno, NV, US Active
Omega Alpha
(See Omega Prime) 		2013 University of Chicago Chicago, IL, US Active [aw]
Beta Delta 2015 University of Arizona Tucson, AZ, US Active
Sigma Beta 2015 University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA, US Active
Zeta Tau 2015 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI, US Active
Zeta Epsilon February 25, 2023 Grand Valley State University Grand Rapids, MI, US Active
Gamma Psi 2016 University of Guelph Guelph, ON, CA Active [ax]
Psi Omicron 2019 Université de Paris Paris, Île-de-France, France Active [av]
Kappa Delta 2020 George Mason University Fairfax, VA, US Active [av]
Rho Tau April 20, 2023 University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL Active [ay] [29]
Kappa Alpha May 20, 2023 American College of Greece Athens, Greece Active [30]

Explanatory notes

  1. ^ The original Zeta chapter withdrew from ΖΨ in 1852 to join Delta Psi in 1853 where it became the Lambda chapter of that fraternity. ΖΨ re-established its chapter at Williams in 1881, by absorbing Phi Gamma Delta's original Iota chapter on that campus, which had formed in 1880, but which had withdrawn from that national one year later. This all occurred before the development of the NIC, which prohibited much of the poaching that had occurred in earlier years.
  2. ^ Greek letter organizations are banned at Williams, though there have been reports of sub rosa chapters of another fraternity.
  3. ^ Renamed Omicron Epsilon chapter on the same campus after the long dormancy.
  4. ^ This chapter originated as Alpha Omega (local) in 1849.
  5. ^ Greek letter organizations are banned at Colby.
  6. ^ The former Epsilon chapter of Zeta Psi went co-ed, renaming itself Zeta Delta Xi on January 24, 1987.
  7. ^ In its 1919 reorganization, this chapter absorbed Delta Gamma Psi (local), formed earlier that same year.
  8. ^ Chapter closed due to the loss of its members in the Civil War.
  9. ^ At the beginning of the Civil War, all but two of Michigan's Beta chapter active members left campus to enlist in the Union or Confederate armies. The brotherhood in Ann Arbor was subsequently reorganized under a new name with the chartering of the Xi chapter in 1861 and morally supported by the efforts of Elders Lewis Pilcher and James F. Spalding. However, this new Xi chapter's founding is officially recorded in Fraternity history as occurring in 1858. It was founded through the efforts of Liberty Emery Holden, a transfer from Chi chapter at Colby College. The later use of the name Beta chapter at Virginia was unrelated to the Michigan group, whose use of that name only lasted a few years.
  10. ^ Greek letter organizations are banned at Amherst.
  11. ^ Charter "moved" to Rensselaer after Civil War.
  12. ^ In its 1885 revival, this chapter absorbed Rho Sigma Tau (local) formed earlier that year.
  13. ^ Xi chapter operations suspended through end of 2021.
  14. ^ This school was closed after the school was destroyed during the Civil War, on November 15, 1864.
  15. ^ This chapter died with the Institute's demise following the Civil War.
  16. ^ This chapter ended because of unfavorable conditions following the Battle of Gettysburg.
  17. ^ This chapter originated as the Cuardrumas Club (local), before 1864.
  18. ^ This chapter died along with the Old University of Chicago in 1887.
  19. ^ The charter for this chapter was moved from Amherst College after the Civil War.
  20. ^ The use of the name Beta chapter at Virginia is wholly separate from that name's earlier short-term usage at Michigan.
  21. ^ Fraternities were banned at the US Naval Academy in the late 1800's. The school only briefly had three: ΒΘΠ, ΖΨ and ΚΣ. All three were closed within a year or two of chartering, none surviving past 1887.
  22. ^ Closed due to "government restrictions against fraternities".
  23. ^ This chapter originated on the Syracuse campus as Theta Chi (local) in 1874. No relation to the national fraternity of that same name, which only had one chapter at the time.
  24. ^ The chapter letter name Mu was originally given to the chapter but changed to Alpha a few years later with permission of the Grand Chapter in January 1882
  25. ^ The Columbia chapter was evicted from campus housing in 2007.
  26. ^ First Greek letter fraternity in Canada.
  27. ^ This chapter originated as the Varsity Club in 1893
  28. ^ This chapter originated as the Algoma Club (local) in 1908. It had also absorbed Delta Sigma Pi (local), formed in 1923.
  29. ^ This chapter originated as Alpha Theta Epsilon (local) in 1913.
  30. ^ This chapter originated as the Hexagon Club (local) in 1919.
  31. ^ This chapter originated as Sigma Zeta (local) in 1919. It retained this name as a chapter designation when it merged into ΖΨ.
  32. ^ This chapter originated as Phi Lambda Rho (local) before 1926.
  33. ^ This chapter originated as the Athenian Club (local) in 1926.
  34. ^ This chapter originated as Alpha Kappa Psi (local) in 1931.
  35. ^ This chapter originated as Phi Sigma (local) in 1955.
  36. ^ This chapter originated as the Crescent Club (local) earlier in 1958.
  37. ^ This chapter originated as Delta Chi Delta (local) in 1952.
  38. ^ This chapter originated as Pi Sigma Upsilon (local) in 1955, and was granted its ΖΨ chapter designation in honor of the former local name.
  39. ^ Penn State University suspended the fraternity through June 2022.
  40. ^ This chapter originated as Pi Kappa Epsilon (local) in 1966, and was granted its ΖΨ chapter designation in honor of the former local name.
  41. ^ This chapter originated as Sigma Phi Omega (local) in 1967, and was granted its ΖΨ chapter designation in honor of the former local name.
  42. ^ This chapter originated as Tau Delta Phi (local) in 1927, and was granted its ΖΨ chapter designation in honor of the former local name.
  43. ^ This chapter originated as Alpha Pi Tau (local) in 1966, and was granted its ΖΨ chapter designation in honor of the former local name.
  44. ^ This chapter originated as Phi Epsilon Pi in 1960 which had gone local at the University of Maryland rather than merge with Zeta Beta Tau, and was granted its ΖΨ chapter designation in honor of the former local name.
  45. ^ Temporarily Active in 2017, 2019. OSU suspended all its IFC chapters' activities including Psi Zeta's in November 2017.
  46. ^ The Princeton chapter was re-established under this new name after a long vacancy.
  47. ^ Suspended by the University for five years in 2016.
  48. ^ a b c d e f Not recognized by its university.
  49. ^ Viewed as a separate chapter from Omega at the Old University of Chicago active 1864–1868, 1879–1887
  50. ^ This chapter in Ontario is missing the customary "Theta" letter referred to in the Toronto chapter.
  51. ^ This chapter is also referred to as Epsilon Sigma.

References

  1. ^ William Raimond Baird; Carroll Lurding (eds.). "Almanac of Fraternities and Sororities (Baird's Manual Online Archive), document showing Zeta Psi chapters". Student Life and Culture Archives. University of Illinois: University of Illinois Archives. Retrieved 8 Aug 2022. The main archive URL is The Baird's Manual Online Archive homepage.
  2. ^ a b c Semicentennial Biographical Catalogue of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. New York, NY, USA: Zeta Psi. December 1899. p. 161.
  3. ^ "Univ. of Pennsylvania says Zeta Psi fraternity didn't abuse camel". CBS News. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  4. ^ Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America Pledge Manual. Pearl River, NY, USA: Zeta Psi. 2006. p. 22.
  5. ^ a b c d e Pledge Manual of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. Pearl River, NY, USA: Zeta Psi. August 2000. p. 32.
  6. ^ Biographical Catalogue of the Xi Chapter of the Zeta Psi Fraternity. New York, NY, USA: Zeta Psi. June 1897. p. 7.
  7. ^ "Zeta Psi - Xi Chapter History". Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Xi Chapter Status". Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  9. ^ This chapter had been noted as the first fraternity chapter to form West of the Mississippi. Cited in the historical study "The Lost Boys of Zeta Psi" by Laurie Wilkie.Wilkie, Laurie (April 2010). The Lost Boys of Zeta Psi. Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press. ISBN 9780520260603.
  10. ^ "Man, 20, found dead after party at Berkeley frat house". Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  11. ^ Pledge Manual of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. Pearl River, NY, USA: Zeta Psi. August 2000. p. 33.
  12. ^ Pledge Manual of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. Pearl River, NY, USA: Zeta Psi. August 2000. p. 27.
  13. ^ "Columbia Zeta Psi". Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  14. ^ "Life at das Zëtehaus". Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Zeta Psi's Eviction: Unjust and Ominous". Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  16. ^ Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America: Double Diamond Jubilee. Paducah, KY, USA: Turner Publishing Company. 1997. p. 15.
  17. ^ "Zeta Psi fraternity suspended, loses house". Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  18. ^ "Stanford Fraternity Disbands". Associated Press. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  19. ^ Zeta Psi Chapters. Pearl River, NY, USA: Zeta Psi. 2017.
  20. ^ "Zeta Psi back on campus, moves into original house". Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  21. ^ "Zeta Psi - University of Manitoba". Retrieved 29 August 2019.
  22. ^ Pledge Manual of the Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America. Pearl River, NY, USA: Zeta Psi. August 2000. p. 28.
  23. ^ "Zeta Psi fraternity's recognition suspended through spring 2022". Retrieved 26 August 2019.
  24. ^ "Zeta Psi Virginia Tech Webpage". Retrieved 3 April 2017.
  25. ^ "Ohio State suspends 37 fraternities amidst hazing, alcohol investigations". Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  26. ^ "One Ohio State fraternity remains on full suspension from November ban". Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  27. ^ "Zeta Psi OSU - Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  28. ^ "Zeta Psi suspended from campus for five years". Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  29. ^ [1]
  30. ^ [2]
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