The Johns Hopkins University was the first university in the Western Hemisphere founded on the model of the European research institution. Named for its initial benefactor, Baltimore merchant Johns Hopkins, the university enrolls nearly 20,000 full- and part-time students on campuses in Baltimore, Maryland; Montgomery, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; China; and Italy. The Baltimore campus – Homewood – has more than 4,700 full-time undergraduates in two schools, the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and the Whiting School of Engineering. Johns Hopkins is also well known for its School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health.

From The Key, Summer 1999; figures updated October 2012 [1]

Greek Life at Johns Hopkins University Johns Hopkins University's Greek system includes four councils: The Panhellenic Association (PHA), the Interfraternity Council (IFC), Multicultural Greek Council (MGC), and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). In Spring 2012 there were over 1,200 Greeks at Johns Hopkins (approximately 25% of the undergraduate student population). [2]

The university does not provide Greek housing to any fraternities or sororities, though many fraternities maintain private residences off-campus.

Recruitment at Johns Hopkins is deferred and typically takes place in early February.


Panhellenic Association

• Alpha Phi, Zeta Omicron Chapter (Chartered 1982)

• Kappa Kappa Gamma, Eta Epsilon Chapter (Chartered 1999)

• Phi Mu, Gamma Tau Chapter (Chartered 1982)

• Pi Beta Phi, Maryland Gamma Chapter (Chartered 2010)

• Delta Gamma, Zeta Kappa Chapter (Chartered 1990, Closed 1995)

• Kappa Alpha Theta, Zeta Chi Chapter (Chartered 1997, Closed 2009, Reestablished 2013)


Inter-Fraternity Council

• Alpha Delta Phi

• Alpha Epsilon Pi

• Beta Theta Pi

• Lambda Phi Epsilon

• Phi Delta Theta

• Phi Gamma Delta

• Phi Iota Alpha

• Phi Kappa Psi

• Sigma Chi

• Sigma Phi Epsilon


Multicultural Greek Council

• Alpha Kappa Delta Phi

• Delta Xi Phi

• Iota Nu Delta

• Sigma Omicron Pi


National Pan-Hellenic Council

• Alpha Kappa Alpha

• Alpha Phi Alpha

• Sigma Gamma Rho

Eta Epsilon Colony was established at Johns Hopkins University, April 9-11, 1999. The colonization/recruitment process resulted in 44 enthusiastic new members. Initiation of new members and installation of the chapter took place October 22-24, 1999. Greek life at Hopkins consisted of eleven fraternities and four NPC sororities at the time. The biggest challenge of 1999 was acceptance by other sororities and fraternities. By participating in all Panhellenic events and joining the Fraternity League's intramural volleyball games (the first girls' Greek organization to participate in the league), the chapter not only received acceptance as a Greek organization but also respect, both as individual women and an organization.

Membership was a concern as well. The chapter began fall semester with 29 new members and held Continuous Open Bidding (COB), gaining two more members.

Academic Year 2001-2002

From chapter’s History Report: The Johns Hopkins University, and the new Eta Epsilon chapter, recognized the tragedies of Sept. 11, 2001, by holding a candle light vigil on the Arts and Sciences Quad. Our chapter consists of 40 sisters, many of whom sit on chapter council. Our small size presents difficulty trying to accomplish all the activities and tasks necessary for a well rounded chapter.

Academic Year 2004-2005

By 2004, our fifth year as a chapter, we saw an increased presence in the involvement in the Johns Hopkins community. Campus events included a smores barbecue, and a Halloween candy giveaway. Eta Epsilon had the largest number of sisters participating in freshman orientation. Sisters were involved as executive staff, student advisers, parent ambassadors and orientation assistants. Additionally, the Panhellenic Council recognized Eta Epsilon as having the highest GPA of all sororities and fraternities on campus.

Following the tragic death of a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Eta Epsilon showed its support to the fraternity by sending irises and a card to their house as well as providing emotional support to the brothers and friends of the lost student.

Dissatisfied with Recruitment in 2004, more time was spent planning for Recruitment 2005, with help from the Advisory Board who held workshops discussing conversation skills, body language and smooth transitions, in order to boost the chapter's confidence in recruitment abilities. In the Spring of 2006 we gained one of our largest classes, 21 new sisters. That fall we won our campus wide Greek Week contest for sororities. Other events we participated in were Relay for Life, raising money for cancer, reading books to children. Our Waffle House philanthropy raised more than $300.

Academic Year 2005-2006

2006 saw us active in a clean-up project in the Wyman Park Dell near campus, and we received a grant to help us purchase playground equipment for a Baltimore city playground.

Academic Year 2006-2007

A constant struggle is recruiting enough members. We are the smallest sorority on campus and our small size is often frowned upon by girls going through recruitment who want to join a larger sorority. We welcome Leadership Consultant visits to help before and after recruitment but the challenge continues. In Spring 2007, the chapter welcomed 9 women through formal recruitment and participated in Spring COB to bring the new member class to 15 women.

Academic Year 2007-2008

In Fall 2007 the chapter welcomed a new member class of 6 women through Fall COB. In Spring 2008 we welcomed our largest new member class yet, 24 women. Twelve new members came from formal recruitment and an additional twelve were added through Spring COB.

Academic Year 2008-2009

In Fall 2008 the chapter welcomed an additional 6 women through Fall COB. That year we also were recognized as Greek Week Champions of 2008, and we won the Panhellenic Award at the Biennial Convention.

In Spring 2009 the chapter welcomed a new member class of 33 women, 25 of whom were recruited through formal recruitment (8 were added through Spring COB).

Academic Year 2009-2010

In Fall 2009, an additional 9 new members were welcomed through Fall COB. We enjoyed a sisterhood retreat at Terrapin Adventures where we did rope courses, a giant swing and zipline, creating a unique bonding experience before the start of the school year.

Finally, in Spring 2010, the chapter saw the largest expansion of the chapter in our short history with a new member class of 60, nearly doubling the chapter size and surpassing quota for the first time in the chapter's history. Fifty-four of these women were recruited through formal recruitment and 6 were added through Spring COB. The large increase in the size of the new member class can be attributed to both an increase in quota after the closing of another Panhellenic chapter, and the extraordinary efforts of the Kappa sisters to shine during recruitment.

During Relay for Life, we were the largest fundraiser at Johns Hopkins. At Convention in Phoenix Eta Epsilon received the Recruitment award and honorable mention for Academic Excellence, Standards, Panhellenic, Finance and Greatest Improved Chapter. At Johns Hopkins we earned recognition for earning the highest GPA of all sororities with a 3.51.

Academic Year 2010-2011

We celebrated our 10th birthday in the fall, an important milestone, and welcomed Pi Beta Phi to our campus. Pi Beta Phi colonized in Fall 2010 with 66 charter members.

Fall 2010 marked the first time in many years that Eta Epsilon chapter did not participate in Continuous Open Bidding, as the chapter had grown sufficiently that this measure was not necessary. The chapter has not participated in Fall COB since.

With the addition of Pi Beta Phi all chapters' recruitment quotas were lowered to 35 women, allowing for smaller and more closely-knit new member classes. In Spring 2011 Kappa Kappa Gamma welcomed the largest new member class of any Panhellenic chapter on campus, 41 women. The chapter did not participate in Spring or Fall COB.

At Province Meeting in March we were awarded the Risk Management award for our dedication to new risk policies and procedures. In April, a Kappa Trainer, Julie Martin Magnis, George Washington, Museums Chairman for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, presented ritual workshops prior to initiation.

Philanthropy:

Bracelet sale to benefit the Kenya water project, raising $400, Relay for Life, Waffle House to fund Kappa causes, purchasing playground equipment for a city playground. Raised $1,000 at our Barnes and Noble charity book fair to promote literacy and hosted a children's section at the University Spring Fair.

Chapter Convention Awards:

2008 Recruitment Award

A new tradition was begun in 2011 when we held our first annual Monmouth Duo picnic with the recently colonized Maryland Gamma chapter of Pi Beta Phi, wearing tee shirts especially designed with an interlacing Kappa key and Pi Phi arrow on the back. We continued to excel in academics with the top campus GPA of 3.45.

In Spring 2012 the chapter continued to excel in recruitment, surpassing quota of 45 by welcoming 47 new members.

The sisters of Eta Epsilon chapter began the year with recruitment in February and welcomed the Chi new member class shortly afterwards. With the addition of the Chi class the chapter grew to approximately 130 active members. Following recruitment the sisters engaged in a number of social activities including sisterhood bonding events for the new members, three date parties, and send off luncheon for the soon to be graduating seniors. The luncheon provided the perfect time for the sisters to reflect on the many ways being a Kappa had enriched their university experience. In addition the sisters continued their academic and philanthropic pursuits. The chapter’s combined GPA for the spring semester was a 3.41. Spring philanthropy included continued work at Barclay elementary school as well as Kappa participation in events such a Dance Marathon and Relay for Life.

Fall semester was marked by Kappa’s participation in Greek Weekend in which we hosted the 2nd annual Kappa cook off, the proceeds of which went to Barclay Elementary school. Kappa was also happy to take 2nd place in the weekend’s powder-puff football competition. Later in the semester as a sisterhood bonding retreat the sisters visited a nearby ropes course where they partook in both teambuilding and trust exercises. The fall was concluded with a winter formal and the election of new officers.

In the past year it has not just been the Greek organizations on campus that have experienced growth. The university accepted the largest freshman class in history last spring. In addition a number of new construction projects have been completed to handle the university's expansion. However, the heart of campus remains the same as do the attitudes of the students. Greek life is still a close knit community of four panhellenic sororities though there has been discussion of inviting a fifth sorority to campus in the next few years.

Our chapter has expanded greatly in the last year and has really succeeded in establishing itself around campus as an involved and proactive organization as seen by our strong turn out for Greek week and our high level of involvement in other on campus organizations. We are still a tightly knit group despite our rapid growth and the sister remain focused on academics and philanthropy: Relay for Life, volunteering at the Barclay School for RIF, American Cancer Society, Maryland Food Bank, Maryland SPCA.

During 2013, Eta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma was the recipient of the Province Standards Award. Eta Epsilon continued their tradition of receiving the Highest GPA Award in chapter rankings at the Johns Hopkins University with a 3.43 in the Spring Semester and a 3.49 in the Fall Semester. The sisters additionally received 2nd place in the Greek Week event of Powder Puff. The Philanthropy event of our Kappa Kook-Off continued to be very successful and raised money for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation and Reading is Fundamental.

2013 Recruitment included the highest number of Potential New Members going through formal Recruitment to date at the Johns Hopkins University. This affected all sororities on campus in accommodating these large numbers during the recruitment process. The Eta Epsilon Chapter enjoyed a successful recruitment gaining its chapter a large class of 56 New Members. The sisters of Eta Epsilon held a new philanthropy event called Kappa Kickball to raise funds and support the local community. They also started a new tradition of accepting children’s books as admission to Kappa events or monetary donations. All the children’s books and proceeds were donated to Baltimore’s Barclay Elementary School. In 2013, there was a great dedication and focus on philanthropy. Eta Epsilon sisters volunteered for Dance Marathon, Relay for Life, President’s Day of Service, Freshman Move-in/Orientation, Tutorial Project, Kappa Kook-off, Kappa-Kickball, children’s book game during Spring Fair, and continued working on literacy skills with students at Barclay Elementary.

During 2014, Eta Epsilon chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma received honorable mention for academic excellence at the Kappa Kappa Gamma 2014 National Convention in Houston, Texas. Eta Epsilon is proud to report their members continued success in academics as the chapter again received the Highest GPA award among sorority chapter rankings for the Fall semester at the Johns Hopkins University with a 3.45 GPA in the Spring Semester and a 3.49 GPA in the Fall Semester. The two Philanthropy events during 2014 were the second annual Kappa Kickball event and then the annual Kappa Kook- off. Both were successful events that fostered a sense of community on the Johns Hopkins campus as well as helped raised money for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation and Reading is Fundamental.

2014 Recruitment again saw a very large number of Potential New Members excited to go through the formal Recruitment process at the Johns Hopkins University. With five sororities on campus offering bids to potential new members, Eta Epsilon Chapter welcomed 42 New Members (after two losses of Potential New Members). The sisters of Eta Epsilon again held successful philanthropy events, Kappa Kickball and Kappa Kook-off, in which at each event they accepted children’s books, as well as monetary donations, as admission to Kappa events. As during 2013, all the children’s books and monetary donations were donated to Baltimore’s Barclay Elementary School. In 2014, the sisters of Eta Epsilon set a goal of attending and participating in more philanthropic events run by on-campus student organizations as well as other Greek life organizations. These events included Dance Marathon, Relay for Life, President’s Day of Service, Freshman Move-in/ Orientation, Tutorial Project, Greek Week, Powder-puff, Kappa Kook-off, Kappa Kickball, Johns Hopkins’ Spring Fair activities and various other sorority/ fraternity events. Eta Epsilon also made a goal of having a more organized structure to its committee meetings and a better flow of communication between chapter members. Eta Epsilon chapter holds chapter meetings each Sunday of the month in a hall owned by the university on campus property.

Eta Epsilon does not have a house. Therefore, each member finds her own housing, either in an apartment or smaller house located around the campus of the Johns Hopkins University.

During 2015, Eta Epsilon continued to report its members continued success in academics. Eta Epsilon report an average 2015 spring semester GPA of 3.42. The two Philanthropy events during 2015 were the first annual Kappa Krushes and Kappa Con Queso. Both were successful events that fostered a sense of community on the Johns Hopkins campus as well as helped raised money for the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation and Reading is Fundamental.

2015 Recruitment again saw a very large number of Potential New Members excited to go through the formal Recruitment process at the Johns Hopkins University. With five sororities on campus offering bids to potential new members, Eta Epsilon Chapter welcomed 44 New Members (after three losses of Potential New Members). The sisters of Eta Epsilon again held successful philanthropy events, Kappa Kickball and Kappa Kook-off, in which at each event they accepted children’s books, as well as monetary donations, as admission to Kappa events. As during 2014, all the children’s books and monetary donations were donated to Baltimore’s Barclay Elementary School. In 2015, the sisters of Eta Epsilon continued their pledge to attend and participating in more philanthropic events run by on- campus student organizations as well as other Greek life organizations. These events included Dance Marathon, Relay for Life, President’s Day of Service, Freshman Move-in/ Orientation, Tutorial Project, Greek Week, Powderpuff, and Johns Hopkins’ Spring Fair activities.

In spring 2015, Eta Epsilon formed “Kappademics”, a Facebook page run by the Education chairwomen. This page fostered a sense of community by having sisters post where on campus they were studying and when. It allowed sisters to form study groups and prioritize time for academics. The sister who posted the most in the group and also attended study hours was awarded the prestigious title of “Geek of the Week”.

In 2016, Eta Epsilon chapter continued its traditions of continued success in philanthropy and academics. Eta Epsilon reports an average 2016 spring semester GPA of 3.52. Our philanthropy events included Kappa Karnival and a collection drive in the spring, and Kappa Con Queso in the fall in which we surpassed our fundraising goal. These events also fostered a sense of community on the Johns Hopkins campus as well as with our partnering fraternity. Our goals mainly centered around the Focus Letter and improving upon aspects delineated in the letter. Describe the recent changes on your campus and describe the overall nature of your chapter.

With 2016's round of recruitment, we saw a huge number of potential new members go through the formal recruitment process at Johns Hopkins University. With 5 panhellenic sororities on campus offering bids, Eta Epsilon chapter welcomed 41 members with two dropped. We also had two legacy new members, and were able to organize for the mother of one new member to attend Initiation. Being on a Focus Letter this year has led our sisters to re-evaluate our priorities and re-center ourselves on our core values and beliefs. With new attendance policies that are sympathetic to sisters and still encourage attendance at all events, sisters are more engaged and happy with their chapter involvement. The Fraternity and Sorority Life Office on campus held various seminars on wellbeing and health that were well-attended by our chapter, as well as a seminar on hazing. Finally, we focused on holding more sisterhood events this semester such as Secret Santa's and a pumpkin-picking trip.

Chapter Philanthropy: The sisters of Eta Epsilon again held several successful philanthropy events - in the spring, we held a collection drive of feminine hygiene products for the House of Ruth, a local shelter for battered women. We ran this drive with Alpha Phi and were able to collect a great deal of donations. We also held Kappa Karnival, in which different organizations signed up for booths at a carnival-themed outdoors event. Tickets were sold by sisters and all proceeds went to RIF. In the fall, we held our second annual Kappa con Queso co-sponsored by a fraternity on campus as well.

Again, all the proceeds went to RIF, and all the leftover food was donated to Our Daily Bread, a local soup kitchen. This fall we also started a book drive to benefit Reading is Fundamental in preparation for our philanthropy round during formal recruitment next Spring. Moreover, in 2016 the sisters of Eta Epsilon continued their pledge to attend and participate in several philanthropic events on campus run by other campus student organizations and other Greek life organizations. These events included Dance Marathon, Relay for Life, President's Day of Service, Freshman Move-in/Orientation, The Tutorial Project, Powderpuff, Greek Week, and Johns Hopkins' Spring Fair Activities.

House of Ruth and Our Daily Bread are two extremely charitable organizations in Baltimore that several sisters have donated their time to. As women, we particularly identify with the House of Ruth and their mission to house and protect victims of intimate partner violence and their children.

In 2017, Eta Epsilon chapter continued its traditions of success in academics and philanthropy.

Eta Epsilon reported an average 2017 spring semester GPA of 3.6, the highest of the 5 Panhellenic chapters at Johns Hopkins University. Our philanthropy events included our annual children's book drive for local Baltimore schools in the winter, and a collection drive for House of Ruth, as well as Kappa Karnival in the spring. In the fall, sisters took it upon themselves to set up a Hurricane Harvey Fundraiser and Bake Sale for the Las Vegas Victims' Fund. The chapter also introduced a new philanthropy event to raise funds for Reading is Fundamental, called Night Owls, during which sisters sold slices of pizza from 11:30 pm - 1:30 am over the Halloween weekend in order to fill the students’ needs for late night food when the university dining hall is not open. With new and old events for students of the university to take part in, the chapter fostered a sense of community on the Johns Hopkins campus. After new initiatives to improve upon aspects delineated in the letter, by re-evaluating our priorities and re-centering ourselves on our core values and beliefs, the chapter was taken off the Focus Letter we received last year.

During 2017, the chapter focused on improving member participation, presence in the Greek Life community, and overall sisterhood within the chapter. With new attendance policies instigated last year that are now the norm, member involvement has increased greatly. Also, in the fall the chapter was split into groups of 8-10 sisters who were given a small stipend to organize a small scale sisterhood event for the chapter if they wanted to, which we had several of throughout the semester, including a lunch together on campus, a cupcake decorating event, and a makeover night. In the spring, sisters attended an organized sisterhood event to a Baltimore Orioles baseball game, and in the fall an event at Clark's Elioak Petting Farm. The chapter was also very involved in the Greek Week activities, like bubble soccer and a wing eating competition. Throughout the year, the chapter also held several programmings during chapter meetings, including ones on sexual assault, sustainability, mental health, and alcohol abuse prevention.
With 2017’s round of recruitment, we saw a huge number of potential new members go through the formal recruitment process at Johns Hopkins University. With 5 panhellenic sororities on campus offering bids, Eta Epsilon chapter welcomed 42 members with one dropped.
The sisters of Eta Epsilon again held several successful philanthropy events this year. In the winter we held annual children's book drive for local Baltimore schools. In the spring we partnered with Alpha Phi for a collection drive of feminine hygiene products for the House of Ruth, a local shelter for battered women. We also held Kappa Karnival in the spring, which featured food, music, carnival games, and a moon bounce, with all proceeds going to Reading is Fundamental. In the fall, sisters took it upon themselves to set up a Hurricane Harvey Fundraiser and Bake Sale for the Las Vegas Victims' Fund. The chapter also introduced a new philanthropy event to raise funds for Reading is Fundamental, called Night Owls, during which sisters sold slices of pizza from 11:30 pm - 1:30 am over the Halloween weekend in order to fill the students’ needs for late night food when the university dining hall is not open.
Additionally, in 2017 the sisters of Eta Epsilon continued their pledge to attend and participate in several philanthropic events on campus run by other campus student organizations and other Greek life organizations. These events included Dance Marathon, Relay for Life, President's Day of Service, Freshman Move-in/Orientation, The Tutorial Project, Greek Week, and Johns Hopkins' Spring Fair Activities.
The organizations that the chapter chose to support other than Reading is Fundamental were those close to our sisters’ hearts, including the House of Ruth and its mission to house and protect victims of intimate partner violence and their children, as well as the time-specific disaster events of Hurricane Harvey and the Las Vegas shooting.

In 2018, the Eta Epsilon chapter continued its excellence in the areas of academic excellence, philanthropy, sisterhood, and integrity.

Our spring 2018 chapter GPA was 3.66, the highest of all Panhellenic organizations on campus and higher than the all-women GPA at Johns Hopkins University. At Kappa’s national convention, our chapter was awarded the National Award for Most Improved Academic Excellence, for which our chapter is incredibly proud.

For philanthropy, our chapter both hosted and participated in multiple events throughout the year, including our events Kones for Kappa, Kappacino, and Kappa Klassic, all in support of Reading is Fundamental, raising a total of $3700 throughout the year.

Additionally, our chapter had teams that participated in other organizations’ philanthropic events on campus, including Kappa Alpha Theta’s Rock the Casa, Alpha Phi’s 5k memorial race, Dance Marathon, among others.

Our chapter was also enriched through programming on many topics, including a presentation from Johns Hopkins’ sexual assault response unit, active listening & empathy training, sustainability, a resume workshop, and diversity and civic discourse discussion. Through these presentations, our members grew not only closer as sisters but also individually as scholastic, responsible women on the Hopkins campus.

In 2018, our chapter strove to embody female empowerment in multiple aspects. One way we did this through addressing the pervasive problem of sexual assault on college by raising awareness within the chapter through a presentation by Johns Hopkins' Sexual Assault Resource Unit, which aimed to teach our sisters how to communicate about sensitive issues concerning sexual assault in a way that empowers and supports survivors.

Additionally, each week we would highlight female achievement through "Kween of the Week", which was a spotlight on someone who was an especially inspiring female role model. Some spotlights included: Kirsten Gillibrand, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, and even some of our own chapter members who went above and beyond for our philanthropy events.

Also, our council strove to connect our sisters to resources for improving mental health, including informing our chapter about the counseling center's services on campus and participating in active listening & empathy training.

Furthermore, our chapter aimed to support other Panhellenic women on campus by attending PAJH (Panhellenic Association at Johns Hopkins) events and fostering a more positive recruitment environment. One focus within the PAJH community this year was to be more inclusive of the multicultural organizations on campus when discussing recruitment and making sure to encourage PNMs to consider all of the wonderful organizations on campus.

Overall, in 2018 our chapter strove to be more inclusive, supportive, and empowering to our sisters and other members of our campus community.