Parents' FAQs

What will joining ZBT do for my son in the short-term?

Joining ZBT will provide your son with instant access to the many resources available to students on campus. It will connect your son with the many student services offices on campus that will assist him in better developing as a student. The colony of ZBT also has a highly esteemed faculty advisor who will also serve as a resource for members of ZBT as it relates to academic success. Fraternities are unique in that it brings together many diverse aspects of fraternity in one organization. Your son will have the opportunity to participate in athletic, social, education, service and brotherhood bonding events while also networking with successful area and national alumni. Because ZBT is a younger, and newer, organization at FSU your son will also have the immediate opportunity to learn to develop as a leader by getting involved in planning events and understanding many diverse leadership characteristics.

What will joining ZBT do for my son in the long-term?

Being part of a fraternity, in the long-term, provides many benefits. In the college years, your son will be eligible for scholarships through the ZBT Foundation. Scholarships range from $1,000 to more than $5,000 for those who are awarded one. Your son will also have the opportunity to utilize his fraternity involvement to help him develop into a leader on the Florida State University campus. The leadership experience outside of the classroom is often said to be the real world experience that our students aren't being taught in the classroom. While still an undergraduate, your son will have the chance to network with alumni who can assist in internships and job placement. The long-term impact beyond college is incredible! Your son will join a network of more than 130,000 members. ZBT employs a full-time staff, based in Indianapolis, who work to provide just as much for alumni as we do undergraduates. Alumni can participate in regional alumni clubs, network with other alumni at Fraternity-sponsored events, and become involved in a volunteer capacity in many different areas.

How many hours per week will my son be involved in fraternity activities?

There is no set amount of hours that one is required to fulfill. Each chapter has a weekly business meeting that focuses on matters of importance to the Fraternity. In addition to that, the weekly calendar will be made up of a mix of social, athletic, alumni, service, education, and bonding events. The chapter will sometimes require certain events that will benefit members and other times are simply there as options for members. The amount of time that your son puts in will depend upon the level of leadership he chooses to take on and how much he desires to yield in return.

Should I think of Animal House as a documentary?

Absolutely not. This movie does not depict how today's fraternities function. The last decade has been an exciting time for fraternities as they work harder to instill a sense of their founding values in everything they do. The brothers from Zeta Alpha have a true sense of brotherhood in them. This results in bonds more closely associated with a family rather than the images of the past.

How will I know if fraternity activities are interfering with school/study?

Fraternity activities should never interfere with school. We make it clear to all our members that they are in college to be a student first. The faculty advisor who volunteers with the men at FSU also help to make this clear. The chapter leadership should not be requiring the amount of work that would interfere with studies. Because ZBT does not have a pledge program our members don't have to deal with the non-sense that sometimes comes along with the time involved with pledging. Our chapters have programming to help our men to better manage their time to avoid any interference from happening.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one our advisors Ken Jacobs or Mike Tomkiewicz.