Alpha Tau Omega FAQ

Alpha Tau Omega invites anyone interested in learning more about our organization to go to ato.org or joinato.org for information specific to ATO’s return to SMU, follow our Instagram account at @SMUATO.

If you do not see an answer to your specific question, feel free to send us a direct message on Instagram. A member of the ATO National Staff will respond there.

 

Being a founding member of ATO at SMU means that you get to shape the culture, traditions, and future of the chapter. Founding members will have the chance to set the standard for what ATO will represent on campus. It is a unique leadership opportunity for men who want to leave a meaningful legacy at SMU.

 

Yes. Alpha Tau Omega has a strong and engaged alumni base connected to SMU. Many ATO alumni remain involved with the university and the broader Dallas community, and they are eager to support the return of the chapter. These alumni will provide mentorship, professional networking, and long-term guidance as the new group develops.

Members of the ATO National Expansion Team will be holding individual conversations with students interested in joining early in the fall semester. After an initial conversation, our team will provide interested students with a clear roadmap outlining the next steps in the recruitment process.

This process is designed to help potential members learn more about ATO, understand the expectations of membership, and determine whether the opportunity is a strong mutual fit.

Students interested in joining Alpha Tau Omega at SMU must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Students must be enrolled in at least 12 hours during the semester in which they plan to join.
  • New students must have completed new student orientation requirements and attended all required Stampede programs.
  • Achieve a 2.8 cumulative GPA (as required by Alpha Tau Omega), calculated on a 4.0 GPA scale. This can be demonstrated through high school transcripts for incoming first-year students, or through my.SMU or transfer records for upper-class students.
  • Not be placed on conduct probation or higher with the Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards during the semester in which a student plans to join prior to initiation.
  • Not currently be an initiated member of any other NIC organization. 
  • Be willing and able to participate in ATO’s Peak Performance Protocol, which includes passage of a drug screening test. 

No. An invitation to join Alpha Tau Omega is not guaranteed. Students interested in joining will participate in conversations with the ATO National Expansion Team, where both the student and the Fraternity can determine whether ATO is the right fit. ATO evaluates potential members based on academic standing, character, leadership potential, alignment with our values, and willingness to meet the expectations of membership.

Alpha Tau Omega is committed to building a fraternity experience that challenges stereotypes and raises expectations for chapter culture. As part of that commitment, ATO hopes to establish a substance-free fraternity experience at SMU.

The Peak Performance Protocol means that any individual hoping to join ATO will participate in a drug screening protocol before accepting an invitation to membership. As an ongoing requirement of membership, members will also be subject to random testing throughout their undergraduate experience.

This policy is intended to help establish a healthy chapter culture from the beginning and ensure that men joining ATO are aligned with the values and expectations of the organization.

Members of the ATO National Expansion Team will be holding individual conversations with students interested in joining early in the fall semester. Alpha Tau Omega will also participate in the first round of SMU IFC recruitment to share more about our organization, answer questions, and explain the process for joining.

Following that initial round, ATO will conduct a separate recruitment process led by members of the National Expansion Team.