National Panhellenic Conference
Sorority Formal Recruitment 2009
Tuesday, February 17th - Saturday, February 21st
Sorority recruitment begins on February 17th - 21st, with four days of activities to help you as a potential new members find the right fit.
Download your Recruitment Registration form here! (DOC) or (PDF)
We're on FACEBOOK! Check out our Recruitment Group!
GO GREEK!
A student interested in Greek Life is encouraged to learn more about all the chapters. This process of exploration is called recruitment. Recruitment begins early each semester.
Millions of people have joined Greek organizations and have had their lives changed for the better as a result. Even if you don't end up joining an organization, participating in recruitment can be a great learning experience and a great time to make new friends. So get out there and explore Greek Life!
Recruitment Tips
Be Yourself. There is nothing more important than being yourself during recruitment. Recruitment is a time to get to know the organizations and to choose the chapter that is the best fit for you.
1. Evaluate each chapter carefully. Each organization has a unique culture. When choosing a fraternity or sorority, you must decide what you want from your Greek experience. Ask many questions to determine which organization is the best fit for you. Join the organization where you feel most comfortable and where you feel you can grow the most.
2. Visit as many chapters as you can during recruitment week. Concentrate on those organizations you are interested in and attend many recruitment events as you need to get to know each chapter.
3. Dry recruitment. Alcohol is not allowed at any recruitment event or activity. Panhellenic policies stipulate that all events and activities associated with fraternity recruitment must be alcohol free. Violation of this rule is a serious infraction and the guilty chapter is subject to severe disciplinary action.
4. Ask questions. Some useful questions you might want to ask during recruitment are:
-How much emphasis does your chapter place on scholarship?
-What types of scholarship programs are offered by your chapter?
-What type of leadership opportunities are there?
-What types of community service does your fraternity or sorority take part in?
-What kind of social activities do you have each year?
-How involved is your chapter with IFC/Panhellenicl, student government, and other student organizations?
-What is the time commitment for joining your fraternity/sorority?
-How will your fraternity/sorority help prepare me for graduation and life after college?
-How much will joining your fraternity/sorority cost?
-What is your new member membership education program like? What is its purpose?
5. Recruitment week activities. Once announced and gathered, schedules for all recruitment events will be posted on this website to assist you in planning your individual rush schedule, so check back periodically for dates. Be sure to keep an eye out for posters and flyers posted across campus, as well.
6. Dress. Unless otherwise stated, there is no specific dress code for recruitment. Most potential new members dress casually.
GREEK TERMINOLOGY
Active: a fully initiated undergraduate member of a fraternity/sorority.
Alumna/Alumnae: an initiated member of a sorority who has received their undergraduate degree. Alumnae is plural.
Alumnus/Alumni: an initiated member of a fraternity who has received their undergraduate degree. Alumni is plural.
Bid: a formal invitation given by a fraternity or sorority asking a prospective member to join the chapter.
Big Brother/Big Sister: an older member assigned to assist a new member in his/her college transition.
Brother: a term used within men’s fraternities when referring to other members.
Chapter: a local collegiate membership of a fraternal organization.
Colony: a fraternal membership which is in a trial period with their national organization and the University before becoming a chapter.
Fraternity: a Greek letter sisterhood or brotherhood.
Greek: any member of a Greek letter organization (sorority or fraternity).
Formal Recruitment: a designated membership recruitment period during which sororities hold a series of organized events.
Hazing: An abusive way of treating new members that can be in the form of physical or mental abuse, humiliation, or harassment. UVM and the state of Vermont takes a strong stance against hazing as it is illegal and against the core values of the university and Greek Life.
IMPACT: a conference held every two years for fraternities and sororites to set agendas for the future. Hosted by the NIC.
Informal/Open Recruitment: the unstructured recruitment process by which chapters bring in new members. Sometimes called the "rush" period
Initiation: the formal ritual ceremony that brings new members into full membership of the sorority or fraternity.
Legacy: a prospective member whose immediate relative(s) were in a recognized fraternity at Buffalo State.
New Member: a woman or man who has accepted a fraternity or sorority bid, but has not been initiated.
New Member Program: the period when New Members learn about Greek Life and their fraternity or sorority's history, values, and expectations.
NGLA: Northeast Greek Leadership Association.
NIC: North American Interfraternity Conference.
NPC: National Panhellenic Conference.
NPHC: National Pan-Hellenic Conference.
Panhellenic Council: The governing body for all Buffalo State Sororities
Pillars of Excellence: Standards Greek societies hold themselves to. The seven standards are Pillar of Values Integration,Pillar of Intellectual Development,Pillar of Citizenship and Service, Pillar of Leadership Development, Pillar of Recruitment and Retention, Pillar of Internal Affairs, and Pillar of Risk Management and Awareness.
Potential New Member: a person participating in recruitment events.
Quota: The established maximum amount of sisters allowed in NPC sororities.
Ritual: Ritual can be big 'R' and little 'r'. Big R Ritual is the ceremonial practices that each chapter has that is unique to them and sets them apart from other organizations. Little r is the values that each chapter has and the way they live up to their organizations' Ritual in their everyday lives.
Sister: a term used within sororities when referring to other members.
Sorority: a Greek letter sisterhood.
GREEK ALPHABET
Αα Alpha
Ββ Beta
Γγ Gamma
Δδ Delta
Εε Epsilon
Ζζ Zeta
Ηη Eta
Θθ Theta
Ιι Iota
Κκ Kappa
Λλ Lambda
Μμ Mu
Νν Nu
Ξξ Xi
Οο Omicron
Ππ Pi
Ρρ Rho
Σσς Sigma
Ττ Tau
Υυ Upsilon
Φφ Phi
Χχ Chi
Ψψ Psi
Ωω Omega