2014 Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment

Panhellenic Recruitment is a four-round mutual selection process that takes place in the spring semester. During recruitment potential members meet all sororities and make daily selections about which groups they hope to visit again. Likewise, after each round the sororities extend invitations to the potential members they are most interested in.

Potential new members (PNMs) must register online for recruitment. Early registration costs $50 and will be available Monday, September 16 through Friday, December 6. After that date registration is available until January 7 at 5 p.m. CST but will incur a late fee of $20.

2014 Recruitment Schedule

• Panhellenic Recruitment Preview Day, LBC Kendall Cram Room, November (Exact Date and Time TBA)
  Attire: Casual
  PNMs will learn how the Recruitment process works and visit each sorority house for a mock round of Recruitment events. This event is NOT required.
  
  
• Thursday, January 9: Residence Halls Open Early for Recruitment Participants
  Current sorority women and PNMs registered for recruitment may move into their residence hall rooms beginning at this time to be announced in the fall semester. The Housing and Residence Life staff will not be available to check students in earlier, so please plan your arrival to campus accordingly.
  
  
• Friday January 10: Recruitment Kickoff
  Attire: Casual
  PNMs will meet the Panhellenic Recruitment Staff, Recruitment Counselors, and other members of their Recruitment Group. We will review the schedule, process, appropriate attire, etc., and answer any questions PNMs may have.
  
  
• Saturday, January 11: Open House Round, All Day
  Attire: Business casual (skirt or nice pants, nice top or sweater, boots/flats)
  PNMs will visit each house for 30 minutes to meet the members of each chapter. This is a long day so we STRONGLY encourage you to wear comfortable shoes.
  
  Note: There are frequent breaks throughout the day, and Panhellenic sets up both quiet space for those who want to study and space to watch movies/TV for those who prefer to relax.
  
  
• Sunday, January 12: Philanthropy Round, All Day
  Attire: Recruitment t-shirt (distributed at Kickoff), jeans/leggings, boots/flats
  PNMs will visit a maximum of six chapters to learn about their national and local philanthropic projects and their commitment to community service.
  
  
• Saturday, January 18: Sisterhood Round, All Day
  Attire: Business formal (casual dress or dressy skirt/pants and top, dress shoes)
  PNMs will visit a maximum of four chapters to learn more about what it means to be a member, conveyed by photo slide shows highlighting their sisterhood and various activities.
  
  
• Sunday, January 19: Preference Round, All Day
  Attire: Cocktail (dress, heels)
  PNMs will visit a maximum of two chapters during this final round. This round is the most serious of the events. During this round you will be part of traditions and rituals that represent the chapters. Preference focuses on what you will gain out of joining a sorority as well as the connections you have made thus far.
  
  
• Monday, January 20: Bid Day, 4 p.m.
  Attire: Casual (jeans and lightweight top; PNMs will receive a t-shirt from their new sorority)
  New sorority members join their sisters for a day of fun and sisterhood.
  

FAQs for Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment

What are recommendations? Do we need them?
You may know someone who is a member/alumna member of one of the seven Panhellenic sororities. It's a good idea to ask them to right a recommendation on your behalf. Similar to a reference letter for a job, recommendations are forms that members of each sorority can submit on your behalf if they feel you are a strong fit for the organization. Forms for recommendations can be found on the inter/national headquarters website for each sorority; the member who writes this letter on your behalf will know where to find a copy. Recommendations can benefit you because they give the sororities more information about your character, interests, and achievements beyond what they may learn about you during recruitment alone. Recommendations can help but are in no way required for membership into the sororities and in no way does a recommendation guarantee a bid from any sorority. All recommendations should be mailed directly to the individual sorority house, these are the addresses (all located in: New Orleans, LA 70118):

How many members can each sorority take each spring?
Unlike all of the other Greek organizations on campus, the Panhellenic sororities are limited to a certain number of members they may admit to their sorority each year. Fraternities and the National Pan-Hellenic groups admit members they feel are a good fit, whether it be one new member or one-hundred new members. Panhellenic sororities are permitted a specific number of women they may ultimately offer bids, as set by the Panhellenic Council. This number changes from year to year because it is calculated based on the number of women who go through the formal recruitment process. It is determined in a way that offers the most women the opportunity to join a sorority. Some sororities may be eligible to hold an informal recruitment, called Continuous Open Recruitment (COR). If you are a sophomore, junior or senior in the fall, you may contact the Panhellenic Senior Vice President of Recruitment to find out which groups will hold recruitment for the upcoming fall. If you did not receive a bid in the spring after recruitment or did not participate in recruitment, you may also contact her to learn if any groups will take a few additional members for that spring.

Do you make exceptions to the requirements to go through recruitment?
PNMs who do not meet the requirements due to extenuating circumstances may be considered to participate in Formal Recruitment by petitioning the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Programs. All decisions must be finalized by Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 5 p.m. central time.

What if I am trying to resolve an issue with a grade in a course (make-up exam, received an incomplete, petitioning to have a grade changed, etc.)?
All issues with GPAs must be reconciled and submitted to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Programs by Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 5 p.m. central time.

How much does it cost to be in a sorority?
The first semester of membership is generally the most expensive, because there are one-time new member, initiation, and badge fees. Costs in the first semester average $900-$1200. Thereafter they range from $600 to $800 per semester.

Panhellenic Recruitment Rules

These rules govern all the participants in Panhellenic Recruitment. They are reviewed each spring, and changes are adopted by the Panhellenic Council. For questions or clarifications of rules, please contact Julia Hankins, the Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Programs and Panhellenic Council Advisor.