Recruitment Information

                                                                                                                        

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Villanova holds a formal sorority recruitment on campus during the last week of Christmas break. Both current sorority members and Potential New Members return to their dorms to attend a series of events on campus throughout the week. The PNMs visit with each of the 9 sororities through a series of 4 rounds. There is a mutual selection process and by the end of the week girls may choose to accept a bid from only 1 sorority. It is a lot of fun and we encourage everyone to try it out even if you never thought a sorority was "your thing".

 

 

 

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is RECRUITMENT?

- Recruitment is a process of mutual selection involving a sorority and a Potential New Member, or PNM.
- Recruitment is a week long series of on-campus events where chapters get to know PNMs and PNMs get to know the women of the chapters.
- Recruitment is the beginning of the lifelong bond of SISTERHOOD.

When is RECRUITMENT?

- Recruitment takes place the week of Monday, January 7th and continues through Sunday, January 13th, which is BID DAY!

-Your residence hall will be open as of Sunday, January 6th.  There will be a meeting the evening of the 7th to kick off RECRUITMENT.

- All meals will be provided for PNMs throughout the week.

What’s a Recruitment Counselor?

-  A Recruitment Counselor is a woman who is already a member of a sorority who will help you through RECRUITMENT- answering your questions, getting you to the right place at the right time, etc.
- Every PNM will be assigned to a Recruitment Counselor Group of about 10 other PNMs in early December.
- PNMs will meet with their groups before RECRUITMENT on Monday November 20th as well as every day during RECRUITMENT.

What are the On-Campus Events?

- All of the events are held in Dougherty Hall.
- Each of the 9 sororities will host these events, separately.
- The events will give the sororities and the PNMs the opportunity to get to know one another.
- There are 4 different event rounds, each with a different theme or activity.

1st - OPEN ROUND
- PNMs attend all 9 events.
- General presentations will be given on scholarship, leadership, service, ritual, and social events.

2nd - PHILANTHROPY ROUND
- PMNs attend up to 6 events.
- Each sorority will explain the organization(s) that they raise money and volunteer for.
- PNMs will participate in an activity for the philanthropy.

3rd - THEME PARTY ROUND
- PNMs attend up to 4 events.
- There is a ‘party’ like atmosphere. Very casual event where PNMs get to meet a lot of sisters.
- Financial commitment will be discussed.

4th - PREFERENCE ROUND
- PNMs attend up to 2 events.
- PNMs will have the chance to witness a sorority ritual.

How Much Does It Cost?

- $110 application fee for RECRUITMENT registration.
- Chapter dues are approximately $250-$350 per semester, depending on the chapter.
- Be sure to ask each sorority exactly what is included in the dues (i.e., national dues, social events, etc.).
- There could potentially be one-time fees included in first semester/New Member dues.

How Do I Register for Recruitment?

- You must have at least a 2.25 GPA
- After October 3rd go to www.greek.villanova.edu and register online!
- In order to participate in Recruitment you must have registered online by 5pm on Tuesday, Nove,mber 14th.

- When applying online, read everything carefully and don’t forget to sign the disclaimer!!!
- Don’t forget to register for Break Housing on Novasis!
- $110 Recruitment fee: paid check or cash

 

Tips for Sorority Recruitment

Be Yourself

  • Be confident
  • Come to the events with your own thoughts and opinions
  • Dress comfortably
  • Talk about YOU!

Keep an open mind

  • Don’t listen to stereotypes - All 9 groups are Nationally recognized chapters
  • Follow your heart
  • Listen carefully to the sisters
  • Ask questions!

Don’t Stress

  • The sisters are just as nervous as you are, they are looking for great new members and you are looking for a great sorority experience!
  • It’s a great time to get to know people and have fun.
  • Utilize the day off!

Ask Questions

  • The sisters want you to ask questions!
  • It gives you a chance to find out if greek life is really for you!
  • Make sure you have all the information that you need to make an informed decision.

Make Your Own Decisions

  • You are the only one who knows what is best for you!
  • You will have friends in all of the other chapters. Be comfortable with that. It is one of the greatest things about Villanova’s greek community.

Be on Time

  • The event will be on time. Be sure that you are.
  • It will be uncomfortable for you to walk in during the middle of an event.
  • You want as much time as possible to meet the sisters and make your decisions.

Sleep

  • The week is tiring, be sure to get enough rest.
  • You are making many tough decisions, and you want to be alert and thinking clearly.
  • Sleep is GOOD!

Be comfortable in your clothes

  • Dress appropriately!
  • Presentable but comfortable!
  • It is a casual atmosphere!

Round 1

  • Most casual round!
  • Jeans are appropriate for this round.

Round 2

  • Philanthropy round…
  • Jeans, Khakis or cords are appropriate
  • Another casual round

Round 3

  • Theme round…
  • A bit dressier. Khakis, black pants or casual skirts are appropriate
  • It will be a party-like atmosphere

Round 4

  • Preference round…
  • Dressiest round
  • Skirts or dressy pants are appropriate
  • The chapter will be performing a ritual this round

Eat!

  • There will be plenty of food provided for you during the week
  • You have to remember to stay healthy during the week to make the best decisions for yourself.
  • Food is GOOD!

Just bring yourself and your cards in to the round

  • When you walk into each event you will have a calling card to present to the chapter.
  • The calling card has your name and ID number.
  • You will not be able to bring hats, purses or coats into the event.
  • Your recruitment counselor can hold things for you.

Write stuff down

  • You will be getting a lot of information. Take notes on what you like.
  • Your notes will be extremely helpful when it’s decision making time.

Relax

  • Take Friday off!!
  • Have fun!
  • Smile!

 

Did You Know?

  • Villanova's first Greek organization was the fraternity Epsilon Phi Theta, founded in 1902 in Corr Hall by Fr. Matthew Corcoran.
  • The first sororities on campus were founded in 1953 by nursing students.
  • Nearly 1,500 members of the Villanova student body are Greek.
  • Greeks are statistically more likely to get better grades, stay in school, and give back to their alma maters.
  • At Villanova, Greeks have gotten better GPA's on average, than non-Greeks for eight straight semesters.
  • 48% of all U.S. presidents have been Greek.
  • 42% of U.S. senators have been Greek.
  • 40% of all U.S. Supreme Court Justices have been Greek.
  • 70% of Fortune 500 CEO's are Greek.
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha and Kappa Alpha Psi are represented at Villanova.
  • The Fraternity and Sorority community is governed by the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils.
  • Greeks have their own honor society, Order of Omega, that recognizes the top 3% of the Greek community nation-wide.

 

Common Greek Community Terms

Active: A formal initiated member of a fraternity or sorority.

Alumnae: A sorority member who has graduated from college.

Alumnus: A fraternity member who has graduated from college.

Alumni: Initiated members who have graduated.

Badge (pin): The insignia that designates your Greek organization.

Bid: A formal invitation to pledge or associate with a chapter.

Bid Day: final day of recruitment when the potential new member receives an invitation to join a chapter.

Brother: A term used when referring to other members of a Fraternity.

Brotherhood: Intangible, yet the most cherished of assets among all Greek members, brotherhood is the foundations of fraternity life. It is difficult to explain, but it can be basically characterized by each fraternity's most common and identifiable element.

Call/Chant: A vocal sound (sometimes high-pitched) used by members of cultural based Greek organizations to acknowledge one another.

Chapter:  A campus group recognized by the institution and the (inter)national fraternal organization.

Chapter Advisor: an alumni member who advises students in specific chapter procedures.

Colony: group of students who have started a new fraternity or sorority.

Community Service: Services volunteered by individuals or an organization to benefit a community or its institutions.

Crossed: The actual date of initiation into a cultural Greek organization. The term is used to represent the symbolic “crossing of the burning sands."

Formal/Date Party: a social event held by one chapter to which each member may invite one date to attend.

Fraternity: A men's social student organization having secret rites; a student organization for scholastic, professional, or extracurricular activities. The term “fraternity” also applies to some women’s groups.

Fraternity and Sorority Advisor - Coordinator: University employee who advises students in academic and personal matters.

Greek: A member of a fraternity or sorority.

Greek 101: A retreat to educate the newly inducted members of the Greek System.

Greek Week: A special week each year where all the Greeks come together. This week includes such events as Greek games, tug-of-war, and Greek Lip-sync. Greek Week at Grand Valley State University helps promote unity within the Greek system.

Hazing: any action or situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of an individual or which willfully destroys or removes public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in, any organization operating under the sanction of or recognized as an organization by the University. (See the appendix or the Villanova University Student Handbook.)

Initiate: A fully initiated member of a chapter.

Initiation: Ceremony in which a new member begins full membership in that specific organization.

Interfraternity Council (IFC): Central governing body of fraternities that provides service to chapters. The IFC holds chapters accountable for the policies and procedures of the council and the University.

Leadership: Many leadership opportunities are available within the Greek community. Not only are officer positions available in each chapter, but also Greek affiliation opens doors to organizations all over campus.

Legacy: Man or woman whose mother, father, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather, or other immediate family member was or is currently a member of a particular organization. Each (inter)national organization may have their own definition of legacy.

Line: The members of a cultural Greek organization new member class.

List Social Event: A social event in which invitations are given to friends of the sponsoring fraternity. The fraternity then produces a list of invited guests, and those invited are bussed to a third party vendor for the event. (See the Fraternity List Party Guidelines in the Social Policy for policies regarding these events.)

Minority Greek Council (MGC): A representative body for historically minority Greek organizations.

Mixer: A social gathering between one (or more) sorority and one (or more) fraternity held at a third party vendor and limited to 3 hours. (See Social Policy for the policies regarding these events.)

NALFO: National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations is an umbrella council for Latino Greek Letter Organizations. The purpose of NALFO is to promote and foster positive interfraternal relations, communication, and development of all Latino Fraternal organizations through mutual respect, leadership, honesty, professionalism and education.

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): The representative body of national sororities.

Neophyte: A new member of a cultural Greek organization.

New Member/Associate: Member of a Fraternal organization who has not yet been initiated.

New Member Pin: A pin that designates a new member of a Greek organization.

New Member Recruitment: The continual process of recruiting members for a Greek organization (usually IFC and NPC).

New Member Program: Time in which new members of a Fraternal organization learn about the chapter.

Panhellenic Council (Panhel): Central governing body of sororities that offers services to chapters and the community as a whole, from the Greek meaning all (Pan) Greeks (Hellenic).

Philanthropy: Charitable project to raise money and awareness for a particular cause sponsored by each chapter on campus.

Potential New Member: Student who participates in either formal or informal recruitment.

Presidents’ Council: The governing body encompassing all chapter presidents. Provides speakers for campus, organizes and coordinates Greek 101 and Greek Week.

Recommendations/References: Written letter recommending a potential member for membership signed by an alumnus, these are not necessary for students to participate in recruitment.

Recruitment: Social experience organized by the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils in which mutual selection allows each potential new member to determine chapter membership.

Recruitment Counselor: Woman or man who is available during formal recruitment to answer questions about recruitment.

Recruitment Guide (Rho Gamma): A disaffiliated member of an organization who assists potential members through the recruitment process.

Ritual: A detailed act or series of acts carried out by an individual to represent their organization’s values.

Scholarship: The Greek system at GVSU strives for high scholarship. A minimum grad point average is required by sororities and fraternities in order to become an initiated member. Each chapter has a scholarship program to provide incentives, coordinate study hours, and to encourage members to achieve their highest academic goals.

Sister: A term used when referring to other members of a sorority.

Sisterhood: Intangible, yet the most cherished of assets among all Greek members, sisterhood is the foundations of sorority life. It is difficult to explain, but it can be basically characterized by each sorority's most common and identifiable element.

Social: The Greek system at GVSU offers a well-rounded social life, and provides the opportunity for developing lifelong friendships. Many activities are organized not only to become closer to one’s sisters and brothers, but to members of other chapters as well. Men and women get together for original theme parties, and informal or formal dances that provide many rewarding and fun memories.

Social Event: General term that includes mixer, formal, date party that must be registered in accordance with the social policy. (See Appendix)

Sorority: A women's social student organization having secret rites; a student organization for scholastic, professional, or extracurricular activities.

Strict Silence: Not discussing recruitment with non-sorority members outside of the recruitment events.

Stroll: A line dance done by members of cultural Greek organizations (usually at a party or step show).

“Undergrounds”: Groups that are not recognized (inter)Nationally and/or by the University.
 

 

 

For more information about Greek Life or Recruitment visit:
http://www.villanova.edu/studentlife/studentdevelopment/greeklife/recruit/

 

Chi O's Recruitment Chair is Liz Barlow