Joining A Greek Organization
All fraternities and sororities recruit members primarily during
the Spring Semester. Fraternities and sororities belonging to the
Interfraternity Council (men's) or Panhellenic Association
(women's) participate in "deferred formal recruitment" in January.
Participating students return to campus during the end of the
holiday break. NPHC chapters participate in a separate process
known as intake. By waiting until the beginning of the second
semester, first-year students have the opportunity to meet and
learn about all of the organizations on campus while adjusting to
the college experience. Many students use this time to find the
organizations that meet their individual needs. Each year,
upperclassmen also participate in formal recruitment and join
chapters.
During formal recruitment, potential new members have the
opportunity to visit all of the respective men's or women's
chapters and attend recruitment events. Advance registration is
required. For women, events are 'by invitation only after the first
day. For men, participants are encouraged to spend time at all
chapter houses during the process. Students who participate are
under no obligation to join. If the student receives and accepts an
invitation to membership, then and only then, has he or she joined
the organization. Students may not move into Greek housing until
the beginning of the sophomore year.
Second semester freshmen and upperclassmen may join chapters
outside of the formal recruitment period. However, only those
chapters eligible to take additional members will
be participating, so options may be limited. For more information
on participating chapters, contact the Office of Greek Life.
New members of Greek organizations participate in a five- to
eight-week educational program designed to orient them to their
respective chapters. During this time, students attend meetings,
social events, and educational programs, as well as participate in
philanthropies and other projects. New members are customarily
matched with a big brother or sister who serves as a mentor. The
culmination of the new member educational period is initiation, the
ceremony in which new members become full members.