Recruitment Registration for Primary Recruitment in Fall 2021 will be open from May 17th, 2021 - August 27th, 2021
Beginning Fall 2021, the College Panhellenic Council will be transitioning to a Fall Formal Recruitment period along with the rest of the fraternity/sorority community. This is to allow first semester students an opportunity to find a support system and to create a sense of belonging here at Western Carolina University! It also gives transfer students the ability to join organizations in the Fall semester that will help them feel welcome and allow them to network as soon as possible when they arrive to campus.
Recruitment Registration is currently closed.
PNM Orientation:
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Fall 2021 Primary Recruitment Dates:
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Recruitment Schedule-
*The three rounds of Recruitment will be held in Killian September 9th, 7pm; virtual: PNM Orientation September 10th, 5pm-7:45pm: Sisterhood and Values September 11th, 2pm-4:45pm: Philanthropy September 12th, 9am-11:30am: Preference September 12th, 5pm; Catafount: Bid Night |
Rounds-
Day 1: 30 min each round, 4 rounds Day 2: 45 min each round, up to 3 rounds Day 3: 1 hr for each round, up to 2 rounds |
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What is Recruitment?
Recruitment is when undergraduates interested in joining a Panhellenic sorority go through a several day process of meeting with current members, learning more about their organization, and ultimately receiving a bid to join one organization. The process is guided and regulated by National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) standards and agreements. |
What happens during a round?
During a round, potential new members get to meet with current members the organizations. The PNM is allowed to ask any questions they have about the organization and what it would be like to join it. Each day of Recruitment is dedicated to certain subjects where the PNM can ask specific questions regarding the subject of that day. |
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Who will help me through this process?
Recruitment Counselors! These sorority members have temporarily put their letters aside to assist the PNM through the Recruitment Process. The job is to listen to you, assist you, keep what you say confidential, and celebrate where you find your home at! |
What do I wear?
WCU Panhellenic Recruitment is completely values-based process. Recruitment is based on who you are as individual, not based on any other qualities. We want you to feel most comfortable and yourself in the what you wear! |
PNM Expectations:
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Important information to remember:
1. Our Recruitment process is a values-based process. Recruitment is based on who you are as individual, not based on any other qualities.
2. Recruitment is your process. Not your friends. Not your families. Make your decisions based on how you feel!
3. Try to come into this process with an open mind about all of our great organizations and remain unbiased.
1. Our Recruitment process is a values-based process. Recruitment is based on who you are as individual, not based on any other qualities.
2. Recruitment is your process. Not your friends. Not your families. Make your decisions based on how you feel!
3. Try to come into this process with an open mind about all of our great organizations and remain unbiased.
Recruitment Terms Glossary
Recruitment: A process where undergraduates interested in a sorority or fraternity meet with the members, learn more about the organization and join a organization. Primary Recruitment is a term often used by sorority members to designate the formal recruitment process that takes place in the fall semester here at Western Carolina University. The other councils host more formal recruitment processes in both the fall and spring semesters.
Recruitment Counselor (RC): A sorority member who has disaffiliated during Recruitment to assist Potential New Members. She will be assigned a group of PNMs to help guide them through the process of primary recruitment. Any RC can be used by a PNM for assistance throughout recruitment.
Potential New Member (PNM): An enrolled Western student who is not a member of a Greek letter organization. Regardless of their intention to participate in any recruitment process, they may at any time wish to explore the possibilities of membership. Particularly during primary recruitment for CPC, it is important for active members to understand the depth of this term in relation to recruitment rules.
Bid: A formal invitation issued by a chapter to join a sorority or fraternity.
Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC): The governing body of the five women’s sororities on Western's Campus; five of these chapters are part of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
Active: A member of a Greek letter organization who has been formally initiated by their chapter.
Alumna: Refers to a female graduate; this is commonly used to identify an initiated sorority member who is no longer in college but can provide recommendations for potential new members to join her sorority.
Chapter: A local group of a national organization, designated by its own Greek letter name. Chapter meetings are when the members join together to conduct official fraternity/sorority business.
Continuous Open Bidding (COB): An opportunity outside of Primary Recruitment for CPC chapters who are not at total to recruit and extend bids to PNMs. This process is less formal and not all chapters will participate in COB. This term is not interchangeable with ‘snap bid’ as that has a different meaning.
New Member: One who has been accepted as a member of a sorority or fraternity. After a period of education about the sorority/fraternity, she/he may be initiated.
New Member Educator: The individual who is the liaison between the new members and the chapter. This individual is responsible for implementing and monitoring the new member program and preparing the new members for initiation.
Interfraternity Council (IFC): an umbrella organization that presides over 32 men’s fraternities, each of which is autonomous as a social, Greek letter society of college men, undergraduate and alumni.
Initiation: The formal ceremony which brings new members into full membership of a sorority or fraternity.
Intake: The process NPHC/MGC chapters perform to recruit, interview, choose, and educate new members.
Intentional Single Preference: When a PNM attends more than one Pref Round event but only lists one choice on her Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement. This is strongly discouraged as your chances of joining are severely limited.
Legacy: A PNM whose parent, brother/ sister, or grandparent was a member of a fraternity or sorority. Legacy stipulations differ for each sorority and fraternity and do not guarantee or obligate an invitation to membership.
Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA): This term is formally known as a "Preference/Pref Card" and is a binding agreement that lasts one calendar year. Every PNM that attends the final round of recruitment, Preference Round, will complete an MRABA to state her membership preferences. The PNM ranks the sororities she visited during preference round and signs it to state she will accept a bid from any sorority she lists. If the PNM does not accept a bid given to her from a chapter she listed on this agreement, she is not eligible for the COB process for the calendar year. Note that once this agreement is turned in and entered into the system, it cannot be altered. If the PNM chooses not to sign this agreement, she is formally withdrawing from recruitment and is then eligible for COB. If the PNM does not receive an invitation to membership (bid) from a sorority she lists in this agreement, also referred to as a "mismatch", she is eligible for COB.
Mismatch: When a PNM’s name fails to match any of her sorority preferences. The PNM is eligible for COB.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): Founded in 1902, NPC provides support and guidance for its 26 member inter/national sororities/women’s fraternities and serves as the national voice on contemporary issues of sorority life. NPC serves as the umbrella organization for CPC.
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): a national council body composed of the nine historically, predominantly African American Greek letter organizations at both the college and alumni level.
Panhellenic Exec: The members of Panhellenic Exec lead the Western Carolina Collegiate Panhellenic Council. They are sorority members who will also disaffiliate during primary recruitment to help oversee the process. Look for members of Panhellenic Exec throughout recruitment!
Quota: The number of women that a sorority may extend a bid to during Recruitment.
Rush: An outdated term frequently used during the fall/spring semesters to designate the recruitment period of new members.
Ritual: the traditions of fraternities and sororities which are usually known only to initiated members.
Recruitment Counselor (RC): A sorority member who has disaffiliated during Recruitment to assist Potential New Members. She will be assigned a group of PNMs to help guide them through the process of primary recruitment. Any RC can be used by a PNM for assistance throughout recruitment.
Potential New Member (PNM): An enrolled Western student who is not a member of a Greek letter organization. Regardless of their intention to participate in any recruitment process, they may at any time wish to explore the possibilities of membership. Particularly during primary recruitment for CPC, it is important for active members to understand the depth of this term in relation to recruitment rules.
Bid: A formal invitation issued by a chapter to join a sorority or fraternity.
Collegiate Panhellenic Council (CPC): The governing body of the five women’s sororities on Western's Campus; five of these chapters are part of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC)
Active: A member of a Greek letter organization who has been formally initiated by their chapter.
Alumna: Refers to a female graduate; this is commonly used to identify an initiated sorority member who is no longer in college but can provide recommendations for potential new members to join her sorority.
Chapter: A local group of a national organization, designated by its own Greek letter name. Chapter meetings are when the members join together to conduct official fraternity/sorority business.
Continuous Open Bidding (COB): An opportunity outside of Primary Recruitment for CPC chapters who are not at total to recruit and extend bids to PNMs. This process is less formal and not all chapters will participate in COB. This term is not interchangeable with ‘snap bid’ as that has a different meaning.
New Member: One who has been accepted as a member of a sorority or fraternity. After a period of education about the sorority/fraternity, she/he may be initiated.
New Member Educator: The individual who is the liaison between the new members and the chapter. This individual is responsible for implementing and monitoring the new member program and preparing the new members for initiation.
Interfraternity Council (IFC): an umbrella organization that presides over 32 men’s fraternities, each of which is autonomous as a social, Greek letter society of college men, undergraduate and alumni.
Initiation: The formal ceremony which brings new members into full membership of a sorority or fraternity.
Intake: The process NPHC/MGC chapters perform to recruit, interview, choose, and educate new members.
Intentional Single Preference: When a PNM attends more than one Pref Round event but only lists one choice on her Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement. This is strongly discouraged as your chances of joining are severely limited.
Legacy: A PNM whose parent, brother/ sister, or grandparent was a member of a fraternity or sorority. Legacy stipulations differ for each sorority and fraternity and do not guarantee or obligate an invitation to membership.
Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA): This term is formally known as a "Preference/Pref Card" and is a binding agreement that lasts one calendar year. Every PNM that attends the final round of recruitment, Preference Round, will complete an MRABA to state her membership preferences. The PNM ranks the sororities she visited during preference round and signs it to state she will accept a bid from any sorority she lists. If the PNM does not accept a bid given to her from a chapter she listed on this agreement, she is not eligible for the COB process for the calendar year. Note that once this agreement is turned in and entered into the system, it cannot be altered. If the PNM chooses not to sign this agreement, she is formally withdrawing from recruitment and is then eligible for COB. If the PNM does not receive an invitation to membership (bid) from a sorority she lists in this agreement, also referred to as a "mismatch", she is eligible for COB.
Mismatch: When a PNM’s name fails to match any of her sorority preferences. The PNM is eligible for COB.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): Founded in 1902, NPC provides support and guidance for its 26 member inter/national sororities/women’s fraternities and serves as the national voice on contemporary issues of sorority life. NPC serves as the umbrella organization for CPC.
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): a national council body composed of the nine historically, predominantly African American Greek letter organizations at both the college and alumni level.
Panhellenic Exec: The members of Panhellenic Exec lead the Western Carolina Collegiate Panhellenic Council. They are sorority members who will also disaffiliate during primary recruitment to help oversee the process. Look for members of Panhellenic Exec throughout recruitment!
Quota: The number of women that a sorority may extend a bid to during Recruitment.
Rush: An outdated term frequently used during the fall/spring semesters to designate the recruitment period of new members.
Ritual: the traditions of fraternities and sororities which are usually known only to initiated members.
For more information see Recruitment 101 or FAQs
For specific questions regarding Recruitment, email our VP of Recruitment, Leah Henry, at [email protected]
For specific questions regarding Recruitment, email our VP of Recruitment, Leah Henry, at [email protected]
