Panhellenic

Sorority Recruitment Overview

Sorority Recruitment at Vanderbilt does not occur until the spring semester. The Formal Recruitment is scheduled for January 4 - 11, 2009. At this time, women who earned a 2.5 GPA, achieved 12 university credit hours, and who are not on disciplinary probation will be eligible to participate in the Formal Recruitment process. Recruitment for sororities at Vanderbilt is a mutual selection process.

2008-2009 Sorority Recruitment Calendar (tentative)

August 23
Information Session in the Student Life Center at 5 pm

September 7
Sorority Recruitment Registration in Student Life Center at 5 pm

November 12
6 pm and 6:45 pm - Student Life Center
Panhellenic Preview PNM Meeting

November 15
Panhellenic Preview Day

December 9
Recruitment 101 for all Potential New Members at 5 pm (A-L) and 6 pm (M-Z)

January 3
Residence Halls Open at 8 pm

January 4
6 pm and 7 pm - Sarratt Cinema
Pre-Formal Recruitment Meeting

January 5
Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment, Display Round, from 10 am-7 pm

January 6
Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment - Philanthropy Round 10 am - 7 pm

January 7
Classes begin, no rounds

January 8
Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment, Entertainment Round, from 5:30 pm-11 pm

January 10
Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment, Preference Round, from 5 pm-10 pm

January 12
BID DAY

Registering for Panhellenic Recruitment

Sorority recruitment registration is online. At the registration meeting on September 7, potential members will turn in their $30 registration form and sign the grade release. If you are unable to attend the meeting on Sept. 7, please come to the Office of Greek Life (339 Sarratt) to do so. Your registration will NOT be complete until you have turned in your registration fee and signed the grade release.

Before you go to the next step of online registration, please make sure that you are prepared to answer questions about your legacy status (family members' sorority affiliations), recruitment history and college and high school involvement. You will not be able to go back and make changes later, so please make sure that your do not start the form until you know this information.

 

Code of Ethics

This code serves as a guide for all sorority members and financially inactive members, alumnae, and potential new members to promote honesty, respect, and sisterhood. All concerned are responsible for observing the rules proposed by the Vanderbilt University Panhellenic Council, and thereby agree to the following:

In agreement with NPC Unanimous Agreements and Vanderbilt University Panhellenic Guidelines:

1. NPC sorority members shall not suggest to any Potential Member that an invitation or bid is assured from their chapter, nor encourage a Potential Member to list only one choice on her Preference List.
2. The use of alcoholic beverages and the participation of men in membership recruitment and Bid Day activities are prohibited.

It is in accord with the dignity and good standing of sorority members:

1. To avoid disparaging remarks about any sorority or non-sorority women
2. To create and encourage friendly relations between sorority and non-sorority women
3. To lay aside competition and strive for respect, mutual trust, and cooperation amongst Greek organizations
4. To prevent negative publicity regarding the Greek community
5. Long Standing Relationships: are defined as relationships established prior to a potential new member's acceptance to Vanderbilt University. This relationship is not to be exploited for recruitment purposes. The best interest of the potential new member should be kept in mind at all times.

As sorority women, we will abide by the NPC Recruitment Unanimous Agreements in addition to the Vanderbilt University Panhellenic Standing Rules for Recruitment. This includes, but is not limited to:

1. Potential members may not enter the residence of an active sorority member except during recruitment events, including Continuous Open Bidding.
2. Active sorority members may not enter the residences of potential new members at any time during the recruitment process.
3. Sorority members may NOT spend money on potential members, nor give or accept gifts from potential members. This includes but is not limited to food, rides, or photos,
4. Prearranged meetings between sorority members and potential members are not permitted. These include but are not limited to: lunch dates, dinner dates, meeting downtown, etc.
5. Intentionally separating a potential member and engaging in inappropriate, intimidating conversation and/or being in a situation where there is 4 or more active members in the same sorority with one potential member is considered hotboxing and is not permitted.
6. The use of Facebook, AIM, and other electronic communication is not to be used between sorority women and potential members. To clarify, one may not be "Facebook friends" with a potential new member, nor "message" a potential new member via instant messaging, text messaging, or Facebook messaging.
7. Calling or meeting with potential new members is prohibited unless it is for the purpose of academics, an extracurricular group, or a service oriented group.
8. The distribution of alcohol, drugs, and fake IDs in a public or private setting is strictly prohibited.

According to the NPC Manual of Information (p. 84), "NPC believes that normal, social contacts should not be disrupted in the case of long standing friendships by prohibiting all contacts between sorority women and potential [members]." Normal contact includes relatives, friends, neighbors, and co-workers prior to attending Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt Panhellenic Council agrees that members may engage in course related and extra curricular communication with all students. However, each sorority is charged with the responsibility of seeing that unfair advantage is not taken of such contacts.

National Panhellenic Conference Unanimous Agreements

1. A college Panhellenic shall take no action which infringes on the sovereignty, rights, or privileges of the individual fraternities.
2. A signed Membership Recruitment Acceptance or a Continuous Open Bidding (COB) Acceptance is binding for one calendar year.
3. Each College Panhellenic shall establish a Bid Day to conclude the formal membership recruitment period.
4. NPC fraternity members shall not suggest to any potential member that she refuse a bid from one group in order to wait for a bid from another group or that a potential member list only one choice on her Membership Recruitment Acceptance.
5. Each installed NPC fraternity chapter shall have one vote (The Delegate)
6. Each College Panhellenic Council shall establish rules governing membership recruitment activities.
7. Each College Panhellenic shall prohibit the use of alcoholic beverages or the participation of men in membership recruitment and Bid Day activities.
8. All members, including alumnae and new members, are bound to the rules governing membership recruitment.

Panhellenic Council Standing Recruitment Guidelines

According to the NPC Manual of Information (p. 84), "NPC believes that normal, social contacts should not be disrupted in the case of long standing friendships by prohibiting all contacts between sorority women and potential [members]." Normal contact includes relatives, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. However, each sorority is charged with the responsibility of seeing that unfair advantage is not taken of such contacts. The Vanderbilt Panhellenic Council believes that women sharing classes are included in this statement as well.

In addition, a chapter member, alumna member, or anyone acting on a sorority's behalf shall not imply the assurance of an invitation or a bid to pledge their organization to any potential member or her family.

Furthermore, the following NPC Manual of Information's Unanimous Agreements (p. 21) are of utmost importance and regulate all Vanderbilt University Panhellenic Recruitment activities:

• It is in accord with the dignity and good manners of fraternity women:
  • To avoid disparaging remarks about any fraternity or college woman;
  • To create friendly relations between fraternity and non-fraternity women;
  • To avoid negative publicity on Panhellenic matters (IV, 6).
• Each College Panhellenic Council shall establish rules governing membership recruitment activities (VI, 2A)
• Each NPC fraternity chapter has the right to COB t reach Quota or its total allowable chapter size during the regular school year as defined by the school calendar (VI, 2B).
• Each College Panhellenic Association shall prohibit the use of alcoholic beverages in membership recruitment and Bid Day activities (VI, 2C).
• Each College Panhellenic Association shall prohibit the participation of men in recruitment and Bid Day activities (VI, 2D).
• All members, including alumnae and new members, shall be bound by College Panhellenic Association rules governing membership recruitment (VI, 2E).

Pre-Recruitment Guidelines:

1. Vanderbilt University requires that potential members* must earn at least a 2.5 GPA for 12 or more hours carried during the fall semester. Individual chapters may have higher GPA requirements. The average GPA of women receiving bids in 2008 was 3.372.
2. Transfer students are eligible to participate in Continuous Open Bidding or Formal Recruitment as long as they have completed 12 credit hours at their previous university. However, in order to partake in Formal Recruitment, they must register by the Formal Recruitment registration deadline.
3. No woman who is on Disciplinary Probation the semester prior or at the time of recruitment may participate in recruitment activities, including accepting a bid from a sorority.
4. Potential members may not enter the residence of an active sorority member except during recruitment events, including Continuous Open Bidding.
5. Sorority members may NOT spend money on potential members, nor accept gifts from potential members. This includes but is not limited to food, photos, fake ID's, or alcohol.
6. Prearranged meetings between sorority members and potential members are not permitted. These include but are not limited to: lunch dates, dinner dates, meeting downtown, etc.
7. Intentionally separating a potential member and engaging in inappropriate, intimidating conversation and/or being in a situation where there is 4 or more active members in the same sorority with one potential member is considered hotboxing and is not permitted.
8. Men may not wear recruitment T-Shirts nor deliver mail to or from a potential member.

* Women become potential members as soon as they receive their Vanderbilt letter of acceptance

Greek Ambassador Program

A Greek Ambassador is an upper class member of a sorority who is disaffiliated from her particular chapter and has been selected to serve as a counselor to potential members during the recruitment process. The Greek Ambassador are assigned to freshman residence halls to answer questions, hold regular meetings, and serve as a resource for women interested in joining a sorority. The Greek Ambassador program has been designed by Panhellenic to provide support to potential members before, during, and after the recruitment process to address all questions and concerns. Greek Ambassadors are a valuable resource and will serve as a mentor and guide throughout the Formal Recruitment process. For more information on the Greek Ambassador Program, contact Lia Giannotti, the Panhellenic Director of Greek Ambassadors.

Potential new members, who have registered for Recruitment, will be assigned a Greek Ambassador in October. Potential New Members will have a chance to meet with her on a weekly basis to ask questions and socialize with other women participating in the recruitment process. Potential New Members will work with their Greek Ambassador throughout the fall and formal recruitment. It is important that to meet with and get to know her - she is the best resource during recruitment.

Glossary

Panhellenic Recruitment Registration/Information Meeting
An open meeting for potential members to gain information about the sorority recruitment process and to register to participate in recruitment. This event is not a part of the formal recruitment process and is not mandatory for registration since potential members can register at any time after September 7th and up until December 6th in the Office of Greek Life located in the Sarratt 339.
Suggested Dress: Jeans/Casual

Panhellenic Preview
Panhellenic Preview is held in the individual sorority houses and potential members will attend the round with their Recruitment Counselor groups. The Fall Round provides the potential members the opportunity to familiarize themselves with round schedules and attendance. These sessions are not mandatory and potential members should use them to gain information about the individual sororities and to meet people.
Suggested Dress: Jeans/Casual

Recruitment 101
A meeting held in December before Winter Break, during which potential members will be given specifics about the Formal Recruitment week. There will be a panel of Vanderbilt omen who will share their experiences during the Recruitment process and will be available to answer questions and offer advice.
Suggested Dress: Jeans/Casual

Display Round
The first round of Formal Recruitment is a Display Round where each sorority will have the opportunity to share its mission and values with the potential members, and provide them with some insight into the ideals it stands for. Potential Members will attend all ten sororities during this round.
Suggested Dress: Jeans/Casual

Philanthropy Round
Philanthropy Round is the second opportunity during formal recruitment for potential members to meet sorority actives while making a project to be donated to the individual sorority's philanthropy. Potential members may visit as many as seven sororities during this round.
Suggested Dress: Jeans/Casual

Entertainment Round
Formal Recruitment's third round has the sorority actives 'entertaining' the potential members through dances, skits, songs, etc. as they continue to meet more actives and learn about the sororities. Potential memberws may visit as many as five sororities during this round.
Suggested Dress: Dressy Casual

Preference Night Meeting
All potential members invited to any sorority's preference night round must attend the meeting held on Saturday afternoon. Specifics about preference ceremonies and bid day activities will be given at this time.
Suggested Dress: Jeans/Casual

Preference Night Round
The last round of recruitment, Preference Night is a sentimental ceremony in which the actives demonstrate to the potential members their bonds of sisterhood and what their sorority truly means to them. Potential Members are included in the ceremony and should use this night to help make their decision concerning which sorority makes them feel the most comfortable. Potential members may attend as many as three parties during this round.
Suggested Dress: Cocktail/Sunday Attire

Bid Card Signing
After attending their last preference round ceremony, potential members will go directly to sign their bid cards. The signing of the bid card is a personal decision and one each potential member must make on their own. Potential members should not discuss their bid card signing with anyone prior to filling out their bid card.

Bid Day
The new members will meet at a designated location to receive their bids, participate in a Panhellenic Ceremony, and then go as a new member class to Greek Row. They will be greeted by their new sisters and activities will last throughout the day so new members can get to know their new member class.
Suggested Dress: Jeans/Casual