Active Member - A person who has been initiated
into a Greek organization. Generally, the term is used to reference
a member who is currently an Undergraduate student that is enrolled
in at least 12 credits.
Alumni (ae) - Greek members who are college
graduates.
Associate Member - (also known as New Member) A
person who has accepted the bid of a Greek organization but has not
yet been initiated into full membership.
Bid - An invitation from a fraternity or sorority
to a man or woman to become a new member.
Bid Day - The day at the end of the Formal
Recruitment Process when Bids are given out to potential new
members.
Chapter - The campus group of a Greek
organization. Within each organization, chapters are usually
referenced by state and/or Greek letters. For example, NY Sigma
Chapter or Alpha Delta Chapter
Colony - A student organization in the final stage
prior to being installed as a chartered chapter of a Greek
organization.
Dry Rush - Alcohol is forbidden from all events
associated with introducing the fraternity/sorority to potential
members.
Dues - These are the membership, philanthropic,
and other fees paid to the local chapter of a sorority or
fraternity in order to be a member in good standing and for the
local chapter to stay in good standing with its national
organization.
Formal Recruitment - The “official” recruitment
period of the year with specific scheduled events.
Hazing - Any willful act or practice by an active
member or new member, directed against an active member or new
member, which, with or without intent, is likely to: cause bodily
harm or danger; offensive punishment, or disturbing pain;
compromise the person's dignity; cause embarrassment or shame in
public; cause the person to be the object of malicious amusement or
ridicule; cause psychological harm or substantial emotional strain
and impair academic efforts. In addition, hazing is any requirement
by a active member or new member that compels an active member or
new member to participate in any activity that is illegal, contrary
to his/her moral or religious beliefs or contrary to the rules and
regulations of the fraternity, institution of learning, and civil
authorities.
Inactive Member - A chapter member who is taking
less than 12 credits and/or not registered for classes during the
semester. An inactive member shall have no participation in
undergraduate chapter activities, including, but not limited to,
new member education, social activities, and voting at chapter
meetings.
Informal Recruitment - A year-round (or extended period) of
continuous, open recruitment with no specific, scheduled,
system-wide activities. Bids may be extended and accepted at any
time.
Initiation - A ritual ceremony through which new
members become full members of a Greek organization.
Interest Group - An individual campus membership
unit in the first stage of the process leading to installation as a
chapter of a Greek organization.
Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) - The student governing board of all
social Fraternities.
Legacy - A student whose parent, grandparent, or
brother/sister is a member of a particular fraternity or sorority.
Typically, legacies are extended full consideration during the rush
process.
Local - Greek-letter group that exists on a campus
and has no affiliation with a national Greek organization.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) - NPC is the
central coordinating body for 26 national social sororities.
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) - NPHC is the
national governing body for the 9 historical African-American
fraternities and sororities.
New Member - (formally knows as pledges) A student
in his or her first phase of membership into a sorority or
fraternity (before being initiated). Also known as Associate
Members.
New Member Education Program - (formally known as
pledging) The new members go through an educational process in
order to become a member of a Greek-lettered organization.
North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) -
NIC is the national governing body for 64 national social
fraternities.
Philanthropy - A charitable cause supported by an
organization often involving a fundraiser and/or the chapter
donating their time.
Potential Member - A non-Greek man or woman who is
going through the Membership Recruitment process.
Preference Card - After the third round of the
Formal Recruitment Process, a potential member will be required to
fill out a card that lists in 1-2 order which organization he or
she would most like to receive a bid from.
Recruitment - (formally known at Rush) The process
by which a fraternity or sorority recruits new members. This is a
series of events offering chapter members and potential members the
opportunity to get to know each other.
Recruitment Counselor – He or she is a member of a
recognized fraternity or sorority. During Formal Recruitment,
he/she breaks ties with their organization in order to help the
potential members through the experience.
Risk Management - Involves analyzing all exposures
to the possibility of loss and determining how to handle these
exposures and reduce or transfer the risk.
Ritual - Rituals are traditional beliefs of a
sorority or fraternity