Going Greek

There are several steps to joining a Greek organization:

Recruitment

Greek organizations gain new members during recruitment, also called “rush.” Organizations award “bids” to the students they wish to add to their membership. Recruitment is a competitive process and not all participants will be asked to join an organization.

• National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities recruit at the beginning of the fall semester using a formal process of mutual selection.
• Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) fraternities recruit at the start of the fall and spring semesters using a semi-structured process.
• National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) sororities and fraternities recruit at various times of the year. If your child is interested in joining a NPHC organization, he/she should research the organization’s official Web site and historical documents.

New Member Education/Intake

If your child accepts a bid, he/she will meet the members and learn about the organization’s goals, purposes and activities during a new member education. Education about hazing, alcohol and drug use, leadership development, academic success and diversity appreciation istypically incorporated by the national Greek organization.

APSU enforces this education by requiring new members to read and sign a New Member Bill of Rights.

Initiation

Once your child has successfully completed the new member education process, he/she will be initiated into the chapter, becoming a full member. As an initiated member, he/she will be expected to promote and model the values of the organization.