Fraternity and sorority recruitment 101 (for families)
Getting involved on campus is a great way for your student to meet new friends, explore their interests and develop professional skills. If your student is looking for a way to get involved this semester, joining a sorority or fraternity could be a good option.Ìý
With spring recruitment happening now, here is what families need to know about Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder.
Finding the chapter that is a good fit
¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder recognizes 31 fraternity and sorority organizations, which means there are various options for your student to find their home. Each of those organizations are housed in one of the university’s four fraternity and sorority councils:
¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Interfraternity Council (¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäIFC) represents 10 university-recognized fraternities. Students who join one of the 10 affiliated fraternities in ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäIFC receive new member education, campus resources like Title IX/Sexual Assault Prevention training and the ability to officially partner with sororities and other campus groups.Ìý
Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) represents seven fraternities and sororities that are culturally-based, giving members a place to explore their identity through community.
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is composed of nine historically Black fraternities and sororities. One organization, Omega Psi Phi, is officially registered with ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder and four others are recognized on campus with provisional status.Ìý
Panhellenic Council represents 13 sorority chapters. Panhellenic is the largest women’s organization on campus with more than 3,000 members.Ìý
There are many benefits for your student to join a fraternity or sorority, including opportunities to receive academic support, participate in philanthropy, gain leadership experience, network and form lifelong friendships.
How your student can participate in spring recruitment
While the primary recruitment season for most chapters at ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder is in the fall semester, there are ways to get involved in any of the four councils in the spring as well.Ìý
One way for your student to join Panhellenic sororities is through continuous open bidding (COB), which is a more informal way to get involved than the fall primary recruitment process. Interested students can learn more by attending the on Monday, Jan. 30 from 7 - 9 p.m. in UMC 235.
After that big event, individual chapters hold smaller recruitment events for potential new members. Please keep in mind that not all chapters will participate in this spring semester process.
¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäIFC-affiliated fraternities will hold their at the university’s Spring Involvement Fair on Wednesday, Jan 25 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the UMC Glenn Miller Ballrooms. View the full recruitment schedule on the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäIFC website.
If a culturally-based organization feels like a better fit for your student, know that MGC and NPHC recruit and intake new members all year round. Encourage your student to fill out the following interest forms if they would like to learn more about those councils or join a chapter.
NPHC is also holding a on Tuesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. for potential new members to meet NPHC representatives and members, giving students the chance to ask questions and learn more about the historically Black fraternities and sororities on campus.Ìý
The benefits of joining a university-affiliated fraternity
The 10 ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäIFC fraternities that are affiliated with ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder enjoy benefits that unaffiliated fraternities do not receive, including ongoing advising, education and resources on topics such as Title IX/Sexual Assault Prevention training, alcohol education, finance training, fiscal management and program planning.
In order to become a university-affiliated fraternity and receive the benefits listed above, fraternities must sign a Recognized Social Greek Organizations (RSGO) agreement that includes provisions to follow all university policies. The agreements also outline certain conditions aimed to increase safety, accountability and student success.
Fraternities in the Boulder area that have not signed a RSGO agreement are not currently affiliated with ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder. Learn more about ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉäIFC University Affiliation on the FSL website.
Once your student participates in spring recruitment, what happens next?
Recruitment is a mutual selection process. This means if a student expresses interest in a chapter, and that same chapter wants to invite the student to join their organization, the chapter will extend a bid. After the student accepts the invitation for membership, they will start the new member experience.
During that process, the student will learn all about their new chapter’s history, traditions and philanthropy. This will also be their chance to get to know other members. The new member experience ends with initiation, where they officially become a lifetime member of their chapter.
If the student chooses to not accept the bid that was extended to them, they can participate in recruitment again during the next primary recruitment process on campus.
It is also important to note that membership in a College Panhellenic Council sorority comes with a financial obligation. A snapshot of each chapter’s dues, or membership fees, is on the Fraternity & Sorority Life website.