The four Greek councils, NPC, IFC, NPHC, and GIB, are all unique and have different methods of recruitment.

Panhellenic Council (NPC) recruitment is the most common visual associated with intake. During this time, potential new members (PNMs) sign up to go through a formal process on a weekend.

During these weekends they have the chance to meet and greet all 14 Panhellenic chapters on campus.

Jennifer Page, vice president of recruitment for the council, says that formal recruitment is good for prospective members for several reasons.

“There is something within each chapter that makes their sisterhood unique and stand out,” Page said.”It grabs the attention of the PNMs and makes them want to learn more about that particular sisterhood and organization.”

There are three rounds involved in the process. In all of these, chapters on campus welcome PNMs to become a part of their sisterhood through a mutual membership selection process.

In the first round, PMNs simply meet the women and go on house tours. The second round is geared towards promoting their philanthropies. During this round the PNMs make some sort of craft that benefits the chapter’s particular philanthropy or beneficiary sponsor.

The third round is a more serious sisterhood preference party. The women dress up and get to know more about what makes each chapter significant to their organization. After going to three preference parties, the PNMs make a choice on which house to join. Then, the women celebrate on Bid Day their acceptance from one of the three chapters’ preference parties they went to.

Recruitment is different in the fall than in the spring.

There are three rounds involved in the process. In all of these, chapters on campus welcome PNMs to become a part of their sisterhood through a mutual membership selection process.

In the first round, PMNs simply meet the women and go on house tours. The second round is geared towards promoting their philanthropies. During this round the PNMs make some sort of craft that benefits the chapter’s particular philanthropy or beneficiary sponsor.

The third round is a more serious sisterhood preference party. The women dress up and get to know more about what makes each chapter significant to their organization. After going to three preference parties, the PNMs make a choice on which house to join. Then, the women celebrate on Bid Day their acceptance from one of the three chapters’ preference parties they went to.

Recruitment is different in the fall than in the spring.

Last semester it started with a “Girls Night Out” at the Union. All chapters participated and set up a table. The PNMs went around to each table and checked out the different chapters. The rest of the week they were encouraged to visit as many houses as they would like to learn more about each chapter’s sisterhood.

“Basically it was very informal and had no set structure like fall.

Women were not required to go to all 14 chapters, but we highly encouraged it,” Page said.

A key part of recruitment for the Panhellenic Council is Rho Gammas, or recruitment guides. Page describes these guides as mentors for the interested women.

“They are there to support the recruitment and be there for the prospective new members. It is their responsibility to make sure each prospective new member is enjoying themselves and listen when they are trying to make decisions,” Page said.

Recruitment for the other three councils is somewhat less structured.

The Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) has amended its process in the past several years. According to Tyler Slane, interim IFC vice president of internal affairs, the council has been using many different types of formal recruitment.

“We started out three years ago with having scheduled open house days and times, but the fraternities did most of the advertising for prospective new members,” Slane said.

Two years ago, IFC again changed their program. They took some ideas from the Panhellenic Council and came up with scheduled IFC house tours for the prospective members.

According to Slane, this was not popular with the prospective members. Last year, IFC went back to the old formal recruitment but added more advertising for prospective members to come and visit houses.

Currently, IFC is developing a new program that will take the good points from both types of formal recruitment and make a new process that will help the fraternities and prospective members.

“The program that IFC is using now is helping the prospective members by allowing them the freedom to choose which houses they would like to visit. It is also structured so any questions or concerns the prospective members have can be answered,” Slane said.

IFC recruitment usually takes place during September. The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and the Greek Independent Board (GIB) may have the least structured recruitment processes.

Once a year the two councils co-host “Meet the Greeks,” an event where chapters from each council set up informational tables, meet perspective members and distribute contact information. Representatives from each organization sit on a panel and answer questions during an open floor period.

Prospective members are not required to visit every table but are encouraged to learn about each organization before moving on to the next step.

We don’t have people pick their top three choices because that would only be ruling out one or two organizations,” Marina King, secretary of NPHC, said.

After Meet the Greeks, prospective members are invited to other events sponsored by individual chapters. At these events they can learn additional information.

The next stage involves “informationals” hosted by individual organizations. Depending on the organization, these may be open to the public or by invitation only. At the informational, the organization describes its chapter and the remainder of the intake process. Prospective members then sign up for interviews and if they are selected for membership they learn the history of the organization before becoming members.

King believes this process is beneficial for prospective new members.

“It is an incentive to learn about the organization. You don’t just get your letters, you have to pass a test before you become part of the organization,” she said.

For further information about Greek councils and organizations, visit Greek Affairs at 440 Saddlemire or go to www.greekbgsu.com.