Office of Greek Life
Knowing the System & Learning the Language
Understanding the Structure
Greek-letter social fraternities and sororities generally are members of an umbrella conference or council based on their national organization's membership. At Georgia Southern University, all Greek chapters belong to one of three campus-based councils that provide leadership and support for all council members: Interfraternity Council (IFC), Panhellenic Association
(PHA), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC).
Recognition
Granting organization recognition is the process by which Georgia Southern University extends its support for a chapter to operate on the campus. Chapters must meet certain standards and requirements and adhere to university policy in order to be granted recognition. Recognition may be withdrawn for failure to adhere to these standards. Chapters may also loose their charters or be suspended by their own national organization for failure to meet it's standards and policies.
Each chapter abides by its own local constitution, bylaws and rules as well as national policies governed by their (inter)national organizations. As students, fraternity and sorority members are also bound by the Georgia Southern University policies governing student conduct and Greek chapters must adhere to campus policies governing student organizations. The Office of Greek Life serves as liaison between campus chapters and the University administration, advocating for and guiding members as well as enforcing policies when necessary. The Office of Greek Life also serves as a liaison between the local chapter and their (inter)national organization.
Learning the Language
Fraternities and sororities have a language all their own. Here are some common references and their definitions.
Greek Terms
ACTIVE MEMBER (often referred to as BROTHER OR SISTERS)
Refers to a member who has gone through a new-member process and has been initiated, through the national ritual, into the chapter.
ADVISOR
An alumna or alumnus who serves as a resource and educator for the chapter and its members.
ALUMNA
An initiated sorority member who is no longer in college. (plural: Alumnae).
ALUMNAE or ALUMNI Chapter
A local chapter of a national Panhellenic Association sorority or Interfraternity Council fraternity whose members have graduated or are no longer students.
ALUMNUS
An initiated fraternity member who is no longer in college. (plural: Alumni).
BID
An invitation from a chapter to join the organization.
BID DAY
When fraternity or sorority bids are extended and accepted.
BID MATCHING
In the conclusion of the fall recruitment process for the Panhellenic Association, each potential new member submits a prioritized choice of sororities they would like to join and each sorority submits a prioritized list of women to whom they are interested in offering a bid. A computerized matching process is used to determine which sorority each participant will be invited to join. Every potential new member may not receive a bid to her favorite chapter since the Panhellenic Association sororities have a maximum number of bids (QUOTA) that they can offer.
BIG
BROTHER/BIG SISTER
An active member assigned to be the personal mentor for a new member.
BROTHER
A term used by members of an NPHC or IFC fraternity when referring to one another.
CHAPTER
A local group of a national organization.
CANDLELIGHT
A sorority ceremony in which a sister announces her receiving of a lavaliere, pin, or engagement ring from her boyfriend.
CHAPTER ADVISOR or GRADUATE ADVISOR
An alumnus/alumnae who serves in an advisory role to provide guidance to the organization.
COLONY
A newly formed affiliate of a national organization that has not yet received its charter. The members of a colony are referred to as "founders."
CONTINUOUS OPEN BIDDING ("COB" or INFORMAL RECRUITMENT)
At the conclusion of the fall recruitment process for the Panhellenic Association sororities, those chapters with a membership size less than a specified number (TOTAL) can continue to give out bids via an informal recruitment process.
FRATOR (or FRAT)
A term used by NPHC Fraternity members when referring to one another.
MIXER
A theme party with a fraternity and a sorority.
FRATERNITY
A Greek-letter social or honorary organization (informally applied to men's groups).
GRADUATE ADVISOR
An alumnus/alumnae of an NPHC fraternity or sorority who serves in an advisory role to provide guidance to the organization with the approval of the local Graduate Chapter.
GRADUATE CHAPTER
A local chapter of a national NPHC fraternity or sorority whose members who have received their undergraduate degree. These chapters usually oversee and advise the local undergraduate chapter of their organization.
GREEK
An informal name for a member of a fraternity or sorority.
GREEK WEEK
A week of activities involving all Georgia Southern University fraternities and sororities to promote Greek unity and to raise funds for a charitable beneficiary.
HAZING
Mental or physical abuse or harassment of a member. Hazing is prohibited by university policy, state law, and the policies of every national fraternity and sorority.
HOUSE CORPORATION
Alumni organization which owns and/or manages a chapter house.
HOUSE DIRECTOR (sometimes called HOUSE MOTHER)
A live-in employee of a residential sorority hired to manage the chapter house.
INITIATION
Ritualistic ceremony sanctioned by the national organization during which new members receive lifelong membership privileges.
MEMBERSHIP INTAKE PROCESS (MIP)
The membership recruitment and induction process for the National Pan-Hellenic Council (historically African-American fraternities and sororities).
INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC)
The governing/coordinating student council for fraternities.
LAVALIERE
A necklace with Greek letters on it. Sorority women can wear these necklaces with their sorority's letters, and many become lavaliered upon receiving a lavaliere from their boyfriend with his fraternity's letters.
LEGACY
A student who has a brother/sister, mother/father, aunt/uncle, and/or grandfather/grandmother who is a member of a particular fraternity or sorority. Legacies are often granted special consideration in the membership recruitment process but never guaranteed membership.
NATIONAL OFFICE (or EXECUTIVE OFFICE or HEADQUARTERS)
The national or international organization to which a chapter is affiliated. Most have a national board of directors, comprised primarily of alumni, and national headquarters with support staff.
NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC)
The governing/coordinating council for historically African-American fraternities and sororities.
NEOPHYTE (NEO)
New member of an NPHC organization.
NEW MEMBER
(Some organizations use other terms such as ASSOCIATE or CANDIDATE,)
One who has been accepted as a probationary member of a sorority or fraternity but has not yet been initiated. Collectively, the New Members who join the same semester are called the NEW MEMBER CLASS.
NEW MEMBER
EDUCATION PROCESS
The time period in which candidates for active membership (or new members) learn about the organization and participate in brotherhood/sisterhood activities.
ORDER OF OMEGA
A national honor society recognizing fraternity and sorority members who excel in academic achievement, Greek leadership and campus involvement.
PANHELLENIC ASSOCIATION
The governing/coordinating council for sororities. All Panhellenic Association member sororities are affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).
PHILANTHROPY
A service project undertaken by fraternity or sorority chapters on the campus, community, or national level.
PI CHI
Stands for “Panhellenic Counselor;" active Panhellenic Association members who assist women participating in Panhellenic Recruitment.
PIN or BADGE
The fraternity/sorority badge of membership.
PROPHYTE
Older member of an NPHC organization.
RECOMMENDATIONS (RECS)
A letter written by an alumna recommending a woman for pledging.
RECRUITMENT
The membership recruitment process.
SOROR
A term used by NPHC sorority members when referring to one another.
SORORITY
A social fraternity for women.
UNDERGRADUATE CHAPTER
The local chapter of a national fraternity or sorority who members consist of undergraduate students at the university.