Recruitment

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    Recruitment Information!

  • Interested in Informal Recruitment?

     

    SPRING 2011 INFORMAL RECRUITMENT 

     

    LIST OF ELIGIBLE CHAPTERS:

    none currently

     

    To be eligible you must:

    • be a full-time, enrolled, Cornell University undergraduate student
    • have at least second semester freshman credits
    • meet chapter academic standards (ask the chapter)
    • have not been initiated into another National Panhellenic Conference organization
    • have not declined a bid through Formal Recruitment Spring 2011 or depledged thereafter

     

    The eligible chapters may each conduct their recruitment, if they choose to, in a different manner. They may have events and invite women, they may call women, or they may choose not to have informal recruitment. Informal recruitment may continue throughout the semester until the chapter fills or the deadline for initiating members.


    You are welcome to contact the chapter directly using the contact information provided above.


  • Formal Recruitment

     

    Women's Panhellenic Recruitment is the process through which potential new members consider sororities and sororities choose new sisters. The formal Recruitment period is comprised of multiple rounds where potential new members visit each of the chapters on Cornell's campus. Through a process of mutual selection, students narrow their choices until they finally select a sorority following the last round. Panhellenic Recruitment typically starts just before the spring semester.  


    If you have any questions about recruitment week please contact the Panhellenic Council Vice President of Formal Recruitment.

     

    Below you will find information on:

  • Recruitment Schedule

     

    Below is a rough schedule of recruitment week. Keep in mind you will have meetings before and after these days are done. As the week progresses, there is a mutual selection process. This means that you will be selecting certain houses to come back to the following day, but the sorority houses are also going through the same process. The maximum number of houses that you can return to throughout the week decreases each day.

     

    Monday, January 17: Mandatory Informational Meeting, 7pm, Statler Auditorium

     

    During this meeting you will learn all about recruitment and will split up into your Rho Gamma groups.  This is a mandatory meeting and you should attend.  If you cannot be there expect a call from your Rho Gamma to go over the information shared.  If you have not paid as yet, expect to pay at this meeting.

     

    Tuesday- Wednesday, January 18-19: Round 1 Open House: Events begin at 9:00 am and go to 4:30pm on both days

     

    During this round you will visit all the chapters, and have one on one conversations with sisters.Many chapters share a story or two with you about their sisterhood.  Chapters often share a drink with you at this event.  You can always ask for water as well.  You have a scheduled break for lunch at which time you will eat on central or west campus.  You will need to pay for your own meal.  Rho Gammas will have you order your meal the night before.


    Thursday, January 20 Round 2 House Tours: Events begin at 9:00am and end at 6:30pm


    During this round you will get tours of the chapter houses, and you will be provided information on house finances and what it is like to live in a sorority house.  You will go to a maximum of 8 chapters this day with one break.  Usually these tours are done in smaller groups.  Feel free as always to ask questions.  A drink will be shared with you during this event.  Again you can ask for water.  You have a scheduled break for lunch at which time you will eat on central or west campus.  You will need to pay for your own meal.  Rho Gammas will have you order your meal the night before.

    Friday, January  21 Round 3 Skit and Philanthropy: Events begin at 11:00am and end at 5:40pm


    During this round you will learn the national and local organization's charity efforts.  Each of the chapters host events to support their causes you will be able to learn more about these opportunities.  You will also be entertained by the chapter's skit performance.  From this event you will get a sense of the personality of each chapter through their skit. Again a drink will be offered to you and you can opt for water.  You will attend a maximum of 5 chapters this day.

    Saturday, January  22 Preference Round: Events begin at 12:30pm and end at 4:40pm


    During this round you will be part of traditions and rituals that represent the chapters.  This round is the most serious of the events.  Be prepared for a ceremony.  Preference focuses on what you will gain out of joining a sorority as well as the connections you have made thus far. An invitation to preference means the sorority is very interested in you becoming a member.  You will attend a maximum of 3 chapters.  Directly following this event you will go to the Willard Straight Hall Memorial Room to sign you Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA).  For more information on the MRABA please see below.

    Sunday, January  23 Bid Day: Begins at 7pm!

    Bid day is a celebration for new members with their chapter.  Women will be directed to meet the chapter at a location on campus.  The chapter will then escort the new members to their house for fun and activities.  Often chapters spend some time getting to know new members.  This may be done with games or activities.  Some chapters also have an activity.  Your chapter may include more information about Bid Day in your bid card envelop.

  • Recruitment Attire

     

     

    Many of you may be wondering what the suggested attire for the week is... well here is some information for you! All of this information will be reviewed in-depth in the mandatory meeting on Monday starting at 6:30pm, at the Statler Auditorium. The purpose of the dress code is to make sure that everyone is on the same level.  Also as the week progresses the events become more formal; and therefore, the dress code becomes more formal. The last day of recruitment is a day where you will see the traditions and rituals of that chapter; for this reason sisters will wear semi-formal dresses.


    ****The most important thing to remember about this dress code is.... TO STAY WARM and BE COMFORTABLE!****

     

    Here are some general guidelines:

    Round 1, Open Houses: Casual
    Round 2, House Tours: Business Casual
    Round 3,Skit and Philanthropy: Business Attire
    Round 4, Preference Ceremony: Semi-Formal

     

     

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    Guidelines to Follow

     

    • A potential new member (PNM) cannot be, or ever have been, an initiated member of a National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) group.  A woman is ineligible for recruitment if she has been a new member of an NPC group on this campus within a calendar year.
    • A woman must be a full-time enrolled Cornell University undergraduate student to be eligible. She must have the equivalent or greater standing of a second semester freshman based on credits.
    • A woman must have paid her $30 registration fee to participate in formal membership recruitment.
    • A potential new member must attend the informational meeting on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 6:30 pm or contact her Rho Gamma before she can participate in recruitment.
    • A potentil new member must fill out absence forms in advance of any absence.  The Panhellenic Council cannot guarentee that chapters will invite women who are unable to attend events.
    • If a potential new member becomes ill or has an emergency, she shall notify the Panhellenic Council and/or her Rho Gamma immediately.
    • A potenial new member must attend all events she is scheduled to attend unless she has an excused filled with the Panhellenic.  If a PNM does not attend an event without an excuse she could be removed from recruitment.
    • A PNM shall consult with her Rho Gamma and the Panhellenic Council before withdrawaling from recruitment.  Upon withdrawal, a PNM must sign an official withdrwal form with a member of the Panhellenic Council.
    • During formal recruitment, a PNM may NOT visit any sorority chapter except to attend recruitment events on the Panhellenic schedule.
    • During formal recruitment a PNM cannot contact sorority women about recruitment outside of recruitment events.  
    • No fraternity members may buy anything for a PNM (meal, soft drink, etc.). No potential PNM may buy anything for a fraternity member.  No favors or gifts may be given to PNM by the fraternity and/or by individual members.
    • A PNM will fill out the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA) immediately after the last event she attends.  Once an agreement has been signed, no changes can be made.
    • Any PNM signing a MRABA and receiving a bid at the end of recruitment shall be bound by that agreement for one calendar year.
  • Recruitment FAQ


    What is New Member Recruitment?

    Recruitment is the process through which interested individuals join a sorority through the process of mutual selection. Potential New Members meet members from every chapter, watch skits and take house tours, and decide which sorority is the right one for them. Membership recruitment consists of four rounds of events-Round 1 (Open House), Round 2 (House Tours), Round 3 (Skit) and Round 4 (Preference). These rounds become more formal and longer as the week progresses.

    Why Rush?

    Women's fraternities offer members a wide array of opportunities and benefits. These include philanthropy and community service events, social activities, academic scholarships, a supportive home environment, a national network of sisters, close friendships, and memories that last a lifetime!

    Does being a legacy guarantee me a spot in a sorority?

    Contrary to popular myths, being a legacy does not guarantee that a potential new member will be offered membership in his/her family member's organization.

    What kind of a time commitment is a sorority?

    Although each sorority is different, most sororities are what you want it to be.  Therefore, our members are offered generous flexibility to allow them to balance their academic, personal, and social lives with their commitment to the sorority. You can be as involved as you would like to be.

    Can I go abroad or take a year off and still be a member?

    Yes. We encourage all of our members to participate in exchange programs to enrich their academic experiences.

    Do Cornell Sororities haze?

    NO! Hazing is against the Cornell University Panhellenic Council policy.  Anti-Hazing policies are taken very seriously by the university and the Panhellenic Council and will be strictly enforced.


  • Panhellenic Sorority Fees 2010-2011

     

    Chapter Room/Semester Board/Semester Dues/Semester Initiation Fees
    Alpha Chi Omega 2950 1750 688 263
    Alpha Epsilon Phi 3000 1000 375 546
    Alpha Phi 3450 905 740 50
    Alpha Xi Delta 3120 2030 302.50 130
    Delta Gamma 2231 1745 230 250
    Delta Delta Delta 2000 2450 445 323
    Kappa Alpha Theta 2551 1215 219 338
    Kappa Delta 2420 2028 240 220
    Kappa Kappa Gamma 2650 1950 393 165
    Pi Beta Phi 2050 1620 220 120
    Sigma Delta Tau 2655 1715 400 90

     

    *This information was provided by the chapter and is subject to change*

    If you have questions about these fees or additional fees please ask the chapter.

     

    Room per semester is the amount a live-in woman would be charged each semester for her room. Some chapters have live-in requirements. Most chapters have a fee for use of the house (parlor fee) for all members.  These are additional fees to ask about

     

    Board per semester is the amount a woman who lives-in is charge for a meal plan.  Each chapter defines their meal plan differently.  Ask what this board includes.  Some chapters have meal options for women who do not live-in as well.

     

    Dues are the amount a member (new or active) will pay each semester. This includes insurance fees, Inter/national dues and operating costs for the chapter.  Some chapters include t-shirts and social events, others may assess these fees throughout the semester.

     

    Initiation Fees are the additional fees paid in the semester a woman joins.  This often includes fees to the Inter/national organization, a membership pin, and the like.  This is a onetime fee.

  • Understanding the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement

     TO BE READ IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE SIGNING OF MRABAS

     

    Panhellenic Membership Recruitment is a mutual selection process. This means that both the chapters as well as the women going through recruitment (Potential New Members) are able to prioritize and select the options that are available to them. The selections available to both the chapters and the PNMs have been narrowed down throughout the course of this week.

     

    Tonight you will complete the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (Preference Card) and select the chapters that were available to you today in preference order.

     

    By prioritizing a chapter tonight, you are in fact saying that you would like to receive a bid of membership from those chapters listed. You might prefer one chapter over another and you have the ability to indicate your preference, but we encourage you to consider all of your options. It is important to recognize that many sorority women have found a place to call home among their second and third choice.

     

    The “bid matching” process tends to favor those Potential New Members who list all of the chapters in which she was invited to attend today. The Panhellenic Association and its member chapters work hard to make sure that every woman who fills out a preference card and prioritizes all of the options that are available to her, will be invited into sorority membership on Bid Day.

     

    Your recruitment counselor will be here tonight to assist you with your decision. RC’s however, may not touch or see the agreement in its finalized form to prevent any bias whatsoever. The Panhellenic officers, volunteer alumnae, and OFSA will review your selections with you and confirm the understanding of the contract.

     

    Please carefully consider the following points as you complete your Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement:

     

    1. Your options when considering your agreement are:
      1. You may choose NOT to complete the agreement at this time.
      2. You may choose to list as many National Panhellenic Conference sororities from which you are willing to accept and invitation to membership (a bid) provided you were asked back to those chapters for today’s round.
      3. You may choose to list only one preference, but you must understand that this will limit your potential to join any other NPC group during formal recruitment should you not be placed with your single choice.

     

    1. When you sign this acceptance agreement, you are agreeing to accept an invitation to membership from any NPC sorority that you have listed.

     

    1. Once the acceptance agreement has been turned in to the Panhellenic Association, it cannot be altered or changed.

     

    1. If you do receive an invitation to membership (a bid) from any NPC group that you have listed and you chose NOT to accept it, you may not pledge any other NPC sorority at Cornell for one calendar year.

     

    1. If you do not receive a bid from any NPC group that you have listed, you are eligible for Continuous Open Bidding. You must understand that not all NPC groups will have available places for new members.

  • Recommendations

     

    Some women have sorority women who would like to write references or recommendations for them.  These letters are common on some campus but are not common at Cornell.  If you have people writing letters for you feel free to have them sent in, but you should not feel you NEED these letters.  Letters should be sent directly to the chapter.  The Panhellenic does not collect and distribute these.  Aome Inter/national organizations have these forms link to their website.  Please be sure to check with the Inter/national organization about their process.  If you have further questions feel free to contact Laura E Sanders (lew76@cornell.edu), Assistant Dean of Students and Panhellenic Advisor.

  • Potential New Member Bill of Rights

    • The right to be treated as an individual.
    • The right to be fully informed about the recruitment process.
    • The right to ask questions and receive true and objective answers from recruitment counselors and members.
    • The right to be treated with respect.
    • The right to be treated as a capable and mature person without being patronized.
    • The right to ask how and why and receive straight answers.
    • The right to have and express opinions to recruitment counselors.
    • The right to have inviolable confidentiality when sharing information with recruitment counselors.
    • The right to make informed choices without undue pressure from others.
    • The right to be fully informed about the binding agreements implicit in the acceptance card signing.
    • The right to make ones own choice and decision and accept full responsibility for the results of that decision.
    • The right to have a positive, safe, and enriching recruitment and new member experience.

     

  • Are you going to miss some events?

     

    No worries.  Many women go through recruitment who have to miss a few events.  The Panhellenic cannot promise that chapters will invite you back.  But we can report absences for you to the chapters.

     

    Report your excuses (Click HERE)

  • Vocabulary

    Greeks have terminology all their own.  Below is your guide to this language.

    Active:  A fully initiated member of a sorority with full chapter privileges and responsibilities.

    Alumna: A member who has graduated from college. AKA “alums”

    Badge: The pin or badge is worn to designate an active or alumni member of a sorority. New members have a similar badge.

    Bid: An official invitation to join a sorority.

    Big Sister: An active member assigned to assist and advise a newer member.

    Chapter: The local undergraduate group that represents a segment of the national organization.

    Initiation: A ceremony during which a new member takes the vows of a   chapter to become an active member.

    Legacy: A woman who is the daughter, granddaughter, or sister of a  sorority member.

    New Member: A student who has accepted a bid from a sorority but has not yet been initiated.

    New Member Education Period: The time of education about the sorority  between accepting a bid and initiation.

    Potential New Member (PNM): A participant in recruitment.

    Preference: The final round of recruitment event after which PNMs sign an agreement listing the remaining chapters in order of   preference.

    Recruitment: The time in which sororities meet PNMs and seek out new members.

     

  • ICS LOG-IN

     

    To log-in to the ICS recruitment software as a chapter or Rho Gamma please use the below link:

     

    http://www.icsrecruiter.com/webservices/appMain_pan.aspx?UID=CORNEL

     

    You will need to use your login and password.  If you do not know this information please contact Maricela Perryman at mp474