Terminology
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Potential New Member
Also known as PNM.
This is someone who is going through the primary recruitment process.
Continuous Open Bidding
Also known as COB.
This is the informal recruitment process where chapters who have not met total
Party
he one event during a recruitment round where PNMs meet with one chapter and engages in various conversations to gain an understanding of the chapter.
Round
This is the specific day of recruitment, There are four official rounds during primary recruitment at OHIO.
Active Member
A current member in a sorority that is paying dues and attending events.
Initation
A traditional ceremony that brings a new member into full membership of a sorority or fraternity. Once you are initiated into an NPC sorority, you are ineligible for membership in any other NPC sorority.
Bid Day
This is the final day of primary recruitment period when bids are distributed.
Intentional Single Preferenc
This is where a PNM only lists one sorority in their Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA) when there is more than one option to list.
MRABA
Full Name: Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement
A one-year binding agreement that s PNM makes with the College Panhellenic Council on Preference Round during primary recruitment. By signing a MRABA, the PNM states they will accept a bid into any sorority listed on the agreement.
New Member
A member of a fraternity/sorority who is not yet an initiated member/active member.
Welcome Round
This is the first round of primary recruitment. Also referred to as Meet the Chapters. A PNM will attend all chapters that are part of the Panhellenic Council. PNMs will be able to get a very basic understanding of the chapter they visit and are introduced to their members.
Philanthropy Round
This is the second round of primary recruitment. Also referred to as values and service round . A PNM will visit up to eight chapters and will get to know the chapter's philanthropy, values, service events, and more.
Sisterhood Round
This is the third round of primary recruitment. A PNM will attend up to five chapters. During this round the PNM will get to understand the sisterhood the chapter has, their involvement and academics, and more.
Preference Round
This is the final round of primary recruitment. A PNM will visit up at two chapters during this round and conversations could consist of deeper talks of friends and family, connection you have made, and more.
NPC
Also known as National Panhellenic Conference.
This is an umbrella body of the 26 inter/national women's sororities and fraternities.
Creed
This is a guide of fraternity/sorority members follow and stating the values each member must hold
Alumna
This is a female notation of alum.
Alumnae
This is the plural female notation of alumns.
Chapter Meeting
This refers to the weekly meeting a chapter holds to go over information, upcoming events, and other things. All members must attend this and each sorority differs in their chapter meeting time.
Membership Education
This is the period of time where new members learn about their sorority; history, founders, values, and rituals.
Ritual
The private traditions and practices of a sorority deeply rooted in the shared values and purpose of the members. Ritual serves as a reminder to each member of her responsibilities and inspires her to fulfill them. Rituals connect the past with the present and the future.
Chapter Symbol
Each member organization has different symbols like a mascot or a flower that the sorority values. Many of the reasons why these things are values are learned through ritual services.
Charter
This is the specific date that the sorority came to the university.
Rho Gamma
Also known as Recruitment Guide.
This is a randomly assigned member of our community that will help guide you through your primary recruitment journey. A PNM can use them throughout the summer once they register to ask questions, get advice, and more.
House Mom
This is a person who is hired to manage the sorority house and manage the house operations.
Letters
This refers to the Greek letters that each sorority has.
Big/Little
This refers to the pairing of two members, one older and one younger.
Pairings are done through a “matching” process. These differ by the organization but are typically done by the chapter officers who interact most with the new members in order to match them with initiated members of similar interests, majors, values or backgrounds.
Order of Omega
Members who are initiated members of a fraternity or sorority and have attained a high standard of leadership and scholarship in the Fraternity and Sorority Life Community.
Probation
This is referred to the period of time where an active member is not in good standing with their chapter; this could be for a number of different reasons. Each chapter has their own standards for their members.
Strict Silence
This is the period of time during primary recruitment where no active sorority members can contact or talk to any PNM.
Social/Mixer
This is a registered event to Sorority and Fraternity Life that is between a fraternity and sorority or between two fraternities or two sororities.
Bid Matching
This is the matching process from Preference Round to Bid Day. This is done by assessed by both the PNM's ranking and the chapter's.
Bid
This is an invitation extended to a PNM to join a sorority or fraternity.
Snap Bid
This is an option available to chapters that did not fill Quota during formal recruitment. Chapters may offer bids to potential members whose preferences were not matched. This process takes place before bids are distributed. Snap Bidding is not the same as COB and is not intended to fill spaces in the chapter Total; it is limited to students who participated in the formal sorority recruitment process.
Total
This is the allowable chapter size, including both the new and initiated members, as determined by the College Panhellenic. Total at Wittenberg is determined once in the fall and once in the spring and is based on median chapter size.
Quota
The number each National Panhellenic Conference sorority may pledge on campus during formal recruitment.
Inactive Member
This is someone who is still formally part of the organization but has taken a temporary leave of absence from active participation in chapter activities
Exec
This is also known as Executive Board.
This is a group of members who take on high leadership roles within the sorority such as President and Vice Presidents.
Pin
This is also known as a badge.
this is an insignia of fraternity or sorority membership worn only by initiated members. Each sorority has its own unique badge that can be decorated in different jewels and comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.
Philanthropy
This is an active effort, project or service to promote human welfare or the raising of funds to be donated for that purpose.
Α, α
Alpha | Al-fa
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