National Pan-Hellenic Organizations*
National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations*
Local organizations*

*Intake depends on each organization's process

IFC Welcome Letter
Panhellenic Welcome Letter

First-Year Visitation Policy

Access by non-members to the privately-owned chapter houses is determined by each chapter. In the case of First-Year students, access policies have been set by the Interfraternity Council for its 11 chapters and the Panhellenic Council for its six chapters. 

During the first semester of each academic year, First-Year students are allowed on fraternity and sorority property at the following times:

Fraternity facilitieswill be open to First-Year students on Sundays through Thursdays, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. starting Monday, October 24, 2009.

Sorority facilities will be open to First-Year students beginning October 24, 2009 from 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The Panhellenic Council will be hosting MINGLES for all DePauw Undergraduate women intrested in learning more about the 6 NPC sororities on campus. Please see your floor's designated Rho Gamma for more information and to RSVP.

Any University residence whose occupants are affiliated with a Greek chapter is considered a fraternity or sorority residence if more than 50 percent of the residents are members of any one Greek chapter.

First-Year students are not allowed on fraternity or sorority property during Winter Term.

There are consequences for both students and Greek chapters for violations of the First-Year policies. Students who do not comply may not be eligible to participate in formal recruitment, and chapters face significant penalties for violations. Please refer to the following links for more information about the First-Year Visitation Policies:

IFC Fraternities

Panhellenic Sororities

Recruitment Counselors (Rho Gammas)

As you participate in the recruitment process, you will have a recruitment counselor called a Rho Gamma. A recruitment counselor is a member of a fraternity or sorority who is disaffiliated from their chapter during recruitment.

Recruitment Counselors are impartial, unbiased recruitment resources. They are trained in the recruitment process and how to best support you as you learn more about the Panhellenic community.

Women will meet their Rho Gamma during the second week of class, and men will meet theirs during rush in late January.

Greek Vocabulary

Active – see Member.

Alumni – Initiated Greek members no longer in college.

For men: Alumnus is singular, alumni is plural.
For women: Alumna is singular, alumnae is plural.
For a group of men and women, alumni is plural.

Bid – A formal invitation to join a sorority or fraternity.

Candidate (i.e. aspirant) – A man or woman participating in the membership intake process.

Chapter – The local group of a larger inter/national fraternity or sorority.

Formal Rush/Recruitment – The process sponsored by IFC or Panhellenic that provides the opportunity for prospective members to join a fraternity or sorority.

IFC – The Interfraternity Council is the governing board for its 11 member fraternities.

Initiation – The formal ceremony in which new members become full members of a chapter.

Intake – The new member education process for NPHC organizations. Intake begins once an individual has officially been invited to join an organization.

Interest meeting – A rush event sponsored by a NPHC organization.

Legacy – A potential member whose father/mother, brother/sister, grandfather/grandmother, and sometimes uncle/aunt is a member (undergraduate or alumni) of a certain organization and/or chapter.

Local – a DePauw sorority or fraternity that is not affiliated with a national organization.

Member – A person who has been initiated into lifelong membership and is currently in college, or in the case of NPHC organizations, a member that is financially in good standing with the organization (college undergraduate or alumnus).

NALFO – The National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations.

New Member (pledge, associate, aspirant) – A man or woman who has accepted a bid to join a fraternity or sorority and has taken the first step toward full membership, but has not yet been initiated.

NPHC – The National Pan-Hellenic Council is the governing board for the Historically Black Greek Lettered Organizations on campus.

Panhellenic – The Panhellenic Council is the governing board for its six member sororities.

Potential Member (i.e. rushee) – A man or woman participating in the rush or recruitment process.

Quota – The maximum number of new members a sorority or fraternity may pledge during the formal rush/recruitment process.

Recommendation – A written letter (usually by an alumna) recommending a potential member for sorority membership.

FAQs

Is Greek life a big deal at DePauw?

DePauw University has a long and proud history, and Greek life certainly plays a role in it. Two sororities were founded here, the first in 1870, and our Greek system dates back to 1845 when the first fraternity chapter was formed. Today, 69 percent of DePauw students belong to a fraternity or sorority, and we are proud to be one of just a few colleges in the country that have such a strong and flourishing Greek community.

What are the benefits to joining a Greek organization?

Greek organizations were founded on the principles of leadership, service, scholarship, and brother/sisterhood. Students today find that Greek life provides opportunities to get involved in the community and on campus, develop lifelong friendships, gain valuable leadership experience, and achieve success academically.

How do I join a fraternity or sorority?

Students can join a fraternity or a sorority at DePauw one of three ways. The majority of our members join as First-Year students during the formal recruitment process that takes place each February. IFC and Panhellenic sponsor these processes and each fraternity and sorority host events during a four day period that allows potential members the opportunity to get to know the members and determine which organization is the best fit for them. The second option for joining is called C.O.B. (continuous open bidding). In C.O.B., students can join a Greek organization during the fall semester (if they are a sophomore, junior, or senior) or after the formal recruitment process is complete in the spring under certain circumstances. There is no formal process for C.O.B.; each organization recruits independently if they chose to do so. NPHC does not sponsor a rush for the Historically Black Greek Lettered Organizations although they do host “Meet The Greeks” each fall so students can learn more about each chapter and ask questions about joining. Each fraternity and sorority recruits new members independently, and students can learn more by attending interest sessions, attending each organization’s functions, and talking with current members.

Why is recruitment deferred?

DePauw University made the decision to defer rush and recruitment in 1999. Since then, these processes have taken place during the second semester. Deferred recruitment allows First-Year students the opportunity to better acclimate to the University, adjust to college level course work, meet friends outside of the Greek system, join other campus organizations, and form a strong community in their residence halls before deciding if Greek life is for them. The decision to defer recruitment has been very well received by the students.

How much does Greek membership cost?

There are costs associated with Greek life, and it is important to get the facts BEFORE deciding to join. Financial responsibility is a serious point of membership. The University does not own or operate the Greek houses so each individual organization determines the costs for living in their facility. However, room and board in the chapter houses is, on average, very similar to what the University charges for students living in University owned housing. In addition to room and board cost, each chapter also assesses dues to their members. Dues support the chapter operational expenses, social functions, and national fees. New members can expect to pay higher dues their first semester for additional national costs (pledging fees, initiation fees, badge cost, etc.). Additional (and often optional) costs through the semester may include t-shirts, pictures, etc. Most chapters offer payment plans and some even offer scholarships to help make financing Greek life reasonable for anyone who wishes to join.

What are the requirements for joining a fraternity or sorority?

Any student wishing to join a fraternity or sorority on campus must meet the University, IFC/Panhel, and inter/national requirements for membership.

• Women wishing to participate in formal recruitment must:
  Be in good academic standing with the University (not on academic probation)
  Have a 2.5 G.P.A.
  Have no Community Standards restriction on participation
  Be at least a second semester First-Year student

• Men wishing to join a fraternity must:
  Be in good academic standing with the University (not on academic probation)
  Have a 2.5 G.P.A.
  Have no Community Standards restriction on participation
  Be at least a second semester First-Year student

• Men and women wishing to join a NPHC organization must:
  Be in good academic standing with the University (not on academic probation)
  Have no Community Standards restriction on participation
  Be at least a second semester First-Year student
  Meet all expectations of the inter/national organization for membership

Are recommendations needed for recruitment?

Women participating in the Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment may submit recommendations to individual sororities if they chose. Although some Panhellenic systems require recs, at DePauw it won’t adversely affect a potential member’s recruitment experience if she doesn’t have them. Alumnae wishing to submit a rec should obtain the proper form from a sorority’s headquarters and then submit the rec directly to the chapter leadership.