Alabama only recently began having 50% of it's PNMs come from out of state. They also dont have 100% rec rates, and I'd bet the highest percentage of women without recs come from that group. Secondly, as you pointed out the GPA is on the girls transcripts that are sent in. I've been talking about TOWSON. I know all about how recs work. I've written several and think they are just fine in their environment. At TOWSON, where you suggested recs would fix the issue of not knowing the PNMs GPAs, we wouldn't have access to the PNMs transcripts BECAUSE they wouldn't be sending them in. You are suddenly going to be able to get 300 girls to work to get recs for 9 groups when they've never had to before AND NPC says you can't tell them it's a requirement? PNMs send their transcripts in for recs in the south because it is part of the process. It has been since the beginning of the sorority movement. In the north, it isn't the case.

Our little local alumnae panhellenic never used to ask for transcripts, and we also never used to ask for the parents' employers. Every sorority had somebody who was a high school teacher in one of the two high schools and could check for grades, and the city directory at the library would tell you where daddies worked.

Then some of the sororities started wanting transcripts, and city directories disappeared.

So, we started putting on our requested info sheets a line for mommy and daddy's employers and a line requesting a transcript.

And our PNMs have eagerly complied! It kinda amazes me what people will do when you ask.

AOPiAngel, I hear ya about the difficulty in getting PNMs to request recs and for alumnae from certain areas to even know what they are when asked. I once worked with a chapter at a Southern school whose students mostly came from the mid-Atlantic and Northern states. They boggled at the idea of PNMs needing to have a recommendation before being invited to pref, and their solution was just to sign one themselves. We worked with them and they began getting the idea when I left office.

Even at Alabama, there are some PNMs for whom we simply cannot find a rec. Sometimes you just have to make the best judgment you can and if you really like her, use one of those back-door ways of getting a rec. But it does make me a little uncomfortable to not have at least an idea of what we're getting into.

I never write a rec if the PNM won't give me her transcript. Seriously, I am not going to vouch for someone without it. And if the chapter asks me for a rec on her, then I ALWAYS ask the chapter if she meets their GPA requirement. If she doesn't, I tell them i won't look for rec info on her. Why bother if they aren't going to pledge her anyway???? If they insist, I'll do it but I will qualify the grade situation.

A line for parent employment in 2012?

Wow.

I am surprised that verification of grades seems such a big issue. I know at Auburn, the registration process for recruitment requires that you submit transcripts and test scores to Panhellenic.

I never even have to ask girls for transcripts... they just provide them! I guess that's the benefit of living in the south.

I didn't think to ask chapters if the girls they contact me about meet the grade requirements... I guess I just assumed that the schools that contact me already have that info (I didn't realize Panhellenic didn't ask for that info at every school!). This is a good idea, Titchou!

Most do give me their transcripts...but there are always a few who don't. And when I was City Sponsorship Chairman, and helped the ones since, I just can't see wasting time getting information on women the chapter knows they will release the first night. I live in Alabama - toooooo many PNMs since we have 5 chapters now in the state not to mention the other SEC schools....you have to draw the line somewhere....