How to keep the freshman interested???
 

The start of the school year is a week away, and my chapter will be starting recruitment. With COB all year long, it allows the girls to basically do whatever they want for recruitment.

But they can't bid first semester freshman.

It's difficult to have freshman come to recruitment events their first semester in school, but then tell them (without dirty rushing!) that they aren't eligible to be a new member until the following semester. And it might not be so difficult if we weren't also bidding sophomore, junior, and senior new members at the same time we're telling the freshman that they have to wait. When they see or hear that other girls are able to become members, but they have to wait a whole semester, they tend to stop coming to events and find other extra-curriculars.

Or... they don't come to events at all, knowing that it's not going to pay off that first semester anyway.

What suggestions does anyone have for gaining interest from freshman, and keeping it?

Then they're retarded.

Seriously, if they don't understand that it's a SCHOOL rule, and they don't have enough interest to rush when they are eligible, are they really going to be even halfway decent members? It's not dirty rushing to tell them what the school rules are, while getting to know them.

Plus, if they feel they have to choose between a sorority and an extracurricular, that doesn't bode well either. Sorority members should be well rounded women who do something other than school and their sorority.

But girls don't come to campus all ready for recruitment. I didn't even think of joining a sorority until halfway through my sophomore year (after I was practically dragged to a recruitment event), and that goes for pretty much everyone else in my chapter (and all the chapters on campus). Like I've said in other posts, we don't have people "rushing" to join. And people don't understand what the school rules are concerning recruitment. They don't get packets before they arrive at school, and they don't read up on every detail concerning recruitment.

And when I said "without dirty rushing", I meant we don't say to them, "you'll get a bid if you stay through next semester"

I guess I just don't see what the problem is here. If you ask a freshman to an event, just say "freshmen can't join until second semester, but you can still come to events now and see if it's something you're interested in." That's not bid promising in the least.

And seriously - this is what we were talking about in the other thread with a structured Panhellenic recruitment being of help. If the rush process is the same all year round, I can understand why some girls would be confused. Usually when 1st semester freshmen aren't allowed to join, they get a more structured "introduction" in the form of formal rush once they are allowed.

You need lots more PR on a Panhellenic level, rather than each chapter doing their own.

I didn't say that we bid promise. That's not the issue here.

I agree with more Panhellenic PR being needed. That's never been a huge success in the 5 years that I've been involved with the chapter.

And how do you have a structured, formal recruitment process when there's little to no interest in joining sororities (and Greek life in general) on campus?

I didn't say that you did - it seemed from your post that you were scared to even say "freshmen can't accept bids" for fear of it being seen as bid promising.

As for your last question...it's a classic chicken or egg. Perhaps there is no interest in joining because there is no structured process and it all seems kind of disorganized.

But how is it seen as disorganized when there's little to no interest to begin with? I didn't know the first thing about formal recruitment until I started reading about it a few months ago. And I learned a lot about it from this site. If I had never looked into it, I probably wouldn't have known it even existed.

I mean, we're not a large southern chapter. People don't generally come to campus thinking "I want to be in a sorority!". Again, 95% of the girls who are greek will tell you that they never even thought about joining a sorority before they got to school.

And even if we were to start a formal recruitment process, it's not as if it would happen overnight. So in the meantime, how do you keep girls interested and what kind of events should be continued year round?

You obviously have some interest from the Freshmen on your campus (as evident from their attendance at your events) so I think that you need to sharpen your COB skills and make it a point of keeping in contact with your potential new members. There is nothing wrong with inviting them back to events often, getting to know them, and then offering a bid when your campus allows. I'm not sure where you got the idea that inviting them to attend events is dirty rushing.

Also, don't get stuck with the poor us (we aren't large, southern, or have girls wanting to be Greek) attitude. This will not help in your recruitment efforts. I think that you need to continue with informal recruitment, as is normal on your campus, and make the best of it. Have a quick introduction at the beginning of each event to review the school rules (no 1st semester Freshmen, etc.) and then have fun getting to know people. Your potential recruits wouldn't be at these events if they were not interested in joining.

(Ok, to clear things up: I never said that inviting girls to events is dirty rushing. I simply said that in a "non-dirty rushing" way, we inform the PNMs that they can't receive a bid until the following semester. Forget I even mentioned it.)

And as for the "poor us" attitude... that's not what I'm saying at all. I'm simply saying that implementing formal recruitment probably isn't the next logical step in creating more interest in Greek life on this campus.

And here's another question... I know that a lot of people don't have experience with the recruitment situation of this campus, but... do you think it would be a good idea to do away with recruitment events altogether? (And I'm talking recruitment parties with themes and all that)

Now hear me out... 99.9% of the girls that we get are either a.) brought to a recruitment event by a sister who she's already friends with, b.) is a new roommate of a sister, or c.) has a friend who knows someone in the sorority who convinces her to join.

If this is the case, and if convincing complete strangers to come to recruitment events is difficult, why have them? Why not just invite these girls we don't know to do normal things like get lunch, go to a basketball game, or study?

I keep reading everywhere that "Non-Greeks are afraid of sorority/fraternity rush events", which I can understand. And in a formal recruitment setting, they have to go through these events if they want to join. But on this campus, they don't. Would it be wise to avoid these kind of events altogether?

Well, if the only way you're recruiting is to ask friends, eventually you're going to run out of friends of friends.

Yes, ask girls you don't know to get lunch etc...I thought you were already doing that. :confused: But you, and your sisters, have to become friends with her before you think about rushing her. And realize not everyone you befriend is going to be a good fit - it's trial and error. If your only motivation to get to know new women on campus is to eventually get them to pledge, then people are going to run the other way when they see one of you coming. It'll be like you're selling Amway or Arbonne or something.

And I don't think that non Greeks are "afraid" of rush events - uninterested maybe, indifferent maybe, but afraid? Do you really want someone as a sister who's afraid to go to a rush event?

In one word - yes. It's much easier to invite people along to do things the chapters would do normally (study, eat, watch a sporting event, etc.) then to try and plan out an additional event with decorations, special cookies - whatever.

I know I've said it before and I'll say it again - read I <3 Recruitment. A lot of what they discuss plays directly into the issues it sounds like you're having. (I would tell you about some of their ideas here, but I feel that would probably verge on copyright issues).

ETA: and ditto what 33girl said - if you're trying to meet people just to get them to join your sorority and not to become their friend, it will scare them away.

I guess this is what's making me a tad befuddled....the OP brought up the phiredup website and shared ideas from it before. Isn't that the same people??

yea, cuz I visit PhiredUp.com (from the writers of "Good Guys" and "I <3 Recruitment.. who are ASTs, btw :) ) just about everyday, and that's what they say all the time. Being a recruitment advisor, I try to suggest this idea to the girls, but I think they're afraid to move away from "tradition" and the "status quo". Recruitment parties are what everyone else on campus does, and so we do it too, to little or no avail.

Hmmm - I hadn't realized that.

AST - have you (and the chapter you advise) read that book? And if so, have you guys tried some of their tactics? I realize some of them may be a bit intimidating (introducing yourself to people you don't know, for one), but it sounds like on your campus that is what's needed.

Also, have you spoken with regional or national officers about ways to improve your recruiting efforts?

Someone said it before. Have panhellenic get involved.

They should be presenting at orientation, keeping a list of interested women and their contact info (and emailing/phoning them!), hosting events for the sororities all first semester that women can attend without things seeming shady (ice cream, informationals, GPA events, etc.)

These things aren't expensive, but it will give women things to go to, should provide a way to keep women interested and also bring their friends (or if they are shy, get them out there)!

Another thing would be to begin a relaxed formal recruitment during the spring semester. Each chapter has an adviser who can provide them info and an opinion on this and the Panhellenic has an area adviser who can help make it happen.

But there's nothing to say you couldn't do some Recruitment parties as well as try other, more outside the box, recruitment methods. Is it maybe a problem with the chapter members being comfortable doing those outside the box things? Not so much in terms of tradition, but in terms of conversation skills? Has it come to sink or swim time, where they either try something new or the chapter doesn't really grow?

Well, the one thing that I actually did when I was still active, as Panhellenic President, was implement a "kick-off" recruitment party in the spring semester, involving all 3 sororities in the process. It is set up similar to a formal recruitment event, with the 3 sororities putting on parties at the same time, and the potential new members must attend all 3 parties. This has increased Panhellenic PR a slight amount, but probably not enough.

Another thing that Panhellenic is doing is having a "birthday party" for the school, as it's their 60th anniversary. On freshman move-in weekend (this coming weekend) they are having all kinds of activties and food around campus. Another move in the right direction to bring the Greeks together and to be seen as a whole, rather than separate chapters.

And I know that the girls can see that recruitment parties aren't driving the results that they want. But it's also hard to step outside your comfort zone and do something completely different. There are 13 of them right now, and I think only one of them is graduating at the end of this coming school year, so they won't really be losing anyone, and I think right now is the perfect time for them to try something drastic.

I agree - it's very hard to step outside your comfort zone. But from what you've described, it sounds like that's what's necessary. Are these women willing to put in the work and willing to take risks? I'm asking because I have seen with my own eyes volunteers who are super gung-ho about helping out a chapter (as it appears you are, which is great!) but the chapter isn't as gung-ho about helping themselves. Either that or chapter members haven't gotten to the point where they realize the only thing left to do is what's outside their comfort zone.

I get the feeling that some of them are willing to, and some of them aren't. Some of them look at people like they're crazy when they suggest certain ideas. Cuz they're used to doing things a certain way.

How do you get people to see that things aren't working the way they are? One thing that I'm going to start doing at meetings is having handouts and asking questions that get to the heart of our recruitment problems. I don't want to come off as trying to change everything, and I want the girls to think for themselves. How can I suggest they make some of these huge changes without seeming like I'm trying to do everything myself?

To get back to your original question:

I think that you have to have something formal, even if it is the traditional informal COB parties. Inviting friends of friends will only get you so far before you run out of friends. It seems that there is at least a little interest in Greek Life on your campus, otherwise it would not exist.

May I ask if the other chapters are having the same problems as you are? This is important to know if you want to begin some sort of structured Panhel recruitment.

Also, what ever happened to keeping a list of interested PNMs (1st semester Freshmen included) and recruiting them all year long? It sounds very basic but the act of keeping in touch with a potential member can go a long way and costs virtually nothing.

I'd invite anyone who expressed any interest to hang out with your group. This can be informal like you suggest in a study group, at dinner, or for a movie night but the key is to continue to invite them to participate and feel wanted.

Virginia Tech also does deferred recruitment (as in, January), and they are doing two very smart things: (In other words, what Panhellenic can do for you)

1. They open up registration for formal recruitment very early in the fall semester.
2. Every woman registered is placed on a Panhellenic listserv. When chapters have events where it'd be appropriate to have non-members, they notify Panhellenic and the registered women are invited to the events. By events, I mean philanthropy events, leadership/scholarship/etc programming, watching a game together as a chapter, etc. not just themed recruitment parties. Now, how likely is it that registered women would bring along unregistered female friends (from class, dorm, etc)? I'd say very. So interest spreads through authentic interaction with sorority members.

Even if your campus doesn't do formal recruitment, being "registered" keeps the PNMs in the know and theoretically interested. Maybe it's time to re-evaluate if having a semi-structured "formal" recruitment would be a good idea? Advisors from each of the chapters and any NPC advisors might have ideas for you.

That said, maybe you could have some sort of incentives for members to get out and meet women (i.e. members who get names for the "names list" in I Heart Recruitment). Befriend women without immediately shoving the idea of joining a sorority down their throat.

Kansas City, to answer your question... yes, the other two chapters have the same problem that we do. It is not as if we have a ton of girls on campus flocking to the other two sororities. We all have the same problem of attracting girls to events.

And when you say to have something formal... what do you mean by that? Are you saying formal recruitment?

And to violetpretty.. I think that those two ideas are very good ones. Even if we continue to have informal recruitment, I think they would help in getting girls to come to events. Thanks!

And we do actually have incentives. We had started a "recruitment point system" a few years ago. We haven't used it for a year, but the girls are going to start doing it again. Basically the girls earn points for new people they bring to a recruitment event, for sending out person invites, for creating recruitment posters, etc. The person at the end of the recruitment period who has the most points wins something special. I'm actually meeting with the Recruitment Chair today, so I'll suggest that we broaden the scope of the system to maybe run all semester long, so as to encourage the girls to gets names and contact info of PNMs onto a list the entire year, and not just in the few weeks before bid day.

I think the word "formal" in formal recruitment is scaring you a little. What posters are suggesting is structured recruitment, or at least more structured than it currently is.

If it is an all sorority problem, I think that you need to look at unifying your efforts through Panhel. You will need to support each other in order to create a stronger system that girls want to join. The campus I advise at is small and mid-western with no sorority houses it but has a strong Greek system that I attribute to the willingness of all members working together.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06 (Post 1700439) And here's another question... I know that a lot of people don't have experience with the recruitment situation of this campus, but... do you think it would be a good idea to do away with recruitment events altogether? (And I'm talking recruitment parties with themes and all that). Now hear me out... 99.9% of the girls that we get are either a.) brought to a recruitment event by a sister who she's already friends with, b.) is a new roommate of a sister, or c.) has a friend who knows someone in the sorority who convinces her to join. If this is the case, and if convincing complete strangers to come to recruitment events is difficult, why have them? Why not just invite these girls we don't know to do normal things like get lunch, go to a basketball game, or study?

By formal events, I meant structured. It can be informal such as having a lunch, attending a basketball game or listening to an academic lecture but you still have to formally invite your PNMs, get them excited about attending, lay down the ground rules at the beginning (no first semester freshmen, etc.) and get them excited about coming back again. You can't do these things by just hanging out because as you said, complete strangers aren't just going to walk into your door. Your chapter, and maybe all of the chapters on your campus need to make sure there is structure to your events.

Yes. Talk to your NPC area advisor, she should be able to help you out. No one is suggesting you have choreographed skits, matching outfits and $1000 worth of balloons....just something in place so the women who are interested can meet all the sororities and make an informed choice. That way they'll know from the start they are part of a Greek COMMUNITY - not just one sorority whose parties they went to. Does Panhel do anything as far as making sure the individual groups' parties don't overlap?

This semester, the girls are replacing a few of their "typical" recruitment parties with everyday activities. They set it up so that on certain nights, a few girls will go to the movie on campus, a few others will attend a basketball game, and a few others will eat in the cafe on campus. They're inviting PNMs to those events, hoping to attract more girls. So hopefully that will help.

As I've said, Panhellenic is slowly making an effort to work together. But there's definitely still room for improvement. Would you suggest that when an opportunity arises to advertise together, they should? For example, at Club Rush each year, the sororities each have their own tables, attempting to get names in order to send out info concerning recruitment events for each individual chapter. Would you instead suggest combining efforts (maybe just having a Panhellenic table) to have them sign up for one listserv for Panhellenic, informing them of all the recruitment events?

And yes, Panhellenic makes sure that no two sororities are having recruitment events at the same time. Each chapter has to submit their recruitment schedule the prior semester so that any date/time conflicts can be worked out.

YES. There should also be a kickoff event where they have to visit every sorority.

The girls do have a kick-off event where they have to visit each sorority, although they only do this in the spring. They're trying to implement it in the fall, as well.

From reading everything on here, I almost think it'd be better on this campus to have a kind of formal, kind of informal recruitment process (if that makes sense). haha

To have things like a kick-off recruitment party, a joint Club Rush table, a Panhellenic listserv (and maybe even recruitment registration), but to still run things separately for the time being. At least until there is a larger general interest in Greek life.

Am I crazy, or would that make sense?