Formal Recruitment Questions

[AZ-AlphaXi]

6) scheduling ... for formal recruitment there's usually a cut down of the maximum number of parties each PNM can attend which (usually) corresponds with the number of parties each chapter holds ... (for exception see Auburn's recruitment schedule where the chapters hold 1 or 2 additional parties per round than the maximum that the PNM can attend).

with only 3 or 4 chapters this would probably been modified .. ie for 3 chapters with 3 rounds

Here's an example:

first round is "open house" - each chapter holds three parties all at the same time, pnms are scheduled for 3 parties and switch .. so that 1/3 goes to chapter A, then to chapter B, and then to chapter C. at each party the chapters see a different 1/3 of the PNMs.

second round is first invitation round - but each PNM could be invited (or not) to all three. Each chapter would again hold 3 parties (again at the same times) and each PNM would have her individualized schedule, based on who had invited her. The councilors do not attend any of the recruitment parties, they are stationed outside of the parties to help any one who is lost or just to keep company with anyone who is not at a party. again, if the PNM is invited to all three then her schedule might be chapter B, chapter A, chapter C... if only two then she might have a break at any of the 3 party times .. the sheduling algothryms ususally try to balance the pnms attending a chapter's parties so you don't have 30 at one party and 5 at the next.

3rd round would be preference and the PNMs would only be able to attend 2 parties and each chapter would only have 2 parties. If the PNM was invited to all 3 she would have to choose which parties to attend .. or if using priority would have rated 1-1-2 the chapters as to which she would like to attend after the first invitation round and again she might only have 1 or 2 or no invitations and her schedule would be adjusted accordingly.


Hope this helps .. if not feel free to PM me and we can talk about it

[AZ-AlphaXi]

preference ceremonies don't reveal anything "secret" as there will be PNMs attend the ceremony that will possibly be placed with another chapter or not get a bid at all.

preference ceremonies usually try to express the ritual atmosphere of ritual with actually exposing anything. poems are read, testimonials are given, the PNMs are shown what a ceremony will be like.

[MaggieXi]

For Sign-up #3 - For both the school that I advise (Fall Formal Recruitment) at and the school I volunteer at (Spring Formal Recruitment), both have online registration or the PNM can register at the Greek Life office in person or at a table set up and managed by Rho Chis. During registration, they fill out a form (usually activities they are currently involved with at college or in HS, interests, and legacy info) and pay to sign up (from what I have heard this registration fee varies greatly!)

[OneHeartOneWay]

As is usually the case, simply saying you are moving to formal recruitment is not as easy to define as one would hope. I can offer you a snapshot of a chapter I advise that sounds pretty similar to your school.

We have 3 NPC sororities, and formal fall recruitment. Panhellenic holds info sessions and PR tables throughout the summer, at orientation, and around campus until recruitment begins (about 4 weeks after classes start). Recruitment actually lasts about a week and a half. To balance class schedules, only one sorority has an event on a day. The first two rounds are "split parties," meaning the chapter has a 30 minute party during lunch, and then a thirty minute party in the evening. So, ABC has their first round split party on Tuesday, then DEF has their's on Wed, and XYZ on Thurs. Round two splits begin on Monday the following week with ABC on Mon, DEF on Tues, and XYX on Wed. Each sorority has a one hour party that Friday evening. Preference is an hour on Sunday, and Bid Day is on Monday.

To be eligible to be invited to Preference events (and thus, to receive a bid), a PNM must attend at least 1 party of each group- this could be a minimum of one of the 30 minute parties. However, generally most PNMs attend more. Preference is the only round that sororities make cuts, and thus the only round that a woman may not be invited to the party. (Additionally, the PNMs don't have to attend all Preference events to which they are invited, although we've never had an invited woman not come, since all the parties are back to back.)

We don't have Rho Chis or Recruitment groups. Recruitment is too small to need it- about 30 women began formal recruitment last year. The Panhellenic President and Director of Recruitment disaffiliate and act as recruitment counselors for all PNMs.

Now- do I like the process? Pieces of it, yes, pieces of it, no. I think a week and a half is too long, but the collegians seem to like it. Also, lots of Panhellenic drama gets raised because of waiting so long into the semester. But, the campus has found a system that works- pretty well- for them, so I roll with it! Oh, and no one has been at total for years (don't get me started!) so all three chapters CR year-round, as well.

Sorry this was so long!!!!!!

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally Posted by AZ-AlphaXi

preference ceremonies don't reveal anything "secret" as there will be PNMs attend the ceremony that will possibly be placed with another chapter or not get a bid at all.

preference ceremonies usually try to express the ritual atmosphere of ritual with actually exposing anything. poems are read, testimonials are given, the PNMs are shown what a ceremony will be like.

And your GLO probably has a formal ceremony that chapters copy. Ours has been done at convention so chapters could see how it's supposed to be done.