Declining to Participate in Formal Recruitment

[agzg]

I think it's something in the water. I went from a small b to a very full c between receiving my bid and graduation.

Becoming an adult (physically and mentally) had nothing to do with it, I'm sure.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I would do a search for this, but I'm afraid I wouldn't have the proper terms.

1) Is participating in formal recruitment a requirement for NPC sororities?

2) Can a chapter opt out of formal recruitment if they find that the COB process works better for them? (Assuming they will not be penalized for a smaller pledge class than the rest of the chapters on campus)

3) On your campuses, would/do/have Jewish sororities found it more beneficial to have a COB process than formal recruitment?

I KNOW we discussed this before, but I have no idea where.

1. No, it's not a requirement, but I think in most cases, it is beneficial for them to participate.

2. Yes, but again, it is generally to a chapter's benefit to participate. While an NPC's HQ may pressure a chapter to make quota, reach total, I don't really think they'd care HOW they did it. Think about it, a chapter has nothing to lose by participating. They aren't forced to take anyone they don't want to (and any advisor who thinks otherwise is wrong---Panhellenics that tell small chapters they can't cut anyone only care about placement numbers, not happy chapters and PNMs), so they can pick up some women from formal recruitment and do COR after if they choose.

Kind of like the analogy used in I Heart Recruitment about looking for shoes. If you are looking for the perfect pair of shoes, you wouldn't just go to the mall and say "Well shoot I can't find what I am looking for, I guess I just won't get any shoes." You would look online, at DSW, outlet stores, ask friends, etc. until you find that perfect pair of shoes. The shoes represent the perfect new members (and a goal of quota) and the ways to find shoes represent different methods of recruiting, with the mall being formal recruitment.

3. I have heard on other campuses that historically Jewish chapters opt not to participate in formal recruitment. Maryland, as I am sure you know, is heavily Jewish. We have AEPhi and SDT (founded Jewish), as well as DPhiE and Phi Sig (founded non-sectarian, but tend to be Jewish at some campuses because of their history), but a lot of chapters have a pretty significant number of Jewish women, and two of the 4 "Jewish" chapters have a pretty signficant number of non-Jewish women. Jewish chapters are not at a disadvantage at Maryland, so formal recruitment works quite well for them. There's plenty of demand, and they're all very desirable chapters to be in.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Thetagirl218

I know some of the ladies have answered no to number 1, but it was mandatory at my campus once you were out of a probationary period (either for being new or another reason). Could this be in specific in a college Panhellenic or would have to do with each of those specific GLOs at the campus?

That could be specific in a college Panhellenic; however, if ever the time would come to pass when one of the sororities decided it WASN'T in their best interests to participate in FR, they most likely could override it. It would have to do with the sorority's process of member selection, the administration of which trumps anything Panhellenic does.

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by 33girl

That could be specific in a college Panhellenic; however, if ever the time would come to pass when one of the sororities decided it WASN'T in their best interests to participate in FR, they most likely could override it. It would have to do with the sorority's process of member selection, the administration of which trumps anything Panhellenic does.

Ok, that makes sense! Thanks!