Recruitment at Southern Mississippi

[USMAnchorGirl]

As far as cut once/cut always, that may not be the policy for every chapter, but it is for many. Most of the girls that come through recruitment a second time do so because they dropped out of a chapter that they signed a bid for and had to wait a calendar year to go through recruitment again (in this case most of those girls take a bid the second year to a chapter THEY released the first year, not a chapter that released them). It is common to come through recruitment at Southern Miss as an upperclassman, but not having already been through freshman year.

Also, as far as some girls getting no invites, I was told by a chapter president that a few girls that had signed up for recruitment had GPAs that would make the ineligible to actually pledge any of the sororities. Greek Life was going to call them to let them know, but they cannot actually force the girls to not come through recruitment. If those girls decided to continue with the process, they would automatically not be invited back by most chapters because in the end the chapters would not be able to extend them a bid because of their grades. I don't know if that is the case with the girls you are mentioning that got completely released, but I know that was an issue.

[momof2girls]

No grades were not an issue for her. I would think Greek Life would be pro active and tell them they won't get a bid based on their grades. Does USM do Spring recruitment? That at least would give these girls a chance to do well first semester and then pledge second semester.

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by momof2girls

No grades were not an issue for her. I would think Greek Life would be pro active and tell them they won't get a bid based on their grades. Does USM do Spring recruitment? That at least would give these girls a chance to do well first semester and then pledge second semester.

I don't know specifically about USM, but Panhellenics across the country are notorious for not being upfront with PNMs. They'll say it is the responsibility of the Chapters to obtain Recs when in reality if a PNM doesn't have them she will face dramatic cuts. They will say the minimum GPA is like a 2.7 to go through Recruitment when all the Chapters will cut anyone below a 3.0. It happens all the time and no, it is not fair.

[momof2girls]

This was mentioned in the parent's meeting to the parent's attending the information session. If the girls maximized all their options they would receive a bid. It was stated very clearly that in the past no girls had been fully released. Anyway it is over and she is heading home as soon as her mom can pick her up. She was released today. She had a 3.85 gpa, beautiful, talented and athletic. It is what it is. She seems to be fine and will do great things otherwise. Thanks to everyone for listening.

[FSUZeta]

Originally Posted by momof2girls

This was mentioned in the parent's meeting to the parent's attending the information session. If the girls maximized all their options they would receive a bid. It was stated very clearly that in the past no girls had been fully released. Anyway it is over and she is heading home as soon as her mom can pick her up. She was released today. She had a 3.85 gpa, beautiful, talented and athletic. It is what it is. She seems to be fine and will do great things otherwise. Thanks to everyone for listening.

how sad. do you mean that she will not be attending usm?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by USMAnchorGirl

As far as cut once/cut always, that may not be the policy for every chapter, but it is for many.

Is this an actual honest to God written down bylaw in the chapters' member selection processes, or just a tradition? momof2girls, if a chapter does have this, it's a chapter policy, not a Panhellenic one, and therefore Panhel can't make any rulings on it or prevent people from rushing because of it.

Originally Posted by USMAnchorGirl

Also, as far as some girls getting no invites, I was told by a chapter president that a few girls that had signed up for recruitment had GPAs that would make the ineligible to actually pledge any of the sororities. Greek Life was going to call them to let them know, but they cannot actually force the girls to not come through recruitment.

Doesn't the Greek Life office specify a minimum GPA to go through recruitment? If they don't, they should. If they do, and stuff like this is still happening, it should be one that actually makes sense with what the chapters are asking (for example, if all the chapters want 3.0 or over, the minimum stated by the Greek life office shouldn't be 2.5).

[Twilight Mom]

How many chapters are you allowed to attend on Skit Day and how many on Pref Day?

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Doesn't the Greek Life office specify a minimum GPA to go through recruitment? If they don't, they should. If they do, and stuff like this is still happening, it should be one that actually makes sense with what the chapters are asking (for example, if all the chapters want 3.0 or over, the minimum stated by the Greek life office shouldn't be 2.5).

This is the thing - NPC does not approve of the College PH setting a grade requirement as the feeling is it should be left up to the individual organizations. Withi each NPC group, there are varying requirements.
Delta Gamma requires a "C" average. Well, we all know that no chapter wants someone with a "c" average in high school. It's just a very difficult situation...

[BlueCarnation]

Originally Posted by Titchou

This is the thing - NPC does not approve of the College PH setting a grade requirement as the feeling is it should be left up to the individual organizations. Withi each NPC group, there are varying requirements.
Delta Gamma requires a "C" average. Well, we all know that no chapter wants someone with a "c" average in high school. It's just a very difficult situation...

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but if you have a "C" average in high school, you're pretty lucky to be going to college, so you probably should be focusing on studying rather than joining a sorority, shouldn't you? College is hard, usually. I looked at some schools sites and the h.s. GPAs required to get in. I am curious how some of these girls are getting into these colleges with these GPAs. Sororities should be the least of their concerns.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Titchou

This is the thing - NPC does not approve of the College PH setting a grade requirement as the feeling is it should be left up to the individual organizations. Withi each NPC group, there are varying requirements.
Delta Gamma requires a "C" average. Well, we all know that no chapter wants someone with a "c" average in high school. It's just a very difficult situation...

Well I know each group can set different GPAs that they want...no problem there...but like I said, if all the groups require at least a 3.0 and they are letting girls with a 1.9 go through...that's deplorable. If nothing else, the school should go over Panhel's head and set a minimum. Or can't they do that since the groups are relying on high school grades? Just another reason deferred rush is better from an academic standpoint...

[USMAnchorGirl]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Doesn't the Greek Life office specify a minimum GPA to go through recruitment? If they don't, they should. If they do, and stuff like this is still happening, it should be one that actually makes sense with what the chapters are asking (for example, if all the chapters want 3.0 or over, the minimum stated by the Greek life office shouldn't be 2.5).

This is the academic policy from the Greek Life website:
Academic Requirements for Pledging

"Sororities maintain high academic standards, and there are specific scholastic requirements for each chapter which must be met for initiation. If you have previously attended Southern Miss you must have an overall grade point average of a 2.0 to participate in formal recruitment."

There is a minimum GPA requirement to participate if you're an upperclassman from Southern Miss, but not if you're a freshman or transfer student.

[momof2girls]

And what would they do for "bed rush" if the house had no house at all. Interesting concept.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by momof2girls

And what would they do for "bed rush" if the house had no house at all. Interesting concept.

Chapters do not typically survive or do well at these schools without housing.

It's usually understood that if you are asked to colonize there that you need to be prepared to spend $$$ for comparable housing.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by momof2girls

And what would they do for "bed rush" if the house had no house at all. Interesting concept.

Campuses without live in housing don't have "bed" quotas. It's only at a few campuses - like Indiana for one. Indiana is talking about changing as they now have so many women go thru but the number of beds is not increasing at the same rate. Therefore, many women don't get bids. Doing away with the bed quota would increase the size of the new member classes dramatically and that is scary to some. They are all used to being a certain size and getting very larger overnight may stress their internal operations.

[BlueCarnation]

Originally Posted by USMAnchorGirl

This is the academic policy from the Greek Life website:
Academic Requirements for Pledging

"Sororities maintain high academic standards, and there are specific scholastic requirements for each chapter which must be met for initiation. If you have previously attended Southern Miss you must have an overall grade point average of a 2.0 to participate in formal recruitment."

There is a minimum GPA requirement to participate if you're an upperclassman from Southern Miss, but not if you're a freshman or transfer student.

2.0? Wow.