Question about eligibility to receive a bid after attending pref...

eagleseleven · #1 09-14-2009, 05:46 PM

I'm currently going through informal recruitment at my school (formal is in the spring) with two chapters. The way informal works at my school is that the chapters who are participating each have two open parties, and then an invite-only pref party. I preffed at both chapters and would accept a bid from either one. If I don't receive a bid, I was planning on rushing again in the spring, when all of the chapters are participating.

However...I've been told by more than one person at my school that if I even attend a pref party, I'm not eligible for a bid for another year, even if I don't receive a bid at all. I'm very confused because, having read around on GC, I thought it was only if you received a bid that you couldn't go through recruitment for another year. This concerns me, because while I would take a bid from either chapter, it is entirely possible that neither one will bid me, and next year will be my last year in college, so it would be pretty difficult and really kind of pointless to join for only a year.

So I was just wondering if going to pref makes me ineligible for another year? I'm guessing that this isn't the case at most schools, but is it possible that my school has a different rule or something? And would that rule even apply to informal recruitment?

KSUViolet06 · #2 09-14-2009, 05:49 PM

My understanding:

During FORMAL recruitment, if you attend Pref and get a bid, you are ineligible to accept a bid for another calendar year.

I have never heard of such a rule with informal.

AZ-AlphaXi · #3 09-14-2009, 05:59 PM

During informal recruitment you are only ineligible for further recruitment if you accept a bid (ie receive and sign the bid) and then depledge. Just attending a preference party (even in formal) does not exclude you from further recruitment. Its accepting (or in the case of formal saying that you'll accept by signing a preference card) and then declining a bid.

If someone is telling you something else, I'd suggest you go into the greek life office and ask someone there, preferable the greek life advisor.

gatordeltapgh · #4 09-14-2009, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagleseleven

I'm currently going through informal recruitment at my school (formal is in the spring) with two chapters. The way informal works at my school is that the chapters who are participating each have two open parties, and then an invite-only pref party. I preffed at both chapters and would accept a bid from either one. If I don't receive a bid, I was planning on rushing again in the spring, when all of the chapters are participating.

However...I've been told by more than one person at my school that if I even attend a pref party, I'm not eligible for a bid for another year, even if I don't receive a bid at all. I'm very confused because, having read around on GC, I thought it was only if you received a bid that you couldn't go through recruitment for another year. This concerns me, because while I would take a bid from either chapter, it is entirely possible that neither one will bid me, and next year will be my last year in college, so it would be pretty difficult and really kind of pointless to join for only a year.

So I was just wondering if going to pref makes me ineligible for another year? I'm guessing that this isn't the case at most schools, but is it possible that my school has a different rule or something? And would that rule even apply to informal recruitment?

The "one year rule" only applies to women who sign their MRABA (membership recruitment acceptance binding agreement) but DO NOT accept a bid from the chapters on that list.

The MRABA also applies to informal recruitment and there is a separate script for informal recruitment since this process usually works a little differently.

So in your case, if you attend the pref parties, list both on your MRABA, sign the MRABA and get matched to one of them but do not accept that bid you would not be eligible to accept a bid from any other NPC chapter for 1 calendar year.

If you attend the events, sign the MRABA, but do not get a bid, you are eligible for formal recruitment in the spring.

Sometimes we know recruitment rules get misinterpreted - when in doubt check with your Greek Life Office.

It sounds like your school may hand out the informal recruitment bids at one time. Schools that have a less structured informal recruitment where bids are given out at different times should also be using the MRABA.

Best of Luck to you!

court4short · #5 09-14-2009, 06:22 PM

I agree with gatordeltapgh (she obviously knows what she is talking about). I JUST went through recruitment, and I asked my Pi Chis and Panhellenic about this, too because we were all confused. gatordeltapgh was spot on.

Best of luck!

eagleseleven · #6 09-14-2009, 10:00 PM

Thanks for all the help, everyone!

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatordeltapgh

The "one year rule" only applies to women who sign their MRABA (membership recruitment acceptance binding agreement) but DO NOT accept a bid from the chapters on that list.

The MRABA also applies to informal recruitment and there is a separate script for informal recruitment since this process usually works a little differently.

So in your case, if you attend the pref parties, list both on your MRABA, sign the MRABA and get matched to one of them but do not accept that bid you would not be eligible to accept a bid from any other NPC chapter for 1 calendar year.

If you attend the events, sign the MRABA, but do not get a bid, you are eligible for formal recruitment in the spring.

Sometimes we know recruitment rules get misinterpreted - when in doubt check with your Greek Life Office.

It sounds like your school may hand out the informal recruitment bids at one time. Schools that have a less structured informal recruitment where bids are given out at different times should also be using the MRABA.

Best of Luck to you!

I actually don't think my school uses this for informal...I've been to both pref parties, and no one has mentioned anything like this. Both of the sororities told us that they would just come to our rooms between 4 and 7 tomorrow if we got a bid from them. I suppose I'll just wait and see what happens, and if I end up without a bid I'll just ask the Greek Life Office if I'll be eligible in the spring.

It's so confusing, I wish we just had Rho Chis like they do in the spring who could explain everything! Oh well...thanks for the help anyway

ASTalumna06 · #7 09-14-2009, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eagleseleven

Thanks for all the help, everyone!

I actually don't think my school uses this for informal...I've been to both pref parties, and no one has mentioned anything like this. Both of the sororities told us that they would just come to our rooms between 4 and 7 tomorrow if we got a bid from them. I suppose I'll just wait and see what happens, and if I end up without a bid I'll just ask the Greek Life Office if I'll be eligible in the spring.

It's so confusing, I wish we just had Rho Chis like they do in the spring who could explain everything! Oh well...thanks for the help anyway

On my campus, where we only do informal, you can receive a bid (by the sororities seeking you out, similar to what you've described here), not sign it, and not be bound to it for a year. Only if you sign it will the one-year-rule apply. But it sounds like it might be different on other campuses.

I would definitely check with the Greek Life office.