Frequently Used Terms
Active - An initiated collegiate member who is currently paying dues to an undergraduate chapter.
Alumna - A sorority member who is no longer in college.
Bid - A formal invitation to join a sorority
Chapter - The local division of a sorority. (e.g. The Beta Rho chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma)
Community Service— a charitable project sponsored by an organization that includes hands on activities, learning, and interaction
Continuous Open Bidding (COB) - Any time outside of formal recruitment when bids are extended.
Formal Recruitment - The week long period of time where potential new members are introduced to Drexel's sororities. Bids are extended on the last day. It is a mutual selection process. For more details see the Recruitment section of the website!
Greeks - Any members of a fraternity or sorority.
Informal Recruitment - see "Continuous Open Bidding".
Initiate - An initiated member of a sorority.
Initiation - A ritual based ceremony that marks the acceptance of a lifetime commitment to a sorority.
Legacy - A daughter, sister, granddaughter niece of a sorority member.
Member - See Active.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) - The governing body for 26 national and international women's fraternities/sororities.
New Member - Anyone who has accepted a bid to a sorority, but has not yet been initiated. See also "Pledge".
New Member Period—a learning process that extends between accepting an invitation and initiation
Panhellenic Council (PHC) -The governing body of all NPC sororities on a particular campus.
Philanthropy - An effort to promote human welfare. Philanthropic activity is one of the foundations of Greek-letter organizations.
Philanthropy—a charitable project sponsored by a fraternity or sorority with the intent to raise and donate money
Pledge—a promise made by a member to uphold the expectations and standards of membership
Pledge - The same as a "New Member". This term is not used by most sororities.
Potential New Member (PNM)- A non-member who is eligible to participate in the recruitment process, visiting Greek organizations with an interest in possibility affiliating with one organization.
Preferential Bidding—a system used at the close of formal membership recruitment to match sorority and potential member preferences
Recruitment—the act of potential members interacting with initiated members with the intent of joining a sorority
Recruitment Counselor - An active sister who temporarily disaffiliates with her chapter to help with formal recruitment.
Silence– the period of time at the close of formal recruitment when there is no communication between potential members and sorority members
Sister - An initiated member of a sorority
Sorority - A Greek organization for women.
Total—determined by the Drexel Panhellenic Council as the most desirable chapter size for its campus
