What I Need to Know -- Terms & Definitions

Active / Initiated Member: Any member who has gone through the initiation ceremony and is currently enrolled in college.

Alumni/ae; Alumnus/i (Alum): An initiated member who has graduated from college.

Bid: A formal invitation of membership to join a national organization.

Brother / Sister: A term used by active members in a chapter when referring to one another.

Chapter: The collegiate group of a national fraternity or sorority.

Formal Recruitment: A period of structured membership selection at TCU.

Interfraternity Council (IFC): a representative governing body of all fraternities.

Initiation: A formal ceremony that brings about the transition from new member to initiated member.

Single Intentional Preference: To preference only one sorority (if one does not accept a bid from this sorority, she will be unable to accept a bid from any sorority for one calendar year).

Legacy: A person whose parent, sibling, or grandparent is an alumnus or active member of a sorority or fraternity.

Multicultural Greek Council (MGC): the representative governing body of traditionally latin, asian, or multicultural fraternities and sororities.

National: A term referring to the national headquarters of a given fraternity or sorority.

New Member: A person who has accepted an invitation of membership to a chapter and has not yet been initiated.

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): the representative governing body of traditionally and historically African-American national fraternities and sororities.

Panhellenic Council (PHC): a representative governing body of all sororities of the National Panhellenic Conference.

Pin / Badge: The active pin is worn on the chest designating an initiated member of certain chapters. A pledge / new member pin is similar and is used to designate a new member of a chapter.

Pledgeship: A period of education and introduction into the fraternity or sorority.

Potential New Member: An undergraduate college man or woman who participates in the recruitment process.

Quota: The specified number of new members each organization can accept.

Recommendation: A letter written by an alumnae member to the undergraduate chapter recommending a particular student for membership.

Recruitment: Activities designated for member recruitment. It is a mutual selection between potential new members and chapters.

Recruitment Guide (Rho Gamma): A sorority or fraternity member who has disaffiliated with her/his sorority/fraternity during formal recruitment to assist potential new members.

Ritual: The traditional ceremonies of a chapter that are usually known only by initiated members.