GREEK LINGO

If you’ve never interacted with the Greek Community, chances are there might be some words that you haven’t heard before! We’re here to provide you with a quick breakdown of the most important terms to help you navigate this new environment with ease.

Active - A member of a Greek organization who is currently enrolled as an undergraduate student.

Alumna [pl. alumnae] - A member of a Greek organization who is no longer an undergraduate student; they are still affiliated with the organization.

Bid - An invitation to join a fraternity or sorority.

Big (Sister) - The name of an active who has taken on a new member as their mentor, friend, support, during their experience in their sorority.

Bid Day - The final day of a recruitment period when bids are distributed.

Bid Matching- A system for matching the choice of a potential new member with the choice of a chapter.

Chapter - The campus group of a national organization, usually named by their Greek-letter designation. At the University of Alberta, the following Panhellenic chapters are chartered…

• Alpha Gamma Delta - Delta Kappa

• Delta Gamma - Beta Beta

• Kappa Alpha Theta - Beta Chi

• Pi Beta Phi - Alberta Alpha

Chapter Advisor - An alumna/alumnus who establishes and maintains a close advisory relationship with a chapter. Giving advice, and serving as a counselor, mentor, teacher and friend.

College Panhellenic Association - The cooperative, campus organization which oversees and assists each local Panhellenic Chapter.

Continuous Open Bidding (COB) - An open recruitment period separate from Primary Recruitment with no structure and scheduled community-wide activities. Each individual chapter organizes their own events and bids can be extended and accepted at different times.

Formal Recruitment - The official selection period of the year with structured, scheduled events. Each of the Panhellenic Sororities recruit together under watch of the Panhellenic Council. At the University of Alberta, this typically occurs within the first two weeks of the Fall Semester.

Fraternity - An individual Greek-letter organisation. Typically used to distinguish a men’s organization.

Greeks - Students affiliated with fraternities and sororoities.

Initiation - A formal event by which new members become initiate members.

Interfraternity Council (IFC) - The governing council made up of all fraternities on campus.

Legacy - The child, grandchild, sibling, or related family member of an initiated member. Each organization has a different legacy definition and policy.

Little (Sister) - The name of a member in regards to their (Big) mentor, friend, support, during their sorority experience.

Manual of Information (MOI) - The National Panhellenic Handbook containing historical, procedural, instructional and practical information about the National Panhellenic Conference and all Collegiate and Alumnae Panhellenic Associations.

Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA) - A one-year binding agreement that a Potential New Member signs on Preference Night during Formal Recruitment. By signing the MRABA, the Potential New Member lists the sororities they will be willing to accept a bid from.

New Member - A member of a fraternity/sorority who is not yet initiated. 

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) - A conference body composed of 26 sororities/women’s fraternities. All Panhellenic Sororities at the University of Alberta are members of the NPC.

Party - During Primary Recruitment, each round has a scheduled, allotted time for each chapter with a group of Potential New Members. The times are equal so Potential New Members get the chance to interact with all the chapters.

Philanthropy - A selected charitable effort to promote human welfare decided upon by an individual Greek organization; the chapter will raise funds, donations, or provide service to complete said dedication.

Pinning - A ceremony that designates the start of the new member process. The new member often wears a pin or emblem that signifies their new member status.

Potential New Member (PNM) - A non-member who is eligible to participate in the recruitment process.

Quota - The number each NPC sorority may pledge on campus during Primary Recruitment.

Recommendations / Reference - A written letter or statement endorsing a student for membership. Only done by pre-existing initiates.

Recruitment - A series of events offering initiated members and potential new members the opportunity to get acquainted with one another, and allowing the PNMs to gain a deeper understanding of the Panhellenic Community.

Recruitment Round - An event during Primary Recruitment where PNMs are brought to each organization to ask them questions about their organizations, and get to know their members. To be eligible for a bid, a PNM must attend one round from each chapter.

Sorority - An individual Greek-Letter organization. Commonly used to distinguish women’s organizations, also known as women’s fraternities.

Strict Silence - The period of time following Preference Night (Round) where chapters or recruiting members will not reach out or communicate with Potential New Members; if a PNM requires support, the Panhellenic Council (or their Recruitment Counsellor) will provide assitance. This is to ensure that all decisions made by the Potential New Members are unbiased and made without pressure. Strict Silence ends at the start of Bid Day.

Total - A term used by Panhellenic Sororities, the allowable chapter size of both new and initiated members in a given chapter. This is determined by the Panhellenic Council once in the Fall, and once in the Winter.