2023 Sorority Recruitment Guide

Add a Chapter to Your Life

TROY UNIVERSITY SORORITY RECRUITMENT GUIDE

CONTACT INFORMATION

External Vice President of Recruitment, Jenna Nabors jnabors187194@troy.edu

Internal Vice President of Recruitment, Julia Rutland

jrutland@troy.edu

Panhellenic President, Jane Vickers

jvickers182988@troy.edu

Panhellenic Advisor, Barbara Patterson bpatters@troy.edu

What we believe

Scholarship

Troy University sororities place high emphasis on scholarship. Programs such as academic mentor, tutoring services, time management seminars, proctored study halls, and information on free campus resources encourage our members to strive to achieve their academic goals. Our goal is for our women to walk across the graduation stage and receive their diploma from the Chancellor. Fall 2022 the all sorority GPA was a 3.20 and the all undergraduate women’s GPA was a 3.04.

Service

Sorority members serve the Troy community in endless ways. Greeks are the first to ring the bells for the Salvation Army each year. You can find our women in the nursing homes, local schools, food banks and churches. We also are the first to respond when there has been a natural disaster. We also serve our national philanthropies by raising money.

Leadership

We believe developing ethical leaders for life. First our women learn the obligations of being a good member of an organization. When elected to an officer position they receive intense training and learn to lead their peers. Every sorority encourages their members to belong to at least one other campus organization and they become leaders in those. Seven women each year are selected to serve on the Panhellenic Council and lead over 700 sorority women.

Sisterhood

Everyone needs a cheerleader, a support group or someone to mentor them. Family, mom and dad are our first cheerleaders. Leaving home, it is important to find a circle of people who will encourage you to strive to be your best. Sororities are the best transition to college. To offer new friends who will be there for you enjoying lifelong bonds and invaluable experiences that will last long after your collegiate years are over. We call that sisterhood.

Panhellenic Creed

We, as undergraduate members of women’s fraternities, stand for good scholarship, for guarding of good health, for maintenance of fine standards, and for serving, to the best of our ability, our college community.

Cooperation for furthering fraternity life, in harmony with its best possibilities, is the ideal that shall guide our fraternity activities. We, as fraternity women, stand for service through the development of character inspired by the close contact and deep friendships of individual fraternity and Panhellenic life. The opportunity for wide and human contact, through mutual respect and helpfulness is the tenet by which we strive to live.

SORORITY RECRUITMENT Registration

Sorority Recruitment

Registration for primary recruitment 2023 opens on May 1. After this date, visit troy.edu/sororityrecruitment. The cost to register: $65.

Registration Deadlines

May 1 Registration opens on troy.edu/sororityrecruitment

July 24 Last day of registration

July 27 No refund for withdrawal

Registration Tips

• Get Prepared! Check out troy.edu/sororityrecruitment for all our registration information. Carefully read over the instructions on this page before you open the recruitment application. This will make the process quick and easy!

• Register as soon as you decide. The earlier you register the longer the sororities have to obtain a recommendation for you.

• On the registration form it will ask for your activities prior to going through recruitment. This is the time to brag about yourself. Think of the organizations you have belonged to, the offices you held, church, community and volunteer activities and be certain to list them.

• The online registration form is best used in Chrome and Firefox.

• If you have any problems registering reach out to greeklife@troy.edu. We are here to help you!

Eligibility To Recruit

High School graduates must have a 2.2 overall average (on a 4.0 scale) & be accepted to Troy University.

Upperclassmen at TROY must have a 2.2 overall average

Transfer students must have a 2.2 overall average based on 12 hours; if a transfer student has fewer than 12 hours, her eligibility will be based on her high school grade point average. This eligibility policy for recruitment is designed to help new students become academically oriented at the University, before becoming involved in the sorority aspect of campus life.

The Panhellenic Council’s membership recruitment eligibility policy is a minimum requirement. Each sorority sets their own academic standards for joining. The sorority women will carefully evaluate the grades and high school activities of each individual going through recruitment when making membership decisions.

RECRUITMENT

On Campus Housing

If you are scheduled to live in a residence hall this year, you will be living in your assigned residence hall room during recruitment. Residence hall check in for those participating in sorority recruitment will be on Saturday, August 5 from 8 am to 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 6 from 8 am to 5 p.m. When you arrive, check in will take place at your assigned residence hall. The resident assistant staff will be in the lobby area of each dorm to help check you in. Once you check in, you will receive your key and be able to move into your residence hall room. Housing will expect you to check in on Saturday, August 5 or Sunday, August 6 if you are living on campus. Please note that the first two days of sorority recruitment is divided up into two days, Monday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 8 half of the women will go to events on one of these two days and the other half will have a free day to set up their residence hall room, run errands, etc. On Sunday, August 6, we will notify you whether you will be going through recruitment on August 8 or 9.

Off-Campus Housing

If you will not be living in university housing this fall, you must make your own arrangements for housing off campus during membership recruitment week. Often, apartment complexes will not let them move in early. If that is your case, we recommend staying at a hotel or with a friend.

Meals

The university meal ticket begins on Saturday, August 12 the last day of sorority recruitment. The Dining Hall will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner during recruitment week and you can eat there on your own. The average a meal usually costs $12.00. Trojan Dining offers a special “meal ticket” for the women going through recruitment. You can purchase 6 meals for $54 plus tax for recruitment week at https://shop-troydining.sodexomyway.com/ dining-events. This is optional.

If you purchase a ticket, please do so under your own name, not under a parent name. This will help us identify who the tickets are for. We also want you to know that most likely each day of recruitment you will be eating one meal off campus with your recruitment group. Everyone usually carpools to these meals. The cost of those meals will be on your own.

SORORITY RECRUITMENT

Check in & Orientation

We will have sorority recruitment check-in on Sunday, August 6 in Smith Hall, Claudia Crosby Theater from 3:30 to 4 p.m. You will check in and receive your name tag and T-shirt for Philanthropy Day. We will have a large group orientation meeting in the Claudia Crosby Theater from 4 to 5 p.m. After the large group meeting, you will break into small groups and meet with your Pi Chi’s. In the small group, you will get to know everyone in your group and go over the recruitment schedule. Dress for orientation is T-shirts and shorts.

We know that many of you will move into residence hall rooms and apartments on Saturday, August 5. Our Pi Chi’s will be going to many of the churches in our area on Sunday, August 6. If you are here and want to go to church with our Pi Chi’s and other recruits, we will email a schedule out on Friday, August 4. We will have you meet Pi Chi’s at the Trojan center 1st floor food court lobby and go to church from there.

PHILANTHROPY & SERVICE

This year we selected to support Backpack for Kids located right here in Troy, Alabama. In Pike County, nearly one in four individuals are food insecure. Backpacks for Kids is just one of the ways the Office of Civic Engagement works to address food insecurity here locally. TROY students donate supplemental food items and assemble bags that are distributed to youth and senior-serving organizations in the Troy community. Each week, 100 children are served through this program. Each bag consists of 1 entree, 2 breakfast items, 2 snacks and a fruit. Requested items include -

Entree; packaged grits/oatmeal and breakfast bars; Snack - Peanut butter crackers, individually packaged cookies, granola bars. This partnership achieves two goals: meeting the critical needs of individuals in our community and connecting our students from the start to serving the Troy community. We are so excited to be giving to such an important organization in our Troy community, and we are so thrilled for you to be apart of this service project this year!

ROUND ONE

Philanthropy Day

Round 1 of formal recruitment is philanthropy day. Service and giving to others are the themes for the day. All potential new members will visit all six sororities over this two-day round. You will be welcomed at the door with a song as you enter the chapter’s house and a sister will greet you at the door.

FAST FACTS:

August 7 and 8 parties will be Monday or Tuesday. Events are 35 minutes. Your Pi Chis will lead you this day.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

You will be given a clear bag to carry your cellphone and makeup. Cellphone will be kept in bags with your Pi Chi. On free day, you will go to downtown Troy with your recruitment group.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

The sororities may have you participate in a craft project. You might watch a video about their philanthropy. This is a get-to-know-you round, you will meet lots of people. Be ready to tell about your involvement during high school.

ATTIRE SUGGESTIONS:

Recruitment T-shirts are provided by Panhellenic. We suggest you wear casual shorts, skirt, or tennis skirt with tennis shoes, flip flops, or sandals. It will be very hot and you will be doing a lot of walking so we want you to be comfortable. On Sunday, August 6, at Orientation, you will receive your T-shirt you will wear on this day.

&Sisterhood Values Day

ROUND TWO

Sisterhood and Values Day is designed to help you learn how the sororities live their values throughout the school year and hear about their sisterhood activities. Take a good look at how the women of the sorority interact with one another. Is the bond of sisterhood strong? On this day you will be scheduled to attend various sororities with a limit to 4 different sororities. You may also be informed by your recruitment counselor that you have not received invitations to Sisterhood and Values Day.

FAST FACTS:

August 9 and 10

Each party is 45 minutes

Maximum of 4 sororities.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

Think: Where is your home away from home? Look at how the sorority women interact with one another. Look to see if your values align with the sororities’ values.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

You will have more one-on-one time with the sorority women. Conversation is longer and more meaningful.

ATTIRE SUGGESTIONS:

Remember that August in Alabama is very hot while selecting what to wear during recruitment. Dress for Sisterhood and Values day can be a casual cute dress, or a skirt and top, paired with sandals, wedges, or flats. Always make your selection on what to wear based on what is comfortable.

Preference Day ROUND THREE

Preference events are the most serious of the events held during recruitment week. Sorority members begin to introduce you to their bonds of sisterhood. By Preference Day, you will be thinking seriously about which sorority is best for you, and you will take part in a special ceremony. You will be scheduled for a maximum of two parties this day. You may also be informed by your recruitment counselor that you have not received invitations to Preference Day.

FAST FACTS:

August 11

PNMS can attend a maximum of 2 sororities. Party rounds are 50 minutes.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

Ask any final questions you might have today. Listen carefully to the ideals of their sorority.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

This is a serious event. The atmosphere is serene. There may be a special ceremony.

ATTIRE SUGGESTIONS:

Dress for Preference day is typically more formal than the other days of recruitment. A church dress with wedges or flats will be most appropriate to wear to Preference Day.

Bid Day

The last event of membership recruitment is Bid Day. You may receive an invitation to join, or your Pi Chi will tell you that you did not receive a bid. If you did not receive a bid you are eligible for continuous open bidding.

FAST FACTS:

August 12 at 10:00 a.m. Bid Day will be at Elm Street Gym

TIPS AND TRICKS:

This is a very exciting and long day. Make sure to get a good night’s rest, as some chapters have a retreat planned immediately after Bid Day.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

We will gather in the gym by recruitment group, and your Pi Chis will distribute bids to you. You will gather with your new sisters and run out together to your new sorority. Each sorority will host an event for their new members that afternoon and evening.

ATTIRE SUGGESTIONS:

Wear a TROY T-shirt with shorts and comfortable shoes. You will receive a Sorority T-shirt with your new sorority letters once you reach your new sorority to wear for the day.

Meet our Sororities

Nickname: ADPi

Founding: May 15, 1851 at Wesleyan College

TROY Founding: April 19, 1966

Colors: White and Azure Blue

Chapter Symbol: Lion

Flower: Woodland Violet

Philanthropy and Fundraising Events: The Ronald McDonald House, Lions Share

Nickname: Alpha Gam

Founding: May 30, 1904 at Syracuse University

TROY Founding: 1971

Colors: Red, Buff and Green

Chapter Symbol: Squirrel

Flower: Red and Buff Roses

Philanthropy and Fundraising Events: Fighting Hunger

Nickname: AOpi

Founding: January 2, 1897

TROY Founding: November 12, 2017

Colors: Cardinal

Flower: The Jacqueminot Rose

Philanthropy and Fundraising Events: American Juvenile Arthritis Organization

Nickname: Chi O

Founding: April 5, 1895 at University of Arkansas

TROY Founding: February 19, 1977

Colors: Cardinal and Straw

Chapter Symbol: Owl

Flower: White Carnation

Philanthropy and Fundraising Events: Make-a-Wish Alabama

Nickname: Kay Dee

Founding: 1897 at Longwood

University

TROY Founding: January 15, 1966

Colors: Olive Green and Pearl White

Chapter Symbol: Teddy Bear

Flower: White Rose

Philanthropy and Fundraising Events: Prevent Child Abuse America & Girl Scouts of the USA

Nickname: Phi Mu

Founding: March 4, 1852

at Wesleyan College

TROY Founding: 1966

Colors: Rose and White

Chapter Symbol: Ladybug/Lion

Flower: Pink Carnation

Philanthropy and Fundraising Events: Children’s Miracle Network Hospital

pi chi tips for Recruitment

Hi, I’m Fairby Caldwell, your Head Pi Chi. I’m so honored to be chosen for this position. I’ve had an amazing time training this year’s incredible Pi Chi’s that will be helping you through your recruitment process! During recruitment, you will be placed in a Pi Chi group. You will have daily meetings as well as creating some of your first Troy memories with some of your first Troy friends! It is important to know that your Pi Chi will not be associated with her sorority or be biased towards her sorority throughout the recruitment process. These girls are here for you so feel free to ask your Pi Chi any questions about the recruitment process. We are so excited to meet y’all!

“Keep an open mind when going through each house! You may find yourself loving a house that you didn’t expect to. Ultimately it’s YOUR decision!”

“Do not compare your recruitment to someone else’s week because even though it might look different, it will all work out how it is supposed to!”

“Go into recruitment with an open mind and see which sorority’s values align with your own!”

“Be true to who YOU are the entire week. Don’t let anyone influence your decision on where you think you should be. Trust the process because you will end up where you are meant to be.”

“Trust the process and know that you will end up exactly where you’re supposed to be!”

Katy Chandler

Savannah Weed

Maddie Hobbs

Meghan Meadows

Payson Clifford

Your First Year

If you join a sorority, you will quickly find out that they are involved in all parts of campus life. You will find your sorority will be involved in attending many campus events together. For instance if there is a pep rally – everyone will go! Your first year will be full of new and exciting events introducing you to collegiate life. Below are some things you can expect during your first year of membership in a Panhellenic chapter.

Study Hall Hours

Some chapters require a certain number of study hall hours to be completed during the week. Sororities also implement a number of educational programs to assist new members in the academic transition into college. Sororities will also encourage you to attend career fairs to get the experience of meeting potential employers.

New Member Meetings & Education

As a new member, you will be required to attend weekly new member meetings in addition to weekly chapter meetings. The goals of these meetings is to teach new members the values, traditions, and rituals of the organization. You will also find your sorority hosting educational programs. Some topics that may be presented are on leadership, mental health, drugs, alcohol, sexual assault, resume building, budgeting and many more topics.

Philanthropic Work

Each Greek chapter enjoys serving its local and national philanthropy and will host events each semester to raise awareness and donations for the cause. New members are invited to attend these events as a way to socialize within the community while supporting a worthy cause.

Social Events

Recruitment Events

In the Spring, chapters host recruitment workshops to help their new members prepare for next year’s Formal Recruitment process. These workshops help you gain experience in meeting and interviewing others, great preparation for the work world.

Active Participation

As a new member, you will be encouraged to participate in campus and Greek-wide events such Welcome Week, Homecoming, Pep Rallies, on campus speakers, plays, choral events, and Honors Convocation, these events are not only fun, but provide an opportunity to meet and work with students from across campus. Sororities will also encourage you to be an active member in another campus organization.

Financial Information

FIRST YEAR ONE TIME MEMBERSHIP FEES

Average: $700

Range: $600 to $900

Please note the range difference is because in the one time fees is included the membership pin/badge. Each sorority has a variety of pin/badges that vary in cost that you can select from.

SEMESTER DUES

Average: $600

Range: $520 to $697

SORORITY LIVING

Financial requirements are an important consideration for students participating in sorority recruitment, so it is important to be as informed as possible with the costs associated with the sorority experience. If you accept an invitation to join a chapter, you will enter into a financial agreement for membership dues and fees during your collegiate years.

Dues and fees vary from chapter to chapter and year to year. It is important to note sorority costs may be more expensive during your first year in the organization due to one-time fees and expenses. It is also important to note that additional costs may arise during the year for items such as pictures, T-shirts, or other miscellaneous items.

Sorority members have the opportunity to live in sorority houses. You might wonder as a new member will you get to move into a house. Typically, in fall semester less than 10 new members move into the houses. It will depend on if the sorority you join has an open space. If you live in a residence hall, and your sorority has an open space, you can move on over to the sorority house. Typically, sorority members do not move into the chapter facility until their sophomore, junior, or senior years. Upperclassmen may have an obligation to live in the chapter house; however, each chapter regulates membership living in house. The cost of rent for the houses is comparable to the cost of living in Shackelford or Cowart Hall.

Letters of Recommendation

A letter of recommendation, also known as “rec”, is a recruitments information form written by an alumna in order to introduce a potential new member to the sorority chapter. You are encouraged to ask any alumna that you know to write a letter of recommendation for you.

Alpha Delta Pi TROY Box 821104 Troy, AL 36082 alphadeltapi@troy.edu

Alpha Gamma Delta TROY Box 820981 Troy, AL 36082 alphagam@troy.edu

Alpha Omicron Pi www.alphaomicronpi.org/membershipinformation-forms

Chi Omega TROY Box 821769 Troy, AL 36082 chiomega@troy.edu

Kappa Delta TROY Box 821004 Troy, AL 36082 kappadelta@troy.edu

Phi Mu

Does not accept recommendations.

Sorority alumnae must get forms from the national website of their organization by logging in. Forms are not available on public websites and from our office.

Alumnae may also contact the sorority email above.

Helpful Hint

Pre-address envelopes and attach your resume and a picture of yourself to give to the alumna!

Recruitment Q&A

WHAT IS A BID?

A bid is an offer to a Potential New Member to join a sorority. At the conclusion of the last preferential event, PNMs must go to a designated area to sign their preference card. After the preference card is signed and turned in, it is a binding agreement and may not be changed. If a PNM receives a bid from one of her preference sororities and decides against joining, she is ineligible to join another sorority for a calendar year. Only the written bids distributed by the NPC are official. Any suggestion of a bid from a sorority member is to be ignored, as no one individual member may speak for her entire sorority.

CAN I GO HOME RIGHT AFTER RECRUITMENT?

You may not want to plan on going home before classes start. Most sororities have formal pledging or other events immediately after recruitment.

WHAT TO BRING TO PARTIES?

Only carry a minimum amount of items with you to parties (keys, phone, ID and make-up).

Social Media Etiquette

We want you to have positive Panhellenic contact with our sorority women over the summer. This positive contact means not being overwhelmed by us through social media We are very sensitive to our recruits (you!) about being contacted by our sorority women. While we love for you to learn about us, we don’t want you to worry about why or why not you are being contacted by a sorority or sorority women. We encourage normal contact.

• If you are not previous friends with a sorority woman: Our women are allowed to follow you and like your posts, but they can not comment on your posts or direct message you on social media.

• If you already have a friendship with one of our sorority women, such as having been high school friends, you can and should continue those contacts and friendships, and they may comment on your posts and direct message you, as you would normally do.

We encourage you to follow Panhellenic and the individual sororities’ social media. You will notice that the sororities will not follow you back or interact with your account at all. We encourage you to DM Panhellenic if you have any questions. If you DM a sorority they will ask you to DM Panhellenic. These considerations are in place so that you can go through the recruitment process with normal positive contact. Sorority recruitment week is a time for you to meet and get to know all our sororities and we do not want you to prejudge our groups because of social media.

Check us out

Alpha Gamma Delta

Twitter – @troyagd

Instagram - @troyagd

Facebook – Alpha Gamma Delta at Troy University

Phi Mu

Twitter – @PhiMu Troy

Instagram – @troyphimu

Facebook – Phi Mu at Troy University

Alpha Delta Pi

Twitter – @troyadpi

Instagram – @troyadpi

Facebook – Troy University Alpha Delta Pi

Kappa Delta

Twitter – @TroyKD

Instagram – @troykd

Facebook – KD Troy

Chi Omega

Twitter – @ChiOmegaTroy

Instagram – @chiomegatroy

Facebook – Chi Omega – Troy University

Alpha Omicron Pi

Twitter – @AOIItroy

Instagram – AOIItroy

Facebook – Alpha Omicron Pi at Troy University teamaoii.com

Panhellenic Council

Twitter – @TroyPanhellenic

Instagram – @TroyPanhellenic

Facebook – Troy University Panhellenic Council

Definitions

ALUMNA – A sorority member who no longer attends college, but remains active in her sorority through involvement in alumnae groups across the nation.

ALUMNI – A fraternity member who graduated college, but remains active in his fraternity through involvement in alumni groups across the nation.

BID – A formal invitation to a potential member issued by a Greek organization inviting a potential member to join.

BID DAY – The day that potential members receive a bid.

CHAPTER – A local group of the larger national organization.

CROSSING OVER – An alternate name for initiation

FRATERNITY – The name that applies to all Greek letter organizations that are characterized by a ritual, a pin and a strong tie of friendship. The term “fraternity” is also applied to a sorority.

GRADUATE MEMBER – A term used to describe a member of an NPHC organization who has either graduated from college, or completed the “alumni status” process with their organization. Members of Greek chapters possess an exclusive, lifetime membership to their organization.

GREEK WEEK – A series of special events sponsored by the Greek community to promote community service and Greek unity.

INITIATION – The formal ceremony during which a new member takes his or her final vows for full membership in their organization.

INTER-FRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC) – The governing body of fraternities on campus.

LEGACY – A sister/brother, son/daughter or grandson/ granddaughter of an initiated member of a sorority or fraternity.

MEMBER – Someone who has been initiated into the chapter.

MEMBERSHIP INTAKE – A process by which interested persons become members of most historically black Greek-lettered organizations.

NEOPHYTE – A newly initiated fraternity or sorority member, though this term is not used by all organizations.

OPEN BID – An invitation to membership extended by a sorority after the completion of membership recruitment which may be extended and accepted without preferential or involved procedures.

NATIONAL PANHELLENIC COUNCIL (NPC) – A governing body of the national sororities on campus.

NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC) – A governing body of the historically African-American fraternities and sororities on campus.

NEW MEMBER – A woman who has accepted an invitation to membership in a sorority and who is working toward full membership but has not yet been initiated.

NEW MEMBER PRESENTATION – When new members are being presented to the campus community, formally known as a Probate Show

PHILANTHROPY – A service project undertaken by Greek chapters on the campus, community or national level.

PLEDGE/ASSOCIATE MEMBER – A person who has accepted a formal bid for membership and who is working toward full membership but has not yet been initiated.

PI CHI – An active member of a sorority who assists in membership recruitment and counsels potential members who have problems or questions concerning membership recruitment.

POTENTIAL MEMBER – A Greek name for YOU. Any person in good standing at the college who participates in membership recruitment.

RECRUITMENT – Generally refers to the 3-day mutual selection process in which those seeking membership in an IFC or Panhellenic chapter participate.

panhellenic Leadership Team

The Panhellenic Council at Troy University is a studentlead organization, with current students comprising our executive council team. These students are selected by their chapters in November and serve a full term from January-December. Each Panhellenic Executive Team member is a sorority member at Troy University in a good standing with their chapter. During Formal Recruitment, you will meet these student leaders at our orientation and on sorority hill during recruitment. The Panhellenic Executive members are happy to help or answer questions you might have about Formal Recruitment, Continuous Open Bidding, or general Panhellenic information.

Jane Vickers President Jenna Nabors Vice President of External Recruitment

Julia Rutland Vice President of Internal Recruitment

Fairby Caldwell Head Recruitment Counselor

Allee Alexander Vice President of Administration and Finance

Kariann Thornburg Vice President of Public Relations

Sequoia Tinnin Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Education

Ashlyn Simpson Director of Spiritual Life