Recruitment

The chapters in the Interfraternity Council at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville take part in three different styles of recruitment: formal (fall), informal (spring), 365 (year round).

Fall Recruitment is formal recruitment. Registered potential new members (PNMs) will spend a week getting to know every chapter in the IFC. Throughout the week before the semester begins, you will spend time with the chapters you want to get to know more about. At the end of the week, formal bids will be given out. All active chapters participate in this recruitment.

Spring Recruitment is a formal, less-structured style of recruitment. Registration is still required, but not all chapters will participate. Similar to fall, there will be an IFC sponsored week of activities at the beginning of the semester, but there will be an extended period of time after the sponsored events where PNMs and chapters will have the ability to get to know each other outside of recruitment events. At the end of that week, IFC will distribute bids to PNMs who received at least one.

365 Recruitment is on-going. Every chapter in the IFC believes in continuous recruitment throughout the year. This means that chapters can recruit new members throughout the semester without someone going through fall or spring recruitment. Not all chapters will extend bids throughout the year, but a majority of chapters will create relationships with PNMs before they sign up for recruitment. Relationship building is the best way to determine which chapter is the best fit for someone going through recruitment.

All types of IFC recruitment are a mutual-selection process. This means that PNMs and chapters have a say in the joining process regardless of the three types outlined above. PNMs and chapters are encouraged to seek out more information and build relationships outside of formal recruitment activities; however, joining an organization can only take place during fall and spring semesters After a bid has been distributed, new members will complete an educational process, typically referred to as “new member education,” that usually lasts anywhere from 2 days to 8 weeks depending on the chapter. After the completion of all education, initiation for each chapter will take place where all new members become active members within the organization. Some chapters will initiate within a short period of time after their bid day and continue education of all active members throughout their time as an undergraduate.

Fall 2023 IFC Recruitment Dates

Registration Opens: May 1

Early-Bird* Registration ($85): May 1 - 31

Priority* Registration ($95): June 1 - July 1

Late Registration* ($100): July 2 - Aug 15

IFC Cookout: August 15

Orientation: August 16

Bid Day: August 22

Beginning of 365 Recruitment: August 23

IFC 101: September 12

New Member Orientation Module due: Opens May 1 and to be completed before accepting a Bid

Spring 2024 Recruitment Registration

Opens: December 1

Organizations:

Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.

Lambda Phi Epsilon International Fraternity, Inc.

Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.

Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.

Sigma Beta Rho Fraternity, Inc.

Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc.

The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) at UT is composed of 6 culturally-based sororities and fraternities. The council is united by their aspirations to increase awareness of their respective cultures, to serve the UT community, and to maintain high academic standards. MGC also coordinates activities between the organizations through social, fundraising, and community service events. Each organization has national philanthropies in the areas of literacy for children, school mentoring and tutoring, domestic violence awareness, and others. MGC hosts many events in the fall and invites anyone who is interested to attend.

The primary purpose of the MGC is to unite its member organizations in order to share ideas and resources, promote mutual respect and equality, provide a support network for involved students, and collectively accomplish goals set forth by the council members.

President: Lauren Urbi

Vice President: Jeloux Enriquez

Treasurer: Amal Sam

Director of Programming: August Crane

Event & Risk Management Coordinator: Nila Manickavasagam

Public Relations Chair: Muskaan Hameed

Philanthropy Chair: Sterling Crane

Not Pictured:

Secretary: Ohm Patel

Advisor: Stephen J. Black, Office of Sorority & Fraternity Life Coordinator

Graduate Assistant: Madison Sims

Membership Intake

• Each MGC organization accepts potential new members through a new member education process. Some MGC organizations start off with a series of events known as Rush or Recruitment Week and others host Informational or Interest Meetings.

• Rush/Recruitment is an informal week of educational, social, and service-related activities to get to know members and learn more about one organization of interest. At the end of an organization’s rush week, they extend opportunities to selected individuals who meet the requirements of MGC and its national organization to pursue membership. Informational Meetings allow for individuals to find out general information about said organization and Interest Meetings are formal meetings for those who are interested in moving forward with membership.

• After recruitment/intake, there is a period of membership education that can vary in length depending on the organization, but will last no longer than eight weeks. Following this period, members will initiate into their organizations (often referred to as “crossing”) and participate in some sort of “reveal” or “new member presentation” in which members are recognized and unveiled to the university community.