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FAQ & Terminology

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10 FAQs about Greek Life and how to join:

1. What is Greek Life / What is a fraternity or sorority?
Greek Life is a term used to identify the collection of social fraternities and sororities on campus. These organizations' names are made up of letters of the Greek alphabet, which is what leads to the title 'Greek' Life. A fraternity or sorority is a inter/national non-profit organization created based on shared values and goals with a national service initiative or philanthropic purpose. 

2. What is the difference between a fraternity and a sorority?

Mens-only organizations will use the term 'fraternity'. Fraternity may also be used in the case of a co-ed organization. Womens-only organizations will use the term 'sorority'. Both fraternities and sororities are organizations founded on a core set of values and beliefs, and offer opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, social interaction, community service, and academic achievement.

3. What are the benefits of joining a fraternity or sorority? 

Joining a fraternity or sorority can offer numerous benefits, including opportunities for personal growth, leadership development, social interaction, community service, and academic achievement. Members also often have access to resources and support systems within their organization and can build lifelong connections and friendships.

4. How do I join a fraternity or sorority? 

Joining a fraternity or sorority typically involves a selection process that varies between organizations. Generally, prospective members must meet certain criteria, such as academic standing, character, and involvement in campus activities. They may also need to attend information sessions, participate in recruitment events, and interview with current members. 

Learn more on How to Join!

5. What are the financial obligations of joining a fraternity or sorority? 

Joining a fraternity or sorority will involve a financial obligation to pay membership fees and dues. Total cost will vary depending on the organization. Members may also be expected to participate in fundraising events to support their organization's financial needs.

6. How do I know which fraternity or sorority is right for me?

Not only does each organization have its own unique set of values, traditions, and service initiative / philanthropic mission, but each chapter's members will have their own personality and vibe. It is important to research and learn about different fraternities and sororities before making a decision to join. Attend information sessions and participate in recruitment events to learn about the organization's values and mission. Meet and interact with current members to get a sense of the chapter's personality. 

7. What is the selection process like for joining a fraternity or sorority?

The selection process for joining a fraternity or sorority can vary depending on the organization. Generally, it involves attending information sessions, participating in recruitment events, and meeting with current members. Prospective members may also need to submit an application and participate in an interview.

8. What are the expectations for members of a fraternity or sorority?

Members of fraternities and sororities are expected to uphold the values and beliefs of their organization, participate in social and philanthropic events, maintain good academic standing, and represent their organization in a positive way.

9. What is hazing and is it allowed in Greek Life?

Hazing at UNCW is strictly prohibited and is defined as:

Any intentional or unintentional, voluntary or involuntary, reckless action, occurring on or off campus, by an individual student, group, organization, or other persons associated with an organization, whether officially recognized by the university or not, in connection to recruitment, initiation, rite of passage, membership, or maintenance of membership, in any group or organization, including but not limited to, a fraternal organization, sport club, group, registered or unregistered organization, or athletic team, that subjects any other member of the university community to activity which creates an atmosphere for potential or actual humiliation, degradation, verbal, emotional or physical distress, abuse or injury, or compromises the academic mission and/or reputation of the university.

Visit Stop Campus Hazing to learn more about our response to hazing.

File a Hazing Report

10. What is the time commitment for joining a fraternity or sorority?

Joining a fraternity or sorority involves a significant time commitment, including attending meetings, participating in events and activities, and completing any required education programs. The exact time commitment can vary depending on the organization and the member's level of involvement.

Common Fraternity & Sorority Terms

  • Active: An initiated, dues-paying member who is enrolled in the university.
  • Badge: A “pin” worn by fully-initiated members of each fraternity or sorority that carries its official insignia.
  • Bid: A formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority.
  • Big: Nickname for big sister or brother, a mentor assigned to a new member. Many organizations have special names for these pairings.
  • Chapter: A membership unit of a national or international sorority or fraternity. On campus, 'chapter' would refer to the registered student organization. 
  • Charter: The official document drafted by an Inter/National fraternity or sorority that allows for the creation of a local chapter that is affiliated with a college or university campus.
  • Class or “New Member Class”: The group of new members that will be going through the New Member Program and Initiation together. Formerly called a pledge class, this term is still used among the fraternities.
  • Crest: Insignia used by sorority and fraternity members. Most Greek organizations reserve the crest for initiated members only. Each crest has hidden, secret meanings behind it. Also known as a coat of arms or shield.
  • Dues: The monetary costs of membership in a fraternity or sorority. These fees are used to cover the costs of operation, formal events, social activities, and other events, depending on the organization.
  • Fraternity/Sorority:  A group of individuals bound together by ritual, common ideals, and a strong bond of friendship and brotherhood or sisterhood. (The term "frat" should not be used when referring to a fraternity).
  • Founders Day: An event celebrated by fraternities and sororities to highlight the founding of their organization and celebrate its history. It's not necessarily held on the day the organization was founded.
  • Grad:  A member of the organization that has graduated from college and continues to stay active with the organization by way of a graduate or alumni chapter.
  • Infraction:  Infractions can be given to any Panhellenic or IFC organization that violates the rules of the recruitment or rush process.
  • Initiation:  The traditional ritual or formal ceremony of induction, which marks the transition to full membership of a fraternity or sorority.
  • Interfraternity Council (IFC): The governing body for all men's social fraternities on campus.
  • Legacy:  An individual who has a family member who has been previously initiated into an organization. Each organization may have their own definition of what relationships denote someone as a legacy (parent, sibling, grandparent, etc.). 
  • National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): The governing body for all historically-black fraternities and sororities (known as the "Divine Nine") on campus.
  • Panhellenic Council: The governing body for women's sororities on campus that are members of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).
  • Potential New Member (PNM): Most often used by the Panhellenic council, a PNM is any student who is eligible to join a Panhellenic chapter. This includes any currently enrolled female students, incoming freshmen and upperclassmen, that have not been previously initiated into a Panhellenic sorority.
  • Ritual: The traditional rites and ceremonies of a fraternity or sorority; these are almost always private and known only to initiated members of a fraternal organization.
  • United Greek Council (UGC): The governing body for our cultural and religious organizations on campus.
  • Alumnus: An initiated member of a fraternity who has graduated from college and is no longer an active member (plural: Alumni).
  • Brother:  The term used by members of men's fraternities when referring to each other.
  • Neophyte:  A new member of an organization who has completed the new member process, but not yet been initiated.
  • Open Recruitment: IFC recruitment style is 'open', indicating it has no defined start and end date and potential members need not follow a designated schedule. IFC chapters are eligible to conduct recruitment 365 days a year. In other words, recruitment is always 'open'.
  • Rush: IFC's recruitment/intake process.
  • Rushee: Man going through the rush process.
  • Cross:  Initiated, at the end of the recruitment period after being evaluated by the organization the aspirant is seeking. The new member then "crosses" over from a pledge to a new member.
  • Dropping Line:  To quit the process of becoming a member.
  • Frat/Brother: The term NPHC fraternity men use to refer to each other within their organization.
  • Membership Intake Process (M.I.P.): The process adopted by the NPHC and all of its members in the early 1990's to put an end to dangerous rites of passage practices and hazing. (Hazing is illegal in ALL our organizations AND in the United States courts of law).
  • Nalia or Perry:  Two abbreviated terms for paraphernalia like shirts, paddles, license plates, jewelry, etc. Abbreviations differ regionally.
  • Neo:  An abbreviated term for the Greek word Neophyte, meaning beginner. A neophyte is someone who is new to the organization.
  • New Member Presentation: (previously called Probate) Official public display of initiation often in the form of a step. This is the first time when newly initiated members of each fraternity/sorority are revealed to the rest of campus.
  • On Yard:  An organization that has active status on campus. 
  • Stepping: A creative form of artistic dance and musical entertainment unique to some culturally-based fraternities and sororities, especially those of historically African-American heritage.
  • Sister/Soror: The term NPHC sorority women use to refer to one another within their organization.
  • Stroll: An informal form of stepping.
  • Alumna: An initiated member of a sorority who has graduated from college and is no longer an active member (plural: Alumnae).
  • Continuous Open Bidding(COB): Held after the primary recruitment period, COB is an informal joining process. Only chapters that still have spaces to fill will continue recruiting new members through the COB process. Chapters operate their COB process individually and each chapter will do things a little differently. 
  • Potential New Member (PNM):  PNM stands for Potential New Member and is used by the Panhellenic Council to describe all those women that have the potential to go through formal recruitment. This includes incoming freshmen and upperclassmen that have not joined a Panhellenic sorority.
  • Primary Recruitment: The Panhellenic Council's formal joining process. Formal recruitment takes place in the fall at the start of the semester. It has a registration fee and a detailed schedule of events. Full and in-person participation is required. 
  • Recruitment Counselor (RCs): RCs are members of a Panhellenic sorority that have disaffiliated from their sorority to help with formal recruitment in the fall. Once disaffiliation occurs (one month before recruitment), that sorority woman is no longer allowed to state which of the 11 Panhellenic sororities she belongs to and instead she is known as a "Recruitment Counselor." During fall recruitment, RCs assist PNMs going through the recruitment process. It is their job to answer questions and help guide PNMs into the sorority that is right for them. The disaffiliation process helps to provide a more unbiased front for the girls.
  • Sister:  The term used by members of sororities when referring to each other.