Recruitment
INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS
Chapters have information sessions during the first two weeks of each semester. They will have members at their tables promoting their recruitment events and answering questions about their chapter. These sessions are not mandatory, but attendance is highly recommended! Whether you’re 10% or 100% sure you want to join a sorority, the information sessions are a great introduction to Greek Life. All of our sessions are held in the Kilcawley.
VISIT CHAPTER WEBSITES
Almost every fraternity or sorority has a chapter website. Visit the Fraternity and Sorority pages for links to their websites along with their national websites to learn more information.
ATTEND EVENTS
Fraternities and sororities hold events that are attended by many members of the chapter. Attending recruitment events allows for the opportunity to meet a large portion of the chapter membership. This is a great opportunity to meet members that share the same major, hobbies, and interests. The best way to learn more about the chapter is to meet the members.
REGISTRATION
Prospective students may register for recruitment (including Fall Formal and Spring Informal Recruitment) by completing the necessary online form (via ICS, Interactive Collegiate Solutions software) and submitting the $15 registration fee during the fall semester. To register, you must be a regularly enrolled, full-time student in good standing with Youngstown State University with a 2.5 or better cumulative GPA.
ASK QUESTIONS
Joining a fraternity or sorority is a lifetime commitment and it is important to ask questions. Ask about the expectations of members, how much dues cost, what the chapter does for fun, what types of philanthropic work they do, what members get out of being a member, and what is the best thing about being a member of their chapter.
Additional Recruitment Information
NATIONAL PANHELLENIC COUNCIL (NPC) SORORITIES
Formal sorority recruitment is held during the first or second week of the fall semester . Students must register and pay a small fee to participate in Panhellenic sorority formal recruitment. This is the only opportunity to see the four Panhellenic chapters at the same time. Formal recruitment is the best time to join a Panhellenic sorority.
DURING SPRING SEMESTER, SELECT CHAPTERS FROM NPC WILL HOLD CONTINUOUS OPEN BIDDING (C.O.B.) EVENTS TO RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS. NOT ALL CHAPTERS PARTICIPATE. CONTACT CHAPTERS DIRECTLY IF YOU WANT TO FIND OUT IF THEY WILL BE RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS DURING THE SPRING.
INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC) FRATERNITIES
During the fall semester, the Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities recruit at the same time. During the spring semester, select fraternities will hold recruitment events. The IFC executive board usually holds an informational session for interested students to learn more about the benefits of Greek Life and how to navigate the recruitment process.
NATIONAL PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC) FRATERNITIES AND SOROROTIES
Interested students should individually contact the NPHC fraternities and sororities on campus for further information about the membership process known as intake. During the school year chapters will usually hold an informational meeting for interested members to provide them information about the fraternity/sorority and the intake process.
RECRUITMENT AND ALCOHOL
All recruitment events are to be free of alcohol. Fraternities and sororities are prohibited from using alcohol to recruit new members.
HAZING
No chapter, colony, student or alumnus shall conduct nor condone hazing activities. Permission or approval by a person being hazed is not a defense. Hazing activities are defined as:
Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Such activities may include but are not limited to the following: use of alcohol, paddling in any form, creation of excessive fatigue, physical and psychological shocks, quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, road trips or any other such activities carried on outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house; wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste, engaging in public stunts and buffoonery, morally degrading or humiliating games and activities, and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution or applicable state law.