College Panhellenic

Welcome to the College Panhellenic of East Tennessee State University! On behalf of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) member organizations at ETSU, we would like to welcome you to Fraternity and Sorority Life and to a lifetime of great friends, values, and opportunities! We take much pride in the community we form and the continuing history of excellence we  represent on our campus. Being a sorority member continues to provide women with opportunities for leadership, social networking, community service, campus involvement, and friendship while maintaining high academic standards.

The NPC member organizations at East Tennessee State University are: Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Xi Delta, Kappa Delta, and Sigma Kappa. These five sororities create the College Panhellenic at ETSU. These sororities thank you for your interest and hope you make the decision to become a sorority woman yourself. If either you or your parents have any questions, you may contact the College Panhellenic President for the 2023 calendar year, Sally Chikomb.

Information regarding fraternity and sorority judicial and academic standings may be found here. This also includes a list of any fraternities or sororities that are not recognized.

Fall 2023 College Panhellenic Primary Recruitment

Registration for Fall 2023 Panhellenic Primary Recruitment will open in April 2023!

Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 College Panhellenic Informal Recruitment (Continuous Open Bidding)

• Some CPH chapters will be eligible to distribute bids through the informal recruitment process. We determine the number of bids available and the chapters eligible at the following time periods:
  
  • Fall: within 72 hours of bid day
  • Spring: within 72 hours of the first day of class
• The best way to learn if a chapter is able to distribute bids is by contacting them through their Instagram accounts!

Interested in the College Panhellenic Learning-Living Community (CPLLC)?

Sorority Life is Suite at Buccaneer Ridge!

Find out more about our living-learning community here. 

Frequently Asked Questiions About Panhellenic Recruitment

• When will sorority recruitment be?

  Our primary recruitment process will take place fully in-person. Registration closes on August 29 and people participating will need to be available all evening on Friday, September 1, all day September 2 - 4, 2023.
  
  
  
  
  
  

• What material will I need to have prepared for my recruitment registration?

  The recruitment registration application asks for some personal information, like name, ETSU email, and E Number. There are two things that are needed that may be considered "extra," a photo of yourself (headshot-style or personality photo) and a resume is extremely helpful. The form takes about 10 - 15 minutes to complete.

• What is the structure for recruitment?

  Open House Round: Opportunity to meet all chapters. You will make your first selections after attending all rounds.

  First Invitational Round: Through the mutual selection process, women can be invited back to up to four chapters. 

  Preference Invitational Round: Through the mutual selection process, women can be invited back to up to two chapters. After your last preference event, you will complete a form called the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA).

  Bid Day: Potential new members who have been matched with a sorority will receive their bid invitation this day. 

  Through this process, you will have your own team of "Rho Gammas" or Recruitment Guides who will answer any questions you have and help you navigate each step.

• What are the expectations or rules for recruitment?

  We expect potential new members to tell us if they have any conflicts preventing them from participating in any recruitment event. 

  Potential new members should be prepared to commit time to their sorority experience while they are an undergraduate student at ETSU.

  Every potential new member should be aware of and capable of paying the financial membership dues expenses each semester. Dues information will be provided during Open House round.
  
  

• Who is eligible to participate in Panhellenic sorority recruitment?

  The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) requires that students eligible for Panhellenic sorority recruitment are full-time enrolled, regularly matriculated students. This means that dual enrollment students are not eligible for sorority recruitment.

   

  The eligibility requirements for NPC sororities beyond that one stipulation vary by organization and by campus. The minimum expectations for our five chapters at ETSU are 2.5 GPA or higher (high school or college) and some community service or leadership involvement prior to coming to ETSU, recognition and the means to cover the financial commitment, and the willingness to spend a dedicated amount of time (3-10 hours depending on leadership positions) with their sorority each week.

   

  A competitive applicant will show outstanding commitment to personal values through established leadership and service, has above a 3.5 GPA, and recognizes the responsibility that comes with joining an organization that requires a financial and time commitment. They should also enjoy hanging out and having fun with friends (you know, the whole social aspect!).

• What will a student get out of joining a fraternity or sorority organization that they won't get from other groups?

   Fraternity and sorority organizations are a great way to get involved and build relationships and allows for students to make an easier transition into college life. For many students, fraternity and sorority life becomes a home away from home. Lifelong friendships and memories are established. Fraternity and sorority life supports the college mission and upholds important values.
• How much time will a student have to put into sorority?

  Like most things in life, one will get out whatever they put into their organization. The first year in a sorority will take a little more time to learn about its history, organization and membership. Participating in activities to get to know the other members is a good way to enjoy the benefits of a sorority as well as meet new people. After the first year, students have usually figured out how much time they can put into the group without sacrificing their other commitments. During the remaining years on campus, a student can choose to participate more in their organization. This often means taking on leadership roles in their chapter.
• Can I be a part of other organizations on campus if I join?

  Many sorority women are also involved in campus organizations outside of the Panhellenic community; ranging from athletics to academic clubs and everything in between!
• What is the GPA expectation?

  When you register for recruitment, you authorize FSL staff to check your high school and college GPA, whichever is applicable to you as a student. The GPA threshold, in nearly all cases, is at least a 2.5 (high school or college). If you have questions about your GPA, please contact our offices at ETSUFSL@etsu.edu. 
• What is the cost of joining a sorority?

  Joining a sorority does carry a financial commitment. Each chapter is self-supporting with revenue coming from members who pay dues. At ETSU our chapters dues per semester ranges. The first semester ranges from $700 - $1275 . Then after that each semester ranges from $520 - $805. Dues information per chapter will be provided during Open House round.
• Is there sorority housing?

  ETSU offers the College Panhellenic Living and Learning Community at Buccaneer ridge. Click here to find more information. 
• Do I need a recommendation letter for recruitment?

  Recommendation letters are not expected nor required for participation in ETSU Panhellenic sorority recruitment. If you do wish to send a letter of recommendation, the information for sending letters is below the FAQ section.
• Can I talk to people who I know in a sorority/fraternity about the recruitment process, outfits, or about sorority/fraternity life in general?

  Yes! You will be able to talk to your recruitment guide, called a "Rho Gamma." Rho Gammas are your best resource for questions about the recruitment process.
• What do I need to wear during formal recruitment?

  We encourage all participating to wear clothes that feel like you - clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident.
• Both my mother and grandmother were in the sorority I want, so am I guaranteed a bid from that sorority? What does legacy mean?

  Many chapters have a "legacy" policy. Each one of our chapters has a different legacy policy to determine what relationships include legacy. Examples of these are grandmothers, mothers, step-mothers, aunts, sisters, and cousins. vary by each chapter. You can indicate your relationship and their affiliation in the recruitment registration form. This is a vital step as this is how chapters manage their legacy policy. Being a legacy to a sorority will not guarantee you a bid from that chapter. 

• If I know a sorority woman, is her chapter is obligated to extend me a bid?

  Individual chapter members cannot determine who the chapter will extend bids to. Just because you know someone in a chapter does not mean that particular sorority will extend you a bid. If you want more information about the bidding process, the Potential New Member Orientation (received after you register) goes into more detail about the mutual selection process.

 Chapter Recruitment Point of Contact

for Letters of Recommendation

Recommendation letters are not expected nor required for participation in ETSU Panhellenic sorority recruitment. If you choose to have a letter of recommendation sent, please have your recommender send it as a PDF to the corresponding email address(es).

2023 College Panhellenic Executive Board

Panhellenic Recruitment Bylaws

If you need to call attention to a student of concern, please review information about ETSU's CARE Report.

If you wish to submit a complaint, infraction, or incident regarding a fraternity or sorority click here.