Active – A chapter member who has been initiated and pays dues to a chapter; also referred to as an initiate
Alumna – A sorority member who has graduated from her collegiate chapter; plural is alumnae
Bid – A formal invitation to join a sorority
Chapter – The local group, which represents a segment of the international sorority
Colony – A newly-organized group of students working to become a chartered chapter of an international sorority. A colony can either be new to the campus or returning to campus after an absence.
Continuous Open Bidding (COB) – Informal Recruitment activities hosted throughout the year
Formal Recruitment – An organized effort of the Panhellenic Council to meet and recruit potential new members through a series of events
Fraternity – A Greek letter sisterhood or brotherhood. Some sororities are referred to as “women’s fraternities”
Initiation – Ceremony during which new members receive life long membership privileges and become full fledged active members
Legacy – A potential new member that has a mother, sister or grandmother that is a member of a Greek-letter organization
New Member – A student who has accepted a chapter bid but is not yet an initiated member
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) – A conference body composed of delegates from 26 social sororities
Panhellenic – A Greek word meaning “All-Greek.” The central governing body found on all campuses that have internationally recognized social sororities
Philanthropy – An effort to promote welfare through community service. Philanthropic activity is one of the foundations of sororities
Potential New Member (PNM) – Any student interested in becoming a chapter member who is eligible for recruitment
Preference – The final round of the formal membership recruitment period after which potential new members receive a bid from a chapter
Sorority – A Greek letter sisterhood. Some sororities are referred to as “women’s fraternities”