Welcome to sorority formal recruitment! Participating in the formal recruitment process will provide you the opportunity to meet fellow students and learn about the three national sororities at Emporia State University. ESU also has a local sorority, Beta Lambda Alpha, that does not participate in formal recruitment. If you are interested in learning more about Beta Lambda Alpha, click the link of the left side of the page.
Below you will find all the information you need to prepare for formal recruitment. If you have any questions, please contact Jason Bosch, Assistant Director of Student Involvement for Greek Life, by e-mail at jbosch1@emporia.edu or by phone at (620) 341-5481. We look forward to seeing you in the fall!
Fall 2008 Formal Recruitment Schedule
Potential New Member Bill of Rights
How the Process Works
The formal recruitment process consists of four event rounds with each of the three national sororities: Alpha Sigma Alpha, Chi Omega and Sigma Sigma Sigma. The first three rounds are called "open rounds," which means any prospective member can attend these events. The fourth and final round is called the "invitation round," which means you must receive an invitation from the sorority chapter to be invited to this round.
In addition to the four event rounds, there are two meetings prospective members will participate in. The first is an orientation session; the second is a financial meeting to give you an overview of the costs of sorority membership.
In order to receive invitations to the fourth round, you must attend at least two of the three open rounds. We encourage you to attend all three, but as long as you attend two you will be eligible to receive invitations to round four. After the invitation round, you will decide, in ranking order, which chapter(s) you would be willing to accept a bid from. Chapters will also make a rank-order list of prospective members they would like to offer bids to. Then, through what we call a "mutual bid selection process," we compare your list to each chapter's and you will receive an invitation to join the chapter that best meets both parties' interests.
Fall 2008 Formal Recruitment Schedule
Wednesday, August 20
Recruitment Orientation
3:00pm - 4:00pm or 7:00pm - 8:00pm (you only need to attend one of the two sessions)
Memorial Union Kanza Room
During the orientation session, you will have an opportunity to learn more about Greek Life at Emporia State, receive an overview of the formal recruitment process, and meet your recruitment counselors who will help guide you through the recruitment process.
Thursday, August 21
Open Round 1: Philanthropy
4:00pm - 8:45pm
Various rooms in the Memorial Union
During the philanthropy round, you will spend one hour with each chapter. The first part of the hour will consist of small group activities to get to know the chapter members. For the remainder of this round, you will learn about each chapter's guiding principles and values, as well as service and charity projects the chapter participates in.
Sunday, August 24
Open Round 2: House Tours
2:00pm - 6:45pm
Chapter houses
During the house tour round, you will spend one hour at each chapter house. You will receive a thorough tour of the houses and have more time to get to know the chapter members on a personal level.
Monday, August 25
Open Round 3: Theme Party
4:00pm - 7:45pm
Chapter houses
During the theme party round, you will spend 45 minutes at each chapter house. This event is light and fun in nature. There will be music, games and other activities for you to relax and have fun while getting to know the chapter members.
Tuesday, August 26
Financial Meeting
3:00pm - 4:00pm or 7:00pm - 8:00pm (you only need to attend one of the two sessions)
Memorial Union Kanza Room
During the financial meeting, a representative from each chapter will go over all of the costs associated with membership, including costs of living in or living out of the house.
Wednesday, August 27
Invitation Round: Preference Tea
4:00pm - 7:30pm
Chapter houses
After the financial meeting, you will receive a list of the chapter(s) that have invited you back to this round, the preference tea. Very rarely do prospective members not receive invitations to any of the three chapters. Some prospective members may only receive an invitation back to one chapter; other may receive two or three. Throughout the open rounds, be sure to ask about requirements for membership, such as the minimum grade point average required to join.
Thursday, August 28
Bid Night
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Albert Taylor Hall (in Plumb Hall)
After the invitation round, you will decide which chapter(s) you would be willing to accept bids from. At the bid night ceremony, you will find out which chapter you have been placed in. If you accept the bid, you will then go over to the sorority house to celebrate with your new sisters!
How to Register
Formal Recruitment Registration Form (PDF)
Formal Recruitment Registration Form (Word)
To register for formal recruitment, complete the registration form above and mail it in with your registration fee. If you register and pay on or before Sunday, August 17, the cost is $15. If you register and pay after August 17, the cost is $20. Letters of recommendation are not required. Once you have registered, you will be ready for orientation on Wednesday, August 20!
What to Wear
We want you to feel relaxed and comfortable during the formal recruitment process, so the attire is casual. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, since you will be walking between the sorority houses during rounds two, three and four. Women tend to dress up a little more for the preference tea round, but do not feel like you have to go buy a dress. It's up to you to decide how dressed up you want to be, but a pair of khakis and a nice shirt would be just fine.
Potential New Member Bill of Rights
The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is the governing body for 26 national sororities, which includes the three national sororities at Emporia State. The NPC has developed a bill of rights that you, as a potential member, have when participating in the formal recruitment process. These rights include:
- The right to be treated as an individual.
- The right to be fully informed about the recruitment process.
- The right to ask questions and to receive true and objective answers from recruitment counselors and members.
- The right to be treated as a capable and mature person without being patronized.
- The right to ask how and why and receive straight answers.
- The right to have and express opinions to recruitment counselors.
- The right to have inviolable confidentiality when sharing information with recruitment counselors.
- The right to make informed choices without undue pressure from others.
- The right to be fully informed about binding agreements implicit in the Formal Recruitment Membership signing.
- The right to make one's own choice and decision and accept full responsibility for the results of that decision.
- The right to have a positive, safe, and enriching recruitment week.
Last Updated July 22, 2008