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Common Fraternity/Sorority Terminology
Associate Member
A person who has accepted the bid of a Fraternity or a Sorority organization but has not yet been initiated into full
membership.
Academic Standing
Eligibility for membership which requires that an undergraduate to posses a minimum GPA in order to be initiated.
Active
A person who has been initiated into a Fraternity or a Sorority organization. Generally, the term is used to reference a
member who is currently an Undergraduate, however, it is preferable to use the terms "undergraduate member" or "student
member" for those still in school.
Affiliation
The fraternity or sorority to which the individual belongs.
Alumna
This is the singular feminine form of the Greek word meaning "a female graduate of a school or university." Alumnae - the
plural feminine form.
Alumni Association
An organization of alumni from an individual Fraternity or Sorority. The association may be based on geographical location
or chapter.
Alumnus ("Alum")
A Fraternity member who is no longer a student, the plural is Alumni.
Badge
The symbol worn by the initiated member of a Fraternity or a Sorority organization.
Bid
An invitation from a fraternity or sorority to a man or woman to become a new member.
Bid Day
The day at the end of Formal Rush when Bids are given out to potential new members.
Big Brother/Parent
An initiated member of a fraternity assigned to an associate member as a guide and instructor.
Big Sister/Parent
An initiated member of a Sorority assigned to act as a guide and instructor to an associate member.
Brother
An initiated member of a fraternity.
Chapter
The campus group of a Fraternity or a Sorority organization. Within each organization, chapters are usually referenced by
state and/or Greek letters. For example, Maryland Sigma Chapter or Alpha Delta Chapter
Chapter Advisor
An alumnus who establishes and maintains a close advisory relationship with a chapter and serves as a teacher, counselor,
and friend.
Colony
A student organization in the final stage prior to being installed as a chartered chapter of a Fraternity or a Sorority
organization.
Continuous Open Recruitment
(COR) A designated period where there may be informal bids given to new members without scheduled parties.
Depledge
The termination of a pledge's relationship with a Fraternity or a Sorority organization.
Dry Rush
Alcohol is forbidden from all events associated with introducing the fraternity/sorority to potential members.
Dues
These are the membership, philanthropic, and other fees paid to the local chapter of a sorority or fraternity in order to be
a member in good standing and for the local chapter to stay in good standing with its national organization.
Exchange
An activity where the members of one Fraternity or a Sorority organization visit the chapter of another Fraternity or a
Sorority organization for a social event.
F.I.P.G.
Fraternity Insurance Purchasing Group is a group of national/international fraternities that have grouped together to form a
uniform risk management policy in order to obtain adequate liability insurance.
Panhellenic Formal Recruitment
The "official" recruitment period of the year for Panhellenic Sororities with specific scheduled events
Fraternity
The name informally applied to a Greek-letter brotherhood that all have the same basic ideals, hopes, and goals. Formally,
both men's and women's groups were called fraternities, though many of the women's groups now refer to themselves as a
"Fraternity for Women"
Greek
A member of a Fraternity or Sorority.
Fraternity/Sorority Advisor
A Faculty and or staff member that helps guide and structure the Fraternity or a Sorority community and its members.
Hazing
Any willful act or practice by a member or associate member, directed against a member or associate member, which, with or
without intent, is likely to: cause bodily harm or danger; offensive punishment, or disturbing pain; compromise the person's
dignity; cause embarrassment or shame in public; cause the person to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule; cause
psychological harm or substantial emotional strain and impair academic efforts. In addition, hazing is any requirement by a
member or pledge that compels a member or associate member to participate in any activity that is illegal, contrary to a
member's or associate member's moral or religious beliefs or contrary to the rules and regulations of the fraternity,
institution of learning and civil authorities.
Informal Rush
A year-round (or extended period) of continuous, open rush with no specific, scheduled, system-wide activities of rushing
and pledging. Bids may be extended and accepted at any time. This is also known as "Open Rush".
Initiation
A ritual ceremony through which new members become full members of a Fraternity or a Sorority organization.
Interest Group
An individual campus membership unit in the first stage of the process leading to installation as a chapter of a Fraternity
or a Sorority organization.
Inter Fraternity Council (IFC)
The student governing board of all social Fraternities.
Legacy
A student whose parent, grandparent, or brother/sister is a member of a particular fraternity or sorority. Typically,
legacies are extended full consideration during the rush process.
Little Brother
The associate member of a fraternity that is paired up with a Big Brother.
Little Sister
The associate member of a Sorority that is paired up with a Big Sister.
New Member
A student in his or her first phase of membership in a sorority or fraternity (before being initiated). Also known as
Pledges or Associate Members.
Philanthropy
A charitable cause supported by an organization often involving a fundraiser and/or the chapter donating their time.
Potential Member
A person interested in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority. A non-member, man or woman, who is going through the
Membership Recruitment process.
Recruitment
Membership recruitment drive. The process by which a fraternity or sorority recruits new members. This is a series of events
offering members and potential members the opportunity to get to know each other. The term Rush has been replaced with the
term Recruitment in most Fraternity and Sorority communities.
Risk Management
Involves analyzing all exposures to the possibility of loss and determining how to handle these exposures and reduce or
transfer the risk.
Ritual
Rituals are traditional beliefs of a sorority or fraternity.
Sister
An initiated member of a sorority.
Sorority
An individual women's Greek-letter organization. This is the term commonly used to distinguish between men's (fraternities)
and women's (sororities) organizations. As noted previously, some sororities are identified as a fraternity (or fraternity
for women) in their official name.
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