Denver Area Panhellenic

The first thing to know is that sororities and members are matched through a process called recruitment (your mother or grandmother may have called it rush).  There are many types of recruitment, including formal, informal and continuous.  The type of recruitment is determined by the campus.  Depending on the type of recruitment, there may be applications, fees and deadlines.  You should find information about recruitment on your school’s website.

What is my responsibility as a member?

·         Each member is expected to maintain the high standards set by their sorority as well as the values established by the founders of the organization.

·         Each member is also expected to contribute her talents to her sorority.

What does it mean to be a lifelong member?

·         When a woman becomes a lifelong member of a sorority, she accepts a challenge and a role - that of being a unique individual and a small part of a unique whole.

What about the use of alcohol and controlled substances, irresponsible behavior, and hazing?

·         Every NPC group expects its members to obey all local, state, and federal laws and to abide by the fraternity’s policies, guidelines, and standards.  Each organization allocates significant resources to educate its members about alcohol and substance abuse.

·         NPC groups provide extensive guidelines for hosting social events, and chapters are expected to provide a safe environment for their members.  If an incident occurs where policies are violated, the organization intervenes with disciplinary measures and further education to achieve a higher level of safety at chapter events.

·         NPC itself has several programs that address the high-risk behaviors prevalent on most campuses today - not just within the Greek community.

How can membership assist in my academic success?

·         All inter/national NPC sororities expect every member to strive to fulfill her academic potential.  As a commitment to academic achievement, sororities offer several forms of support to assist members - from study resources to quiet study areas.  When a member falls below the chapter’s required grade point average, additional study program are developed to improve her academic performance.

·         Most chapters have an alumnae advisor whose focus is the scholastic success of each member, and many have a faculty advisor who is a positive influence on the intellectual life of the members.  Chapters acknowledge improved and high scholastic achievement with various awards and form of recognition.

What my time commitment?

·         Each member is expected to meet the set policies of the sorority.

For further information visit The Sorority Life (link to http://www.thesororitylife.com).

How Can I Obtain Recommendations?

Many campuses suggest, and some require, that young women registered for recruitment (who are often called Potential New Members or PNMs) obtain recommendations for each sorority on their campus.  Even if recommendations are not required, they are a good idea because they introduce you to the sorority.

Don’t let this be daunting!  It’s not hard to obtain recommendations – it just takes a little research, organization and time.  Here’s what you do:

• Determine when recruitment will occur on your campus, the deadline for recommendations and the address(es) to which recommendations should be sent.  Usually this information is found on the school’s website. 
•  
  Determine which sororities are on your campus.  Usually this information is found on the school’s website.  
• Determine whether any female relative and anyone else you know are members of those sororities.  It’s a good idea to obtain a personal recommendation if possible.  If you have a connection to an alumna, ask whether she will help you secure a recommendation to her sorority.   She’ll be grateful if you share the information you found about deadlines and addresses. 
• If there are sororities to which you do not have a connection, don’t worry!  Most alumnae chapters have an officer who helps young women from the area obtain recommendations.

Here’s how DAP can help young women from the Denver area.  Just look below for the sorority, note the contact information and send the requested information.  A short introduction of yourself and explanation of what you want will be appreciated.  And, if you share the information you found about deadlines and addresses, you’ll make her job easier.

Information Requested for Recommendations

Resume – be sure to include final high school GPA and class rank and college GPA (if any)

Picture – senior portraits work well, but any nice picture of yourself will do

Scholarship Information – be sure to list scholarships (if any) awarded to you

Parent information – please include full names and colleges/universities attended (if any)

Greek affiliations – please include Greek affiliations (if any) of relatives, especially mother, father, grandmothers, sisters and aunts

That’s it!  The woman who will write your recommendation may contact you – please be sure to check your voicemail and email and respond promptly.

If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact us (insert info@denverareapanhellenic.org, which needs to be created) or to reach out to any one you know who is a member of a sorority.  Most alumnae will be thrilled to be asked to help!

Please note: DAP can help with recommendations to National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sororities.  DAP is not connected with National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Conference (NAPA), National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations, Inc.  National Multicutural Greek Council, Inc. (NMGC), National Pan-Hellenic Conference, Inc. (NPHC), any honorary Greek organizations or any local Greek organizations.