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| Sororities, What Are They Really All About? | Recruitment Roundtable - Learn About Greek Life |
| Frequently Asked
Questions About Recruitment | Letter From the Vice President | Information for Parents|
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Greek Glossary | "TO
DO" List |
What's a sorority, really?
Sororities are national and international Greek-letter organizations that
have been in existence for more than 150 years on accredited college
and university campuses. Chapters function as an extended family unit,
providing a caring, safe environment that encourages individual development
for a lifetime. Sorority programming develops leadership through involvement
in chapter offices and committees, as well as involvement on campus.
Other opportunities for Greeks include scholarships and philanthropic
and social service involvement. Many sorority chapters offer campus housing,
and those details vary from campus to campus. |
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So how will my daughter benefit from sorority membership for a lifetime?
As a collegiate member, she will have a support group that truly cares about
her, leadership opportunities, academic support and encouragement, and a safe
social outlet. The bonds of sisterhood she develops during college will remain
with her after graduation. Wherever she goes, even to another country, she will
have a support system and opportunity to form beneficial relationships.
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How can I support my daughter's interest in sororities
and learn more myself?
Attend an AAPA sorority information meeting with
her. Parents are encouraged to come and ask questions of alumnae and collegiate
members of NPC sororities. You and your daughter will learn what to expect
at college these days, and how Greek system recruitment works at different
campuses. |
To be a member, my daughter has to go through recruitment?
Membership recruitment is
a period of mutual selection. It is a process during which your daughter gets
to know about the sororities and members on her campus, and the sorority membership
gets to know your daughter. Recruitment activities might include open houses,
informal events, and/or formal events. Often the final activities of recruitment
are called "Preferentials," and
are formal events. NPC provides guidelines for college Panhellenic organizations
to determine the exact dates and rules for recruitment on each campus.
I want my daughter to get a good education. Will being Greek promote that?
Yes. All NPC member sororities have scholastic standards
for their members. As a new member, your daughter will be encouraged to
achieve academic success. Sororities offer a variety of tools to support
this effort, including group study hours, tutoring, and peer incentives.
Additionally, NPC whole-heartedly promotes high academic acheivement, and
awards individuals for scholastic excellence through its ongoing Year
of the Scholar program. Every year Greek women are awarded thousands
of dollars for exceptional academic achievement from NPC and other Greek
groups. Each May the AAPA awards $3,400 in scholarships to
local collegiate and alumnae members. |
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What kind of expenses are we talking about?
Financial expectations vary among sororities. You and your daughter can learn
more about sorority expenses at an AAPA sorority information meeting, or from
her campus. There are one-time fees, as well as regular dues. Each sorority chapter
determines dues based on factors including programming for its members. When
housing is available, those costs are often competitive or less than campus options.
I've heard about alcohol abuse among Greeks...and what is hazing,
anyway?
As always, it seems the positive aspects of Greek life are overshadowed by the
negative acts of a few. Learning how to be responsible in social situations is
a very important lesson for young women today. NPC and its member groups understand
that, and have developed a program called Something of Value, which addresses
this and other issues from a values-based perspective. The NPC member groups
have agreed to aggressively educate our members and help teach our women responsible
behavior.
NPC defines hazing as "any action or situation, with or without consent,
which recklessly, intentionally, or unintentionally endangers the mental or
physical health or safety of a student, or creates risk of injury, or causes
discomfort, embarrassment, harrassment or ridicule, or which willfully destroys
or removes public or private property..." Hazing is not accepted among
NPC member groups.
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