Recruitment General Information
About recruitment:
Formal recruitment involves 13 National Panhellenic Conference chapters at The University of Texas at Austin. A woman is eligible to participate in recruitment and join a sorority if she is enrolled at the university and has been granted full-time status. She must not be a new member or initiated member of any National Panhellenic Conference sorority.
Meetings with Recruitment Guides:
Each round you will begin your day by meeting with your Recruitment Guide group. This is the time when you will receive your invitations and event schedules for that day. Due to time limitations, you should dress for the recruitment events prior to attending this meeting.
Chapter Selection:
After you have attended all of the events on your schedule, you will participate in Chapter Selection. This process should be completed immediately after your last event without making any stops to change clothes or make phone calls. You will use this time to select the chapter(s) you would like to visit again the next day. This selection will be filled out on the PNM Companion App.
Attendance Policy:
Recruitment, much like sorority membership itself, is a process that requires a reasonable commitment of time and effort. The University Panhellenic Council has adopted a no-tolerance policy regarding missed days or events. Women participating in recruitment must be available to attend all scheduled invitational rounds and evening events; exceptions will be made only for university-related activities. Potential new members are expected to be present at every chapter event they are scheduled to attend on any given day. Failure to do so will result in dismissal from recruitment.
About Recruitment Guides:
Women participating in formal recruitment will be assigned to a recruitment group led by a group of recruitment guides. A recruitment guide is a current sorority member who has completely disaffiliated from her chapter to be a mentor during formal recruitment. These women were hand-selected to help welcome you and guide you through this week. They were chosen on their exemplary values of authenticity, joy, leadership, selflessness, and trustworthiness. Disaffiliation means that they have gone through extensive training to serve you and will have no contact with other active members from their chapter regarding recruitment. These women embody Panhellenic Spirit - being a panhellenic woman first and a chapter member second. Your recruitment guide will not disclose their chapter membership. They ask that you please do not attempt to discover their chapter affiliation because it could prevent you from being fully honest and comfortable with them about how you are feeling during the process. We disaffiliate to serve YOU best, so please do not undermine that service. They will be able to answer any other questions you may have throughout the week of recruitment to help you decide which sorority will make you feel most at home! We strongly encourage you to lean on your relationship with them and use them as a resource, remembering that they were in your shoes not long ago!
University Panhellenic Council Trans-Inclusion Policy
What is of utmost importance to the University Panhellenic Council is that our members feel safe, secure, and comfortable in their gender identity and expression and are able to find a home that supports them. We have a zero tolerance approach to discrimination, victimisation or harassment on the basis of a person’s gender identity and our community welcomes anyone who self-identifies as a woman.
Chapter Specific Policies
Listed below are each national sorority’s specific policies on trans inclusion with their sources. Please use them as a resource.
Alpha Chi Omega
“Alpha Chi Omega does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, sexual orientation, religion or other characteristics protected by applicable law. Women, including those who live and identify as women, regardless of the gender assigned to them at birth, are eligible for membership in Alpha Chi Omega based solely on five membership standards. The National Membership Standards are: 1] academic interest; 2] character; 3] financial responsibility; 4] leadership ability; 5] personal development. Alpha Chi Omega remains, as it always has been, a women's organization. Those assigned female at birth who live and identify as men are not eligible for membership.”
Alpha Delta Pi
“Alpha Delta Pi’s membership policy language was updated in 2017 to include membership eligibility to individuals identifying as women, including trans women.”
Alpha Phi
“Per our Governing Documents, the Fraternity is established and incorporated as a women’s organization. We do not define this for the purposes of recruitment beyond saying that an individual must identify as a woman; however, identifying as a woman is the expectation and chapters cannot recruit individuals who do not identify as such.”
Alpha Xi Delta
“Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity is a private women’s membership organization for individuals who live and self-identify as women.”
Chi Omega
“The Governing Council is modifying the Policy on Membership to include females and individuals who identify as women. As the understanding of gender has evolved, it is vital that Chi Omega’s membership policy reflects this evolving definition of gender.”
Delta Delta Delta
“Tri Delta does not discriminate on any basis other than gender in selection of members, and collegiate chapters will not discriminate on the basis of ethnic heritage, national origin, personal appearance, personal beliefs, race, religion, sexual orientation, mental or physical ability. By changing our policy to state that Tri Delta does not discriminate on any basis other than gender in the selection of members allows for much greater inclusivity for those who live and identify as women. This policy is intended to clarify who may be considered for membership in Tri Delta and does not impact the membership status of current collegiate or alumnae members. Membership in Tri Delta is for a lifetime.”
Delta Gamma
“Delta Gamma Fraternity does not discriminate in its membership selection on the basis of race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, physical disability or other characteristics protected by state, provincial or federal law. Membership is open to all individuals who identify as women. Those selected for membership in Delta Gamma must have good scholarship, be of good character and standing, have an interest in activities that will enhance the academic atmosphere at the college or university, and have a sincere desire to contribute to the work of Delta Gamma.”
Kappa Alpha Theta
“Kappa Alpha Theta’s founders fought for inclusion in a frequently hostile educational and social environment. Our mission is to offer women lifelong opportunities for intellectual, and personal growth. Those who identify as women are eligible for membership in Kappa Alpha Theta.”
Kappa Delta
“Kappa Delta Sorority does not tolerate any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, creed, religious affiliation, disability, veteran status, national origin or sexual orientation. We consider for membership all who self-identify as women and who meet our high standards in the areas of character, academics and leadership potential.”
Kappa Kappa Gamma
“Kappa Kappa Gamma is a single-gender organization of women and individuals who identify as women whose governing documents do not discriminate in membership selection except by requiring good scholarship and ethical character. Each chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma has the final choice of its own members.”
Pi Beta Phi
“Pi Beta Phi Fraternity does not discriminate in its membership selection practices on the basis of race, religious affiliation, national origin, physical ability or sexual orientation. Nor will Pi Beta Phi tolerate such discrimination by its chapters. Federal law recognizes the right of college social fraternities to maintain single sex membership policies. Pi Beta Phi is a women’s organization for individuals who live and self-identify as women.”
Zeta Tau Alpha
“Zeta Tau Alpha is an international women’s social fraternity that does not discriminate based on race, creed, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability. Zeta Tau Alpha membership is open to individuals who consistently live and self-identify as women.”