How to Join
Welcome to the Arizona State University Fraternity & Sorority Community! The fraternity and sorority community at ASU has over 90 years of rich tradition on campus. Joining a fraternity or sorority can be an exciting experience to meet new people, make new friends, and explore opportunities to get engaged on campus.
The joining process is either council or chapter coordinated, depending on which organization you are interested in joining. Fraternities and sororities conduct recruitment and intake events, activities, and informational sessions at various times during the year.
As a part of our community of care and to meet our goals of a healthy and educated community you will need to complete the following online educational modules:
You will be able to auto enroll through canvas in the Sexual & Relationship Violence Prevention and Alcohol.edu modules. You can enroll and complete the hazing prevention module by following the above link. You should make every effort to complete these modules prior to joining your organization so that you can have those items completed, this information will be shared with respective chapters.
Rush, Recruitment, and Intake are terms used by fraternities and sororities to identify the joining process. Intake is a term specifically used by many culturally-based organizations to bring new members into an organization. All ASU students, regardless of campus location (including online students), are eligible to participate in fraternity and sorority recruitment. However, many recruitment events will require a physical presence at the Tempe location.
Please note that many councils and chapters have minimum GPA requirements, either from high school or college, in order to participate in the recruitment or intake process.
If you are interested in receiving emails with important dates and events, complete the Fraternity & Sorority Life Interest Form.
Explore the FSL Guidebook for even more information.
Recruitment
IFC Fraternity Recruitment
The Interfraternity Council hosts recruitment events at the beginning of each semester. Chapters will host a variety of events during the recruitment weeks that are open to all potential new members and some invitation-only events as the chapter gets closer to issuing bids. Chapters are also encouraged to engage in year round recruitment which allows for chapters to add members at any time of the year, so long as they meet the criteria for membership and selection is mutually beneficial.
Potential members must have a minimum high school GPA of 2.75 for first semester freshmen or a minimum collegiate GPA that is at least 2.75; or at/or above the ASU all-men's average in order to join an IFC member fraternity.
Additionally, potential members must enroll and complete the following online educational modules: Sexual & Relationship Violence Prevention, Alcohol.edu, and Hazing Prevention 101. Please complete it prior to the end of the recruitment process. Complete data will be shared with individual chapters and advisors.
IFC Fall 2024 Recruitment will take place September 1- September 6, 2024.
All students interested in joining an IFC fraternity must Register for IFC Recruitment. Registration deadline is September 6, 2024 and there is no fee to register.
IFC Walk-Around kicks off IFC Recruitment. It is a tabling fair where potential new members have the opportunity to visit with each chapter to learn more about the groups and to collect information on the recruitment events for each chapter.
- IFC Walk Around - Sept 1, location & time TBD
Questions about Interfraternity Council recruitment can be directed to Thomas Reed, IFC Vice President of Recruitment
If you are interested in receiving emails with important dates and events, complete the Fraternity & Sorority Life Interest Form.
Panhellenic Council (PHA) Sorority Recruitment
The formal recruitment process allows potential members to visit each sorority and to find a group of women that feels like their home away from home. At the end of each round, chapters will select potential members to invite back to their next event and potential members will prioritize their selections as well. This mutual selection process allows for the best fit for both the chapter and the new member.
The 2024 Recruitment Information Booklet is now available to view.
Additionally, potential members must enroll and complete the following online educational modules: Sexual & Relationship Violence Prevention, Alcohol.edu, and Hazing Prevention 101. Please complete it prior to the end of the recruitment process. Complete data will be shared with individual chapters and advisors.
Registration for Fall 2024 Formal Recruitment will open on May 1, 2024.
To participate in Formal Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment during the Fall 2024 semester, you must register online via the Panhellenic Recruitment Registration Form.
The registration fee to participate in Fall Formal Recruitment is $85.
Registration closes 11:59 p.m. on August 20. Late registrations will not be accepted.
High School or College Transcripts are optional uploads to the ASU Panhellenic Recruitment Registration via the registration site. We ask for a digital copy of this transcript. If you do not have a copy of your transcript at the time of registration, you can log back in to upload it prior to registration closing.
Letters of Recommendation are not required to participate in recruitment. Please do not submit or email any of these additional materials to the Panhellenic Council. Letters of Recommendation sent on your behalf should be sent directly to the (inter)national organization(s). Panhellenic Council does not handle or receive Letters of Recommendation.
Recruitment Orientation will be held online via Zoom. Orientations will take place during Welcome Week and before Recruitment Registration closes. You are required to attend one session. During Orientation, you will participate in educational sessions about the formal recruitment process, other sorority opportunities within the Fraternity & Sorority Life Community, and a virtual house tour. Tours will not be provided, nor are permitted, by chapter members, advisors, or alumnae at any other time to Potential New Members while Formal Recruitment Activities are conducted.
Recruitment Orientation will be on the following dates.
- August 18, 4pm
- August 19, 4pm
- August 21, 4pm
- August 21, 6pm
Panhellenic Sorority Formal Recruitment consists of four rounds of recruitment over two weekends in late August and Labor Day Weekend and concludes with Bid Day.
Please be available for the following days for Panhellenic Sorority Formal Recruitment. Attendance is required at all events to be considered for membership into any of the chapters participating in Formal Recruitment:
Round 1 (Open House) Thursday & Friday, August 22-23
Round 2 (Philanthropy) Saturday & Sunday, August 24-25
Round 3 (Sisterhood) Friday (Evening) & Saturday, August 30-31
Round 4 (Preference) Sunday, September 1
Bid Day- Monday, September 2
Please note that attendance at all rounds is required in order to join. More information about the Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment process, FAQs, and rounds will be discussed during the Recruitment Orientation.
If you have an academic commitment, ASU student-athlete commitment, religious commitment, urgent family commitment, or scheduling concern during any of these days, please complete the schedule conflict form. Please know that formal recruitment is a formal interview process that potential new members must be present to meet with chapters in order to be eligible to be invited back for further rounds. If you have issues during the recruitment process please communicate with your Rho Gamma.
Accommodations
If you have any accessibility related accommodation needs during the recruitment experience such as ASL Interpreting, Braille, captioned videos, etc. please contact the Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services at Student.Accessibility@asu.edu or by submitting the online application found on the Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services website. Fraternity and Sorority Life works in partnership with Student Accessibility and Inclusive Learning Services to help support any students that may need any accommodation during Sorority Recruitment.
Grade Explanation Form
If you are participating in Formal Recruitment and do not meet the recommended GPA (2.5), you may fill out the grade explanation form if you experienced extenuating circumstances that negatively impacted your GPA. These forms will be reviewed by the Panhellenic Executive Board and shared with the chapters. The deadline to complete this form is August 23rd.
Please expect some chapters to be following and/or messaging you to talk about Recruitment and sending you the Recruitment Registration link. Our chapters have been encouraged to reach out to Promote the Panhellenic experience, and if you receive a message or follow please do not be alarmed. These follows and messages do not mean that this chapter will be extending a bid; however, they are there as a resource if you have any questions about Recruitment.
Once you complete Recruitment Registration, you can expect your Recruitment Counselor (Rho Gamma) to reach out and introduce themselves before recruitment begins. Your Rho Gamma is there to help you through the recruitment process by answer questions, giving advice, and offering support.
We also encourage all students interested in Recruitment to follow @asupanhellenic on Instagram for updates and to learn more about the community as a whole.
Please email Megan, Panhellenic President, if you have any questions or concerns regarding anything that has happened pertaining to this policy.
Are there opportunities to join a chapter outside of Formal Recruitment?
There are a few options to join a sorority outside of the formal recruitment process
- Continuous Open Bidding
- “COB" is short for Continuous Open Bidding, a form of informal recruitment that sorority chapters can participate in at any time outside of primary recruitment which ASU hosts in the Fall. COB can occur after primary recruitment and in the Spring Semester. Continuous Open Bidding process is much more laid back and you get to interact with the members in a comfortable environment.
- These informal events will look different for each organization. Sorority chapters might host a game night, coffee date, roller skating, bowling, movie night or similar types of events. COB events are designed to be less structured than primary recruitment, which can allow you to speak with more chapter members.
- Not every sorority on campus will participate in COB. To learn about opportunities and who is recruiting in the Spring, we encourage you to attend the Spring Sorority Showcase
- Additional Membership Opportunities
- Alpha Epsilon Phi and Phi Sigma Rho are national sororities that are members of the Panhellenic Council at Arizona State and do not participate in the formal recruitment process. These groups have recruitment events that occur outside of Formal Recruitment, and recruit typically during the Fall and Spring Semester. There will be an opportunity to learn about each of these organizations during the Recruitment Orientation. To learn more about joining Alpha Epsilon Phi & Phi Sigma Rho visit our Chapter & Council President Contact page to reach out to their organization.
- Spring Sorority Showcase
- In the spring semester, there are typically a few chapters that continue to recruit new members if space allows through Continuous Open Bidding (COB). Panhellenic will host a showcase for all chapters participating in spring recruitment activities.
Questions about Panhellenic Recruitment can be directed to any of the following:
- Jayden, Panhellenic Vice President, Recruitment Internal
- Tinley, Panhellenic Vice President, Recruitment External
- Bella, Panhellenic Director of Recruitment Counselors
- Megan, Panhellenic President
- Bridgette Wynn, Fraternity & Sorority Life Coordinator
- Call the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life at (480) 965-5292
To receive updates and reminders regarding recruitment and registration, complete the Fraternity & Sorority Life Interest Form.
Cultural Fraternity and Sorority Recruitment
The process for joining a culturally-based fraternity or sorority is varied by organization and takes place throughout the academic year.
At the beginning of each semester, MGC, NALFO, and NPHC host the Cultural Greek Open House. This event allows interested students to interact with fraternity and sorority members from all chapters to learn more about each organization in an informal setting. At this event, the organizations will also showcase their traditions of stepping, strolling, or saluting.
Additionally, potential members must enroll and complete the following online educational modules: Sexual & Relationship Violence Prevention, Alcohol.edu, and Hazing Prevention 101. Please complete it prior to the end of the recruitment process. Complete data will be shared with individual chapters and advisors.
- August 28, 2024 6:00 pm, Memorial Union, Arizona Ballroom.
Questions about MGC, NALFO, and NPHC membership can be directed to the following:
AJ Cochran, MGC President
Diana Cortes, NALFO Chair
Jasmine Rawles, NPHC President
Winston Bland, Coordinator Sr., Fraternity & Sorority Life
If you are interested in receiving emails with important dates and events, complete the Fraternity & Sorority Life Interest Form.
FAQs
It depends on the organization; most can be joined by first-year students, but some organizations require a student have ASU college credits first. While first-semester students are permitted to join organizations their first semester and many do, some students chose to wait a semester or more before joining an organization. Joining a fraternity or sorority is an individual decision and students should look to start the fraternity or sorority experience when they are ready.
A popular but important question to ask during the recruitment/intake process – the time commitment varies based upon the expectations of each organization. The amount of time a member wants to commit to the chapter is also a testament to how much the member wants to get out or contribute to the chapter. Many chapters minimally expect members to be present for a weekly chapter meeting and a weekly chapter event (brotherhood/sisterhood, dinner, fundraiser, educational speaker, etc.), so two-three hours a week.
A strong benefit of fraternities and sororities are the relationships and connections to the fraternity/sorority are life-long. Unlike a student organization that you may choose to be a part of one semester and leave a next, fraternities and sororities do not have simple processes for removing membership, however, each organization does have a process should the need arise.
The required GPA varies for each chapter and each governing council. If you are concerned that your high school GPA, or for current ASU students your college GPA, may not be sufficient, ask during the recruitment/intake process if you meet the minimum requirements.
There are many benefits of being in a fraternity or sorority. These benefits include, but are not limited to the following: leadership experiences (officer positions and conferences), academic support, friendships, mentorships, intramurals and team sports, community service, alumni networking, wider range of resources and connections on campus, lifelong memories, philanthropic involvement, time management, life skills development, and the potential to receive various scholarships.
Academic achievement is your primary responsibility while at ASU. In addition to minimum GPA requirements, most chapters have an academic officer and a faculty advisor whose responsibilities include assisting members in achieving their academic goals and monitoring their academic progress. If necessary, they also help connect members with academic resources such as tutoring or mentoring to help members who are not meeting expectations. Many chapters also reward members for excelling in the classroom with discounted dues and scholarships.
The new member process, sometimes referred to as pledging or associate member process, consists of a defined period of time (typically between four-eight weeks) where new members meet brothers/sisters in the fraternity/sorority, learn about the history and values of the chapter and community, participate in service and philanthropy events, and after completing the new member process, new members are initiated into the organization.
Fraternity and sorority members are very involved in other clubs and organizations across campus and in the community. In fact, many chapters expect members to be involved in at least one organization outside of the fraternity or sorority. Many of the leaders of Undergraduate Student Government, Residence Hall Association, Programming and Activities Board, and other major student organizations are members of fraternities and sororities.
Dues, also known as the semester fees, will range depending on the organization, so this is an important question to ask during recruitment/intake. The dues go to cover the activities, food, t-shirts, apparel, service, philanthropy, intramural, and any other event the organization has planned for the semester. The first semester generally costs more than other semesters because it includes one-time fees, such as a new member and initiation fee, which goes directly to the national organization. Some chapters offer scholarships for members with high GPAs, abundant community service hours, or for holding various leadership positions. If you are concerned about the cost, be sure to discuss payment options with the chapter treasurer or other officers, as many organizations are able to work with individual circumstances.
Living in a chapter facility is not required by the university. However, many chapters may have their own expectations for members to live in a chapter facility, which may include a lottery system if there are not enough volunteers. This is a great topic to bring up with the chapter during the recruitment process.
Recruitment/intake is a mutual selection process, so while you are looking for an organization that is best for you, chapters are determining who they think will be best for the organization, so unfortunately, bids are not guaranteed.
All students who are enrolled in undergraduate courses at ASU are eligible to participate in fraternity or sorority recruitment activities. Chapters are typically reserved for undergraduate members, but some national organizations have local alumni chapters that graduate students may be able to join. The majority of fraternity and sorority events/meetings do take place on the Tempe campus. If an ASU student is not in the immediate area, the distance may prove difficult for recruitment or membership expectations for the fraternity or sorority (ie. attendance requirements for brotherhood/sisterhoods, chapter meetings, chapter ceremonies and rituals, etc.).
Please contact the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life via email or at 480-965-6965.
If you are interested in receiving emails with important dates and events, submit the Fraternity & Sorority Life Interest Form.