Panhellenic Frequently Asked Questions

Primary Recruitment

What is primary recruitment?

Primary Recruitment is a structured mutual selection process that allows a Potential New Member (PNM) to explore all of our Panhellenic chapters.

When is primary recruitment?

Primary Recruitent is held during the Winter Semester.    Check dates here

Do I have to register?

Yes, all students must register by the deadline in order to participate. You do not need to register to attend the Panhellenic Preview.  It is simply to gather information before making a decision.

How do I register?

Registraiton for 2024 Primary Recutiment is open from October 1, 2023 to January 3, 2024 at 11:49am. Follow the instrutions on the Join US page to complete eligibilty verification. Once you are verified, the last page will have the link to register.

Do I need a recommendation?

Recommendations are not required for sorority recruitment. Instructions on how to submit a recommendation can be found on each organization's inter/national website as many organizations have adapted to an online format. Please follow the organization specific instructions..  If directed to mail to the chapter, addresses can be found on our contact list.   Should a family member or friend offer to write a recommendation, direct them to the instructions.  Recommendations should arrive to the chapter prior the beginning of Primary Recruitment (check dates here). 

How is legacy information submitted?

The local Panhellenic Association does not collect legacy information.  Alumnae should contact their respective inter/national organization for the proper procedure to submit legacy information to this specific chapter.

How do I know where to go?

Panhellenic Primary Recruitment 2024 will take place partially over zoom and in person. You will receive instructions prior to the start of recruitment about how to log-in. Please note that you will need to use your University of Michigan Zoom account to participate. We encourage you to make sure your computer/tablet/phone are up to date prior to the start of recruitment and that you are comfortable logging in. 

What if I have class or another conflict and need to miss a Recruitment Event?

It is sometimes necessary that Potential New Members miss events for legitimate reasons such as class, a family wedding, UM Band, or University athletics. If you must miss an event, it is important that you register your conflict at the Invitation Ranking prior to the set you will miss. For instance, if you have a class during Philanthropy Round, you will fill out a conflict sheet after Open House Round. If you register a conflict with Panhel, chapters whose events you miss may invite you to the next set of events. However, depending on how many women have conflicts for a given set of events, sororities are not obligated to issue invitations to women with conflicts. If you do not register a class conflict, become, ill or an emergency occurs, please call the Fraternity & Sorority Life office immediately. Potential New Members should not miss class due to Recruitment.

What Should I wear?

Students will be wearing a Panhellenic Recruitment T-shirt for the first two rounds (Open House and Philanthropy). For Sisterhood and Preference Round you are encouraged to wear an outfit that makes you feel comfortable that may be considered dressy casual. The final round of recruitment, Preference, includes a special ceremony so you may want to consider something a little more formal such as a blouse, dress, romper, etc. Remember, recruitment is about being comfortable and confident in anything you choose to wear. 

What Does Membership Cost?

There are various fees involved with membership in a Panhellenic Sorority.  These include things like chapter dues and housing fees when living in a chapter facility. It is important to fully understand these obligations.  Click here for details on fees for every chapter.

Continuous Open Bidding

Do any chapters hold Fall Recruitment?

A limited number of sororities may hold informal events during the Fall Semester, also known as Continuous Open Bidding or COB. It is important to understand that only eligible chapters may hold events during the Fall semester and that it is possible that no chapters will be holding events.

How do I participate in COB?

COB is a chapter driven process where some Panhellenic sororities may choose to take potential new members. Some chapters have chosen to share their information on our website and you can feel free to contact them. You can also fill out the form on the COB Page and your information will be shared with participating chapters. 

Who is eligible for COB?

All female University of Michigan students are eligible to participate in COB contingent on (1) they meet the eligibility requirements outlined by the university, (2) they have never been initiated into any National Panhellenic Conference sorority, (3) during most recent primary (formal) recruitment they did not sign the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA) and/or depledge from a National Panhellenic Conference sorority.

Which chapters are eligible for COB?

Each year the chapters eligible for COB change depending on their chapter quota and/or the Panhellenic Association’s total. Only some of the chapters who are eligible for COB will choose to participate. You can fill out our COB interest form (will open in August for Fall 2023) and your information will be shared with the chapters. 

When does COB start and end?

For Fall 2023, COB starts on the first day of classes and may continue throughout the rest of the semester. For Winter 2024, COB starts after the conclusion of primary recruitment. Eligible chapters can continue COB through the duration of the winter semester.

How many women will receive bids through COB?

Due to COB being an optional and informal process, this number is not predetermined and fluctuates which each term and chapter.

Do I need a recommendation?

Recommendations are not required for COB. Recommendation forms can be found on each sorority’s national website. If a family member or friend wishes to submit a recommendation, please send it directly to the chapter.

What should I wear?

Due to COB being an informal process, individuals are encouraged to contact each chapter individually to ask what attire is appropriate for their events.

How does the bid process work for COB?

Each chapter will be responsible for issuing bids to PNMs. After an offer is made, the individual must complete a COB MRABA.  Each new member will also pay the new member fee

Is everyone who participates in COB guaranteed a bid?

Recruitment is a mutual selection process. As COB is an informal process, participation does not guarantee that a PNM will be contacted by a chapter and does not guarantee the issue of a bid.

What are the fees for participating in COB?

There is no fee for participating in COB. If a PNM receives a bid and signs a MRABA, the student will also pay the new member fee. It is encouraged that prior to joining a chapter, those interested refer to Panhellenic’s financial information and ask chapters about costs of membership.

What Does Membership Cost?

There are various fees involved with membership in a Panhellenic Sorority.  These include things like chapter dues and housing fees when living in a chapter facility. It is important to fully understand these obligations.  Click here for details on fees for every chapter.