Greek Glossary

Greek Glossary

Active: A fully initiated member of a sorority or a fraternity

Alumna/Alumnus: A graduated member of a sorority or a fraternity

Bid: A formal invitation to join a fraternity or sorority

Chapter: The local group of the larger international/national organization, represented by a special Greek letter name

College Panhellenic Association: The cooperative campus organization of collegiate members of NPC sororities

Continuous Open Bidding (COB): Also known as open bidding and informal membership recruitment.

Greeks: Sorority or Fraternity members

Initiation: A ritualistic ceremony where the new member is brought into full membership and receives lifelong membership privileges

Intentional Single Preference: when a potential new member lists only one sorority on her preference card

Legacy: A woman or a man who is the daughter, son, sister, brother or grandchild of an initiate of the same Greek organization

Local: A sorority or fraternity without any guidance from or affiliation with a national organization

Membership Recruitment: A designated membership recruitment period during which a series of organized events are held by each chapter. Membership recruitment is organized by the college Panhellenic association.

New Member: A woman or man who has accepted a bid but is not yet initiated.

Potential New Member (PNM): A man or woman who is registered for recruitment and is attending recruitment functions

Preference Card: A form that potential new members fill out on the final night of recruitment indicating their top choices for membership

Silence: The period of time at the close of recruitment where there is no communication between potential new members/recruits and sorority members

Recommendation: A letter signed by an alumnus recommending an individual for membership