Greek Life Glossary

You'll likely hear many unfamiliar terms tossed as you go through the recruitment process. The list below, while not exhaustive, can help you understand terms during this time.

Alumna/Alumnus: an initiated member of a sorority or fraternity who is no longer in college
Associate/New Member/Candidate: a member of a fraternity/sorority who has not been initiated
Bid: an invitation to join a specific fraternity or sorority chapter
Chapter: the collegiate group of an national or international Greek organization
Continuous Open Bidding (COB): the period other than Formal Recruitment in which eligible chapters acquire new members
Fraternity: Greek organization for men or women
Initiation: a ceremony that brings an affiliate member into membership of a fraternity or sorority
IFC (Interfraternity Council): governing body for Rockhurst fraternities; coordinates recruitment activities and policies related to fraternities
Inter/National Organization: a national or international Greek letter organization of which each chapter is affiliated
Legacy: a potential member of a fraternity or sorority who is a child/sibling/grandchild of a member of a Greek organization
National Multicultural Greek Council: umbrella council for Multicultural Greek Letter Organizations. NMGC is composed of 13 member organizations who meet annually to discuss the development and implementation of the council's mission. Please explore nationalmgc.org to learn more about our coalition and member organizations.
National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (Nalfo): umbrella council for Latino Greek Letter Organizations, promoting positive inter-fraternal relations, communication and development through mutual respect, leadership, honesty, professionalism and education
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): an umbrella organization for 26 inter/national women's fraternities and sororities that promotes and represents its member organizations
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC): coordinating body for the nine historically African American fraternities and sororities
North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC): an umbrella organization for member fraternities that promotes and represents its member organizations
Member/Initiate: a member who has completed his/her membership orientation process, has been through the formal ritual initiation ceremony and is currently enrolled in college
Panhellenic: governing body for Rockhurst sororities; coordinates all recruitment activities and policies related to sororities
Philanthropy: a community service and/or fundraising project sponsored by a chapter
Potential Member: man or woman going through the recruitment process for Greek membership
Quota: number of women a sorority may extend bid to, as determined by Panhellenic at the conclusion of the third round of recruitment
Recruitment: selection process in which fraternities and sororities gain new members
Recruitment Counselor: upper-class member of sorority who has disaffiliated from her chapter to assist and serve as an impartial counselor to potential new members during the formal recruitment process
Ritual: traditional, secret ceremonies of a chapter
Sorority: Greek organization for women