Recruitment & Intake
The Interfraternity Council (IFC)
The Interfraternity Council Recruitment
Interfraternity Council chapters have the ability to conduct membership recruitment any time classes are in session. Typically, this happens during the first three weeks of classes in the fall semester, and during the first two weeks of classes in the spring semester. Chapters sponsor a variety of recruitment activities and events during the second and third weeks. No registration fee is required, and the process is set up to allow the student to select which events to attend. Participating in the process in no way obligates an individual to join a fraternity, and prospective members can attend events from any number of chapters they choose. Fraternities may give out bids – an invitation to join – at any time, but typically bids are given out nearer to the end of the recruitment process. Students are encouraged to visit as many chapters as possible during the recruitment period to discover the group that best meets their needs.
The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC)
Multicultural Greek Recruitment
MGC organizations have the ability to recruit year round, but typically recruit new members in the first few weeks of the fall and spring semesters. Individuals interested in joining an MGC organization can attend recruitment events hosted by MGC fraternities and sororities in order to make an informed decision before accepting a bid. Participating in the recruitment process is done at no financial cost or membership commitment to the prospective member.
Interest Groups
When a national fraternity or sorority wants to start a chapter on a campus (or when students want to bring one there), the student organizers form an interest group. This is the preliminary phase before becoming an officially chartered chapter. The following chapters are not yet established. The national organizations are working with CMU to explore possible expansion.
Panhellenic Council (PHC)
Panhellenic Primary Recruitment (PPR)
Recruitment is a mutual selection process facilitated by the Panhellenic Council. Each student who registers for Panhellenic Primary Recruitment is assigned a Recruitment Counselor (RC) to assist them through the recruitment process. The recruitment process consists of a variety of pre-recruitment events leading up to the primary weekend for recruitment, which is in the fall semester and consists of three rounds of events. After each round, participants, referred to as Potential New Members or PNMs, must submit their preferences for which chapters they hope to see again during the following round. Chapters are asked to do the same with each PNM they met that day. Following the last round of recruitment, members are asked to submit their final preferences for bid matching, a process that determines which sorority each PNM will be invited to join.
All PNMs who are interested in participating in Primary Recruitment must register and pay a registration fee.
Panhellenic Primary Recruitment Extended Access
The Panhellenic community is committed to creating a recruitment experience where every potential new member (PNM) feels welcomed, supported, and able to fully participate. We recognize that the timing of primary recruitment may create scheduling challenges for some Potential New Members (PNMs). To support every PNM, the Panhellenic Council has developed an extended access schedule for PNMs who may not be able to participate in every portion of the traditional recruitment schedule.
The fall 2026 calendar includes religious holidays and observances being celebrated across multiple faiths every weekend this September. We also understand that PNMs may have personal obligations during the Panhellenic Primary Recruitment weekend. We have designed the extended access schedule to support all PNMs to fully engage in the recruitment process through a combination of in-person experiences and an asynchronous video round.
Our goal is to ensure that every PNM has access to participate in primary recruitment while being able to engage with religious observances and/or attend to other personal obligations during that weekend. The extended access schedule is designed to ensure that every PNM has a meaningful opportunity to learn about and connect with our Panhellenic community.
PNM Extended Access Registration Form
Students who would like to participate in extended access are invited to complete the PNM Extended Access Registration Form. A member of the Panhellenic Council Executive Board (Panhellenic Exec) will reach out to provide support in engaging with the Extended Access opportunities throughout the recruitment process. This may include, but is not limited to, scheduling for non-weekend recruitment rounds, providing chapter materials ahead of time, offering asynchronous participation options (such as video submissions) for one of the rounds, tailoring individual schedules to accommodate competing needs, and arranging food or dietary accommodations for meals and snacks provided during recruitment events.
We encourage participants to complete the PNM extended access registration form as soon as possible so the Panhellenic Exec can review your submission and work to provide a fulsome recruitment experience.
Schedule
Round 1 (Sisterhood)
PNMs will participate in six chapter events during sisterhood round.
Thursday, September 10
- PNMs who have registered through the Extended Access process may attend Round 1 in person on Thursday.
- 6:30-9:30 p.m. in the FSL Quad (Located across the street from Morewood Gardens) PNM Meeting will be in the FSL Quad at the tent.
- All other PNMs will attend Round 1 on Friday
- 4:15.-9:30 p.m., starting with a PNM meeting in CUC McConomy, with events happening in the FSL Quad after.
Round 2 (Philanthropy)
PNMs will participate in up to four events during philanthropy round.Saturday, September 12
- PNMs utilizing the extended access schedule will complete this round virtually and asynchronously. These PNMs will submit a 5-7 minute video response using provided prompts. Timelines and prompts will be provided in advance. Chapters will provide videos that further discuss their organizations and include the same information shared during the in-person experience.
- Your Recruitment Guide will work with you on how to make selections during round 2 with a member of the Panhellenic Recruitment Team.
- All other PNMs will participate in this round in-person.11:20 a.m.-5 p.m., starting with a PNM Meeting in CUC McConomy, with events happening in the FSL Quad after.
Round 3 (Preference)
PNMs will participate in up to two events during preference round.Sunday, September 13
- All PNMs who have not registered for the Extended Access process will attend Round 3 on Sunday
- 12 p.m.-6:30 p.m., starting with a PNM Meeting in CUC McConomy, with events in the FSL Quad afterward.
Monday, September 14
- PNMs utilizing the extended access process may participate in Preference events on Monday evening. Given the structure of the recruitment process, they will be informed of their chapters on Sunday prior to attending rounds on Monday.
- 5:30-8:30 p.m. in the FSL Quad (Located across the street from Morewood Gardens)
- Space and time can be provided for participants observing any fasting holidays.
Bid Day
Bid Day for all PNMs will be on Tuesday, September 15 at 7 p.m.Questions & Support
The Panhellenic Council is committed to ensuring that every PNM feels fully supported, informed, and welcomed throughout the recruitment process. If you have any questions or unique circumstances regarding extended access or scheduling, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Panhellenic Vice President of Recruitment at phc-recruitment@andrew.cmu.edu.
The Panhellenic Exec is here to help, and our community looks forward to working with you to create an inclusive recruitment experience!
Continuous Open Bidding (COB)
Following Panhellenic Primary Recruitment in the fall semester and during the spring semester, some of our Panhellenic chapters are eligible to accept new members through the more informal process of Continuous Open Bidding (COB). During COB, chapters will host small recruitment events which allow prospective members to learn more about each chapter and to get to know the members. Chapters will then extend membership bids to individuals whom they wish to join the organization.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)
National Pan-Hellenic Council Membership Selection
Unlike the other councils, NPHC chapters conduct their membership selection or "membership intake process" independently and at different times. Chapters usually conduct interest meetings that are relatively formal in nature. Each organization’s process may differ, but interested students should be prepared to provide additional documentation, such as transcripts and letters of recommendation. Note that NPHC organizations do not typically permit first-year students to join during their first semester and some require sophomore standing in order to apply for the intake process.
To hold intake on CMU's caampus, all organizations must complete the Intake Form. A PDF copy can also be found here.
