Fraternities & Sorority Life Organizations, Councils and Recruitment
Carnegie Mellon's fraternities and sororities practice a system of self-governance through the use of governing councils. These councils are responsible for establishing and enforcing policies for the community, advocating for our fraternities and sororities, and implementing a variety of programs and initiatives to benefit the chapters and our individual members.
The Panhellenic Council
The Panhellenic Council (PHC) is the governing council for the six National Panhellenic sororities on campus. The PHC supports the Panhellenic community and interfraternal relations between CMU's Panhellenic sororities and the greater Carnegie Mellon fraternity and sorority community. The PHC, through its all-sorority programming efforts, promotes superior scholarship, leadership development and dissemination of information important to members in the Panhellenic community. The PHC is the coordinating body for recruitment and represents the single largest women's organization on campus.
Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment (PSR)
Recruitment is a mutual selection process facilitated by the Panhellenic Council. Each student who registers for Panhellenic Sorority Recruitment (PSR) 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 PSR must register and pay a registration fee.
Continuous Open Bidding (COB)
Following Panhellenic Sorority 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 Interfraternity Council
The Interfraternity Council (IFC) is a self-governing body representing the 10 member fraternities that advocates on behalf of its member fraternities and perpetuates the advancement of the fraternal movement at Carnegie Mellon University. Weekly meetings are held with the IFC executive board and two delegates representing each fraternity. The IFC strives to promote excellence in all aspects of fraternity life. IFC oversees fraternity recruitment each semester and serves as a clearinghouse for all issues related to the fraternity community.
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
The Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) is the governing body of the three culturally-based fraternities and sororities on campus. This council exists to develop and maintain community relationships between their organizations as well as the greater Carnegie Mellon Fraternity and Sorority Life community.
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.
The National Pan-Hellenic Council
Carnegie Mellon currently has five National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) member organizations. All are city-wide chapters, meaning that each chapter is comprised of students from multiple universities in the Pittsburgh area. Most of these chapters utilize the University of Pittsburgh as a central location for meetings and events.
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.
Honor Societies
Order of Omega
Order of Omega is a leadership honor society recognizing the top 5% of sophomore, junior, and senior student leaders who have exemplified high standards in areas of scholarship, leadership, and involvement within their organization and campus communities. The Lambda Eta chapter of Order of Omega was established in 1991 and re-activated in the Spring of 2023.
Learn more about Order of Omega