Section I: Introduction

Center for Student Involvement (CSI) is a host to inter/national fraternities and sororities at American University (AU) that belong to one of the following governing councils: Interfraternity Council (IFC), Intercultural Greek Collective (IGC), or the Panhellenic Council (PHC). Fraternity and sorority chapters are recognized by their inter/national headquarters and are advised at AU by Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) staff within the Center for Student Involvement (CSI). Student Conduct and Resolution Services and/or FSL may place sanctions on organizations in relation to recruitment or info sessions.

Delayed recruitment is a process in which first-time first year students may not join social fraternities and sororities. Delayed Recruitment allows for first-year students to engage with their academics, acclimate to the University, learn more about the FSL community, and develop friendships with other AU students prior to joining a social Greek-lettered organization. The delayed recruitment process also allows prospective members to make a more informed decision about whether fraternity or sorority life is the best choice for their college experience.

All organizations and students must adhere to University, FSL, Council, and Inter/National Organization related policies and procedures, including but not limited to: Code of Student Conduct, Council Constitutions and Bylaws, Council-specific policies and procedures, FSL recognition policy, and Recruitment, Intake, and New Member Education policies. If organizations or students violate any of these policies and procedures, including this document, they are subject to the referral to Student Conduct and Resolution Services and/or FSL for any judicial action or sanctions.

Section II: Definitions

1. Aspirant is a commonly used term by culturally-based fraternal organizations to describe a potential member.
2. Informational/Rush is a commonly used term by culturally-based fraternal organizations to describe an event for potential members to learn more about the organization, just before they seek membership into the organization.
3. Intercultural Greek Collective (IGC) is a governing council on AU’s campus that is comprised of culturally-based social fraternities and sororities affiliated with the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC), National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), and National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA).
4. Interfraternity Council (IFC) is a governing council on AU’s campus that is comprised of social fraternities affiliated with the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC).
5. National APIDA Panhellenic Association (NAPA) is the national umbrella organization for fraternities and sororities for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (AIPDA) students. There are a total of 18 member organizations; currently, there is one (1) interest group represented at AU and is a member of the Intercultural Greek Collective (IGC).
6. National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC) is the national umbrella organization for a coalition of multicultural Greek-lettered social organizations (MGLOs). There are a total of 10 member organizations, of which there are no organizations represented at AU.
7. National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) is the national umbrella organization for Latinx social fraternities and sororities. There are 24 member organizations; currently, there is one (1) organization represented on AU’s campus and is a member of the Intercultural Greek Collective (IGC).
8. National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is the international umbrella organization for nine historically African-American fraternities and sororities, also known as the “Divine Nine.” Currently, six (6) NPHC organizations are represented on AU’s campus and are members of the Intercultural Greek Collective (IGC).
9. National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is the national umbrella organization for 26 inter/national women’s fraternities and sororities, nine (9) of which have chapters on AU’s campu and are members of the Panhellenic Council (PHC).
10. North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) is the national umbrella organization of men’s fraternities, which includes 66 inter/national fraternal organizations. Currently, there are 13 of these organizations on AU’s campus and are members of the Interfraternity Council (IFC).
11. New Member is defined as a student who has accepted a membership invitation, is not a current active member, and/or actively going through an educational process for the organization.
12. New Member Presentation/Showcase/Reveal is a commonly used term by culturally-based fraternal organizations to describe an event where new members are to “reveal” themselves to the general public. This event includes, but not limited to, the new members presenting the organization’s founders, history, values, and chapter related information.
13. Panhellenic Council (PHC) is a governing council on AU’s campus that is comprised of social sororities affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).
14. Potential New Member (PNM) is defined as an interested student going through a social fraternity/sorority recruitment process and is not currently a member of a recognized FSL organization
15. Recruitment is defined as a program (and period of time) of membership selection by fraternal organizations, most notably used within Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council (PHC).
    1. “Formal Recruitment” is defined as a major recruitment period during the year with specific schedule of events, concluding with a day designated for the handing out of membership bids, known as “Bid Day.”
    2. “Informal Recruitment” is defined as a minor recruitment period during the year in which the schedule of events is less structured. The different Council’s may have additional policies or procedures specific to governing their member organizations.
    3. “Continuous Open Bidding” (COB) is a term used by Panhellenic Council (PHC) to describe informal recruitment.
16. Rush – see “Recruitment” definition.

*For a full list of definitions, please refer to the FSL website

Section III: Delayed Membership Requirements

1. American University Fraternity & Sorority Life (AU FSL) established a delayed membership process to better meet the needs of the AU community and FSL members. For students to be eligible, they must meet the following requirements:
   1. Be enrolled as a full-time matriculated undergraduate student;
   2. Be in Good Disciplinary Standing with AU;
   3. Earned a minimum of 12 credit hours at AU, after high school graduation;
      1. Transfer students with 12 credit hours from an accredited college or university are eligible;
      2. Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Dual-Enrollment credits do not qualify as acceptable credits;
   4. Have earned a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
2. Note: Some organizations may have additional or more stringent requirements specific to their membership qualifications.

Section IV: Requirements for Organizations

1. Organizations must meet with their respective FSL Advisor to review the organization’s recruitment schedule, informational schedule, and new member education schedule five (5) business days in advance of the first meeting. Each schedule must be submitted in advance of the meeting to provide ample time for the FSL Advisor to review. The schedule(s) of events must include, but not limited to:
   1. Informational Meetings;
   2. Selection Date(s);
   3. Dates, times, and locations of all Recruitment, Informational, and New Member programs, events, activities, etc.
   4. Initiation/Crossing Date;
   5. Presentation of New Members (if applicable);
   6. Any additional dates or information required by FSL or the inter/national organization.
2. In the event any information need to be changed on the calendars of events, chapter members and officers are expected to notify FSL in writing no less than five (5) business days prior to the new event time or calendar due dates set by the governing council.
3. All recruitment, informational, and new member activities and events must adhere to the following requirements:
   1. No alcoholic beverages will be permitted;
   2. All inter/national organization policies of the organization as well as the governing council must be met;
   3. All activities are subject to the Code of Student Conduct;
   4. Any event that would be perceived by a reasonable observer as an organizational activity is subject to these rules;
   5. No events or activities can take place during any university breaks or holidays (fall, winter, and spring breaks, summer, MLK Jr. Holiday, etc.);
   6. No events or activities are to occur until the beginning of the Formal or Informal Recruitment Week, each semester;
   7. No events or activities are to occur during the All-American Welcome weeks, prior to any formal/informal recruitment events or activities;
4. No invitations for membership can be given to students who have not been verified by FSL.
   1. If a student is not verified by FSL, the invitation for membership will be retracted immediately and the member organization issuing the membership invitation may be subject to the suspension of all recruitment, informational, or new member activities and any further judicial action. This process of giving unofficial invitations for membership to those who are ineligible is commonly defined as “ghost pledging” and is subject to this policy.
5. To confirm eligibility of students, all organizations must provide FSL staff with contact info for every prospective member prior to issuing a membership invitation, including, but not limited to:
   1. Legal First and Last Name
   2. AU Identification Number
   3. AU Email Address
   4. Primary Phone Number
   5. If a Council has a Formal Recruitment Process, the deadline for registration must close before or soon after the start of recruitment.
6. All recruitment, informational, and new member events or activities must be in on-campus facilities, unless otherwise approved by an FSL staff member.
7. All organizations must have their initiation and new member presentation (if applicable) occur no later than two Sundays before final exams each semester.
8. If a new member drops or discontinues the education or intake process, prior to initiation or new member presentation, chapters must notify FSL within 48 hours.
9. At the conclusion of the organization’s new member program, the organization must submit an updated roster, confirming the initiated or crossed members.
10. After membership is extended to eligible students, organizations are required to have new members sign the Anti-Hazing and Grade Release Form within 48 hours after accepting a membership invitation.
11. IGC Organizations: Must complete and adhere to the required Recruitment/Intake paperwork prior to any activity or event. Recruitment/Intake paperwork is located on the AU FSL website for download.

Section VI: Fraternity & Sorority Life Advisors

1. Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) staff members are the Primary Advisors for the three (3) FSL Councils and their respective organizations on AU’s campus.
2. FSL Advisors are the University Officials who sign all recruitment/intake paperwork required by the inter/national organization.

Updated: October 10, 2019