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SPEAK GREEK TO ME
Familiarize yourself with the terms and abbreviations
most commonly used in Greek Life!
UF GREEK COUNCILS
PANHELLENIC COUNCIL
The governing body for the 18 social sororities and women's fraternities at the University of Florida.
NATIONAL
PAN-HELLENIC COUNCIL (NPHC)
The governing body of the historically Black sororities and fraternities at the University of Florida. May also be referred to as the Divine Nine.
INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL (IFC)
The governing body of 26 social fraternities at the University of Florida.
MULTICULTURAL GREEK COUNCIL (MGC)
The governing body of the 10 culturally based social sororities and fraternities at the University of Florida.
RECRUITMENT TERMINOLOGY
PRIMARY PANHELLENIC RECRUITMENT
A formal series of events given by each sorority that are designed to introduce sorority life to Potential New Members. Scheduled by the Panhellenic Council. May also be referred to as Formal Recruitment.
POTENTIAL NEW MEMBER (PNM)
A student participating in the Recruitment process.
CHAPTER
A local group of a national organization, designated by its own Greek letter name.
MRABA
Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement. The agreement signed at the end of the Preferential Round stating that you are willing to accept a bid from the chapter(s) listed on the document.
PANHELLENIC COUNSELOR (PI CHI)
A trained Panhellenic sorority member who has disassociated herself from her chapter during Formal Recruitment in order to counsel and assist Potential New Members.
BID
A formal invitation to join a sorority or fraternity issued by the Panhellenic Council or by an individual sorority/fraternity.
LEGACY
A prospective member whose grandparent, parent or sibling is an alumnus or active member of a particular sorority or fraternity. Please note that chapters are not obligated to extend bids to legacies.
CONTINUOUS
OPEN BIDDING
An opportunity for chapters who are not at quota or total to extend bids to women who did not join a sorority during Primary Recruitment.
MEMBERSHIP TERMINOLOGY
ACTIVE
A sorority woman who has been formally initiated by her chapter.
NEW MEMBER
A member of a sorority or fraternity going through the new member education process.
ALUMNA
An initiated sorority member who is no longer in college but can provide recommendations her sorority.
BIG SISTER
An active member who serves as a mentor to a New Member during their New Member program.
HOUSE DIRECTOR
A person hired by the housing corporation board to live in the chapter house and supervise the day-to-day activities of live-in members.
INITIATION
The formal ceremony that marks the beginning of active membership. Each chapter has a different set of requirements to be initiated.
INTER/NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
The central organization of a particular sorority/fraternity.
NEW MEMBER EDUCATOR
The liaison between new members and the chapter. Responsible for implementing and monitoring the new member program and preparing new members for initiation.
NEW MEMBER EDUCATION PROGRAM
A period of education when new members learn the history, ideals and values of sorority and fraternity life. Time frame varies but cannot exceed 8 weeks.
PHILANTHROPY
A charitable fundraiser sponsored by a sorority or fraternity.
RECRUITMENT CHAIR
An active member of a sorority or fraternity who oversees recruitment efforts for the chapter.
SOCIAL
A get-together between groups for a party, dinner or fun occasion.
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