Sorority Terminology

De-pledge – The termination of a new member’s relationship with a sorority.

Fraternal Information and Programming Group (F.I.P.G.) – A group of national/international organizations which have grouped together to form a uniform risk management policy in order to obtain adequate liability insurance.

House/Floor/Stairwell/Suite – The structure in which organizations reside or socialize together.

Initiation – A formal ceremony during which a man or woman begins full membership in an organization.

Interfraternity Council (IFC) – The representative body of all men’s fraternities.

Legacy – A potential new member whose grandparents, parents, or siblings are a members of a particular organization.

North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) – The international organization composed of more than 70 men’s fraternities.

National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO) – The national organization for Latino/a fraternities and sororities.

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) – The national organization for all historically African-American fraternities and sororities.

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) – The international organization composed of 26 women’s fraternities.

New Member – a member of a sorority or fraternity who has not been initiated (also called associate member or pledge).

New Member Period – The time during which new members learn about their organization, its members, and their activities.

Panhellenic Council – The local coordinating and governing organization for women’s sororities.

Philanthropy – Endeavors raising money for charitable organizations.

Potential New Member – A woman who is going through the recruitment process.

Quota – A specified number of potential new members that each sorority may invite for membership.

Recommendation – A letter signed by an alumna/alumnus recommending a potential new member for membership.

Ritual – A value-based esoteric ceremony that is traditional of a chapter. Rituals are kept secret.

Recruitment – An organized activity to meet potential members.

Recruitment Counselor – A woman who disaffiliates herself from her sorority during recruitment to help women interested in fraternity/sorority life by answering questions unbiasedly.

Sister – A term used by sorority members in reference to one another.

Sorority – The name that applies to female chapters and is characterized by a ritual, a pin, and a strong bond of friendship.