Glossary

The following is a list of words and phrases that are commonly used when referring to Panhellenic or Fraternity & Sorority Life.

Active: Active refers to a member of a sorority who has completed the initiation process and is considered a full-fledged member of the organization. Actives are typically involved in the day-to-day operations and activities of the sorority, and may hold leadership positions within the chapter

Big: Big refers to an older member of a sorority who serves as a mentor or guide to a new member, often referred to as their "Little". The Big is typically responsible for helping the Little navigate the sorority experience, offering support, advice, and guidance throughout their time in the organization. The relationship between a Big and Little is often seen as a special bond within the sorority.

Chapter: In a sorority, a chapter refers to a specific local group of members who are part of a larger national or international organization. Each chapter of the national organization is located on a different college campus and is responsible for upholding the values, traditions, and standards of the sorority. Chapters have their own officers, meetings, and events, but are connected to the larger organization.

Chapter meeting: A chapter meeting is a regularly scheduled gathering of members to updates from officers, announcements, discussions on upcoming events or activities, budget reports, and voting on important matters. It is a time for members to come together, collaborate, and make decisions that impact the chapter.

Continuous Open Bidding (COB)/ Continuous Open Recruitment (COR): Continuous Open Bidding (COB) is a recruitment process that occurs outside of the formal recruitment period, typically after the formal recruitment process has concluded. This allows sororities to extend bids to eligible women to fill any remaining spots in their chapter. It is a more casual and informal process compared to formal recruitment, allowing both the sorority and potential new members to get to know each other in a more relaxed setting.

Exec: "Exec" is a shortened term to refer to the executive board of an organization. The executive board is made up of elected or appointed members who hold leadership positions within the sorority to oversee the sorority's operations and activities. Some of these positions include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Philanthropy Chair, but each sorority has different "exec" officers. The exec board is responsible for making decisions, planning events, managing finances, enforcing sorority policies, and leading the chapter in achieving the sorority's goals and objectives.

Fraternity & Sorority Life: The Fraternity and Sorority Life office is a department within a university or college that oversees and supports the various fraternities and sororities on campus. This office is responsible for promoting and maintaining a positive and inclusive Greek life community, providing guidance and resources to chapters, and enforcing campus policies and regulations related to Greek organizations. The Fraternity and Sorority Life office also organizes events, workshops, and leadership development programs for fraternity and sorority members, and serves as a liaison between the university administration and the Greek community.
For more information about the FSL office at Texas Tech, you can go to the Fraternity and Sorority Life page under "About", or visit their website.

Gamma Chi: A Gamma Chi is a second-year Rho Gamma who serves on the recruitment executive team. Gamma Chis are disaffiliated from their sorority and play a crucial role in the recruitment process, guiding Potential New Members and offering support and advice throughout the recruitment period.

Initiation: Initiation refers to a formal ceremony that a sorority holds to induct new members to become active members. Typically, during initiation, new members will learn about the history, values, traditions, and secrets of the sorority.

Little: A "little" refers to a new member who is paired with older member, known as a "big sister," to mentor and guide them throughout their sorority experience. The relationship between a little and their big is often close and supportive, with the big providing guidance, advice, and friendship to help the little navigate the sorority experience.

Lodge: A "lodge" typically refers to a designated meeting place or gathering space for the members of the sorority. Chapters hold meetings, events, and activities in their lodges, but at Texas Tech, members do not live in the lodge. The lodge serves as a hub for social gatherings, chapter meetings, recruitment events, and other sorority-related activities.

New member: A "new member" refers to an individual who has recently been accepted into a sorority but has not completed the initiation process to become an active member. New members typically go through a period of orientation and education where they learn about the history, values, and traditions of the sorority.

Philanthropy: "Philanthropy" refers to the charitable organization(s) that each sorority supports through donations and volunteerism. Each sorority has a national charity that they support, such as the Kindly Hearts Campaign, but can also select a local charity, such as Upbring, to volunteer with, as well. Philanthropy is a core value for each sorority, and members of the sorority work together to organize fundraisers, volunteer events, and awareness campaigns to support their philanthropy.

Pledge Class/Member Class: A pledge class or new member class refers to a group of new members who have been accepted into a sorority at the same time. Pledge classes go through a period of orientation and education where they learn about the history, values, and traditions of the sorority.

Potential New Members: A potential new member, also known as a "PNM", is an individual who is considering joining a sorority during the recruitment process.

Recruitment: Recruitment is the process of inviting and selecting new members to join a sorority. During the recruitment process, potential new members will engage with active members of a sorority to find where they feel like they belong. Sororities use the recruitment process to showcase their values, traditions, and community involvement to show potential new members what their organization values. At Texas Tech, we have the Primary Recruitment process, which takes place in the fall, and the informal recruitment process, also known as Continuous Open Bidding.

Rho Gamma: A Rho Gamma is a member of a sorority who has temporarily disaffiliated from her own chapter in order to assist Potential New Members (PNMs) go through the primary recruitment process. Rho Gammas serve as impartial guides and mentors to PNMs during recruitment, offering support, guidance, and advice.
Rho Gammas are trained to answer questions about the recruitment process, offer emotional support to PNMs throughout the recruitment experience, and answer questions that PNMs may have. They are there to help PNMs find the right fit within the sorority community and make the most of their recruitment experience.

Rush: The term "rush" used to refer to the process of selecting new members for a sorority. However, over time, the term "rush" has become outdated because it is associated with a more exclusive recruitment process. In an effort to promote inclusivity and transparency, Panhellenic has shifted to use the term "recruitment" to refer to the sorority membership process.