Panhellenic refers to the member organizations of the College Panhellenic Association (CPA).
Panhellenic sororities have been historically and predominantly white, and often restricted membership opportunities based on marginalized social identities. Today, they have a more diverse membership, constitute the largest women’s student organization on campus, and are capable of significant changemaking within the USD community.
The University of San Diego is currently home to seven Panhellenic sororities that offer multiple ways to explore potential membership, including both primary and informal recruitment processes. More information about these processes is included below. Additional questions can be directed VP of Recruitment at usdphcrecruitment@gmail.com.
If you are looking for or are interested in learning more about culturally based sororities at USD, visit our Multicultural Greek Council (MGC) page.
Primary Recruitment (early Spring)
Once a year, all seven Panhellenic sororities participate in a primary recruitment process. Primary recruitment at USD is a fully structured, three-day process in which Potential New Members (students participating in recruitment, also known as PNMs) meet a small sample of current sorority members from all seven chapters and learn more about Panhellenic sorority life at USD. Each participant is connected to a recruitment counselor who serves as a resource and mentor throughout the experience, as well as with a group of peers who are going through the process together.
2026 Panhellenic Primary Recruitment will take place on January 20-24. A brief orientation will be held on the evening of January 20. Recruitment itself is a three-day process from January 21-23. Invitations to membership (called "bids") will be extended on the morning of January 24. A more detailed schedule will be shared on our Recruitment Schedule & FAQs page towards the end of the Fall semester.
If you have any questions about the primary recruitment process, please contact the VP of Recruitment at usdphcrecruitment@gmail.com.
Primary Recruitment Registration
Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility
The University of San Diego is a deferred recruitment campus. This means that all students must complete 12 units at USD or have 24 transfer units to be eligible for recruitment/intake and membership in a fraternity or sorority. Students also must meet a minimum cumulative GPA requirement.
Step 2: Register!
Registration for Panhellenic primary recruitment is open from October 29, 2025, to January 2, 2026, at the following link: usdpanhellenic.mycampusdirector2.com.
There is a one-time, flat-rate fee of $60 to participate in the primary recruitment process; this fee is due at the time of registration. This helps cover the cost of your participation in our process. This fee includes a t-shirt (unisex size), a community keynote speaker, snacks throughout the process, recruitment technology, and space/equipment rentals for recruitment spaces.
Refunds will not be issued for any withdrawals made after December 11th. This is because the Panhellenic Recruitment Team begins planning for your participation at that time.
If you wish to withdraw, please email us at fsl@sandiego.edu.
Step 3: Connect with Panhellenic!
Follow the @usdpanhellenic Instagram page to keep up with the College Panhellenic Association and its seven chapters. Before the start of primary recruitment and throughout the year, the College Panellenic Association offers information sessions, opportunities to ask questions, and stories and insight from current sorority members.
Recruitment Eligibility Requirements
To participate in Panhellenic primary recruitment:
- All students must complete the primary recruitment registration form before the form closes. Late registration is not available for any reason. If you are unsure your registration was submitted, you can email usdphcrecruitment@gmail.com to double-check before the form closes.
- All students must have completed 12 units at USD before recruitment and must have at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA at USD. Transfer students in their first semester at USD must have successfully transferred 24 units; after their first semester at USD, transfer students must meet the same 12+ USD units and GPA requirement as all other students.
- All students must complete the New Student Wellness Modules:
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging for Students
- AlcoholEdu for College
- Sexual Assault Prevention for Undergraduates
There will be no exceptions made for units completed or GPA requirements. Any concerns, including University accommodations that may impact eligibility, must be addressed to fsl@sandiego.edu at least two weeks before registration closes. After primary recruitment registration has closed, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will conduct a comprehensive eligibility check and follow up with registered participants as needed.
Informal Recruitment (Spring or Fall)
Informal recruitment (sometimes referred to as Continuous Open Bidding or COB) is another great opportunity for students interested in joining a Panhellenic sorority to consider potential membership!
What is informal recruitment? Informal recruitment is a less structured process than primary recruitment because it is hosted by individual chapters, not by the College Panhellenic Association. Some chapters choose to host open recruitment events where anyone interested can attend, while other chapters choose to host invitation-only events. There is no registration form or payment required to participate in informal recruitment.
Which chapters do informal recruitment? On the first day of classes each semester, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life works with the seven Panhellenic chapters to determine if any chapters have space on their rosters to recruit students outside of the primary recruitment process. The most common reason chapters have space on their roster is due to having a large spring graduate class in the prior semester.
Who can/should participate in informal recruitment?
- Transfer students joining USD in the Fall: Instead of waiting all semester for primary recruitment in January, you could join a sorority earlier and immediately begin getting involved!
- Students with busy schedules: Student-athletes, students working multiple jobs, and students with familial responsibilities might not be able to participate in a time-intensive process like primary recruitment. Informal recruitment is a much smaller time commitment with multiple opportunities to participate across a range of days and times, such as during lunch or on a weekend.
- Students wanting a more individualized experience: While there are benefits to having a large, centralized experience like primary recruitment, it can also be stressful and exhausting. Informal recruitment events tend to have fewer people, be more laid back, and allow for more individualized attention.
All students participating in informal recruitment must meet the same eligibility requirements as with primary recruitment: have completed 12 units at USD or 24 transfer units, have at least a 2.50 cumulative GPA at USD, and have completed the new student wellness modules.
Informal recruitment typically happens from early September to mid-October during the Fall semester, and in early February to mid-March during the Spring semester.
If you have any questions about informal recruitment or would like to learn more, please contact Audrey Day, VP of Recruitment, at usdphcrecruitment@gmail.com or reach out to the Panhellenic chapters directly.
Recruitment Rules
Recruitment rules include NPC Unanimous Agreements, policies, and best practices, and apply to both the primary and informal recruitment processes. These rules are reviewed and updated each year by the Panhellenic Recruitment Committee and then ratified by a vote of the College Panhellenic Association. All chapters and their alumnae are expected to know, understand, and follow all of the recruitment rules. There is an overall expectation of maturity, respect, and a positive Panhellenic spirit for all sorority members and potential new members throughout the year.
2025 College Panhellenic Rules - Voted and passed on May 15, 2025