Panhellenic Recruitment FAQs

Primary Recruitment is the process of a potential new member (PNM) meeting all Panhellenic chapters at USD and learning what they might want to get out of and contribute to the community, should they receive an invitation and choose to join a sorority. Primary Recruitment is a uniquely structured opportunity to learn about each chapter and meet the active members involved in sorority life, as well as provide space for chapters to get to know the potential new members.

Primary Recruitment is based on shared values and mutual selection. Following each day of recruitment, PNMs prioritize the chapters that they feel align with their values best, and the chapters prioritize PNMs as well. Each day, PNMs will attend fewer recruitment events than the day before, becoming closer to finding a lifelong sisterhood and new home here at USD.

At the University of San Diego, Informal Recruitment or Continuous Open Bidding (COB) is another recruitment opportunity for chapters who have the space to recruit members outside of the primary recruitment process. Informal recruitment or COB can take place during the fall semester or directly after primary recruitment in the spring. The informal recruitment is a less formal or structured process than primary recruitment because it is hosted by individual chapters, and typically not all chapters participate in informal recruitment in any given semester.


All students that participate must meet the same eligibility as with primary recruitment: have completed 12 units at USD or 24 transfer units, have at least a 2.70 cumulative GPA at USD, and have completed the new student wellness modules.

Panhellenic Primary Recruitment is typically held in the week before the start of the Spring semester. 2021 Primary recruitment will take place virtually on January 19-23.

 

When permitted to take place in-person, recruitment events are typically held on USD's campus in various locations including the UC Forums, Maher Hall, Serra Hall, and Shiley Theatre. Participating students receive a booklet with location details during Recruitment Orientation and are connected with a recruitment counselor and small group who help them physically, emotionally, and socially navigate the recruitment process.

In following COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, the University of San Diego is planning a fully virtual primary recruitment process for 2021, utilizing the Zoom videoconferencing platform. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will periodically review health and safety guidelines to determine if any changes to the recruitment structure or format need to be made.

 

**If you have any questions or concerns about accessibility or accommodations to more fully participate in the primary recruitment process, please contact the Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Kristen Lemaster, at klemaster@sandiego.edu at least two weeks prior to the start of recruitment.

There are currently nine sororities at the University of San Diego. Two sororities are member organizations of the Lettered Multicultural Council, and seven sororities are member organizations of the Panhellenic Council. Students interested in joining a sorority are encouraged to consider all of their options across both Councils, which have different joining processes, membership costs, and sisterhood experiences.

In addition to programs hosted by Panhellenic Council throughout the year, each student participating in Panhellenic primary recruitment will receive a booklet at orientation with more specific information about each chapter.

Following the @usdpanhellenic and @usd_lmc accounts on Instagram can also be helpful in learning more about the respective chapters, Councils, and sorority community.

The Spring 2021 Panhellenic Primary Recruitment registration will go live on November 1, 2020 and close on January 4, 2021 at the following link: usdpanhellenic.mycampusdirector2.com.

In previous years with an in-person primary recruitment process, registration rates have been $50 for early bird registration (October - November) and $65 for registration after the last day of classes during the fall semester.

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and a virtual primary recruitment process, 2021 registration rates have been reduced to a flat fee of $20, which mirrors the reduction in dues experienced by current sorority members.

Your student account will be charged in the Spring academic semester. All students who register and are eligible for primary recruitment will be charged the recruitment fee based upon when they registered.

The registration fee typically covers all costs associated with putting on primary recruitment including but not limited to printing and copying costs, training supplies for recruitment counselors, technology and software, name tags, a t-shirt for all participants on day one, snacks, and the orientation speaker.

Payment for registration takes place through your USD Student account. You will see this bill sometime in late January/early February. Pay this promptly similar to any other charges billed to your student account (tuition, meal plan, etc.).

After you finish your Primary Recruitment registration, you should check your own eligibility status by calculating your units completed at USD, your cumulative GPA at USD, and your new student wellness modules status, as well as try to finish the semester with a strong academic performance. The Fraternity and Sorority Life Office will follow up in early to mid January with an update if you are not eligible to participate in the process.

Additionally, look out for future communications from Panhellenic Recruitment Team to help you feel prepared, excited, and open about the primary recruitment process, including later information connecting you to your recruitment counselor, other Panhellenic programs, and stories/insight from current sorority members.

Recruitment orientation dates will be announced in Fall 2020. We suggest that students move back into the residence halls and settle in before the mandatory orientation and keynote speaker.

Yes! You can register for Intercession Housing by visiting the Residential Life Portal. There is a flat rate fee of $100 for Potential New Members staying in the residence halls for recruitment. Please register for housing via Residential Life.

Students who live in Continuous Year Round Housing (Manchester Village, University Terrace Apartments, Presidio Terrace Apartment) do not need to apply for Intercession Housing, but will need to notify their Community Director that they will be returning to campus early.

Yes. Intersession hours are posted at the end of the Fall semester on the Auxiliary Services Website. 

To participate in primary recruitment:

• All students must have completed the primary recruitment registration form. 

• All students must have completed 12 units at USD prior to the beginning of recruitment or 24 transfer units, and must have at least a 2.70 cumulative GPA at USD.

• All students must complete the New Student Wellness Modules:

  • Diversity Equity and Inclusion for Students
  • AlcoholEdu for College
  • Sexual Assault Prevention for College

A student must be fully matriculated at the University of San Diego with a cumulative GPA of 2.70 or higher to be eligible for recruitment. Students must also have completed 12 units at the University of San Diego prior to the beginning of recruitment or 24 transfer units to be eligible for recruitment.

Note that each chapter has their own GPA requirement that may be above 2.70.

We check grades and units based on a report from the Registrar, shortly after recruitment registration closes. All grade changes or issues regarding grades must be discussed/reported to the Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life, Kristen Lemaster, at klemaster@sandiego.edu no later than January 4, 2021 at 11:59pm Pacific. 

We are not able to make any GPA or Unit eligibility exceptions.

Yes, you may still participate in recruitment. Please contact Anjelica Cespedes, Panhellenic Advisor, at acespedes@sandiego.edu with any conflicts or concerns about attendance for recruitment.    

If you are participating in a Second-Year Experience (SYE) trip, please contact Panhellenic Advisor Anjelica Cespedes (acespedes@sandiego.edu) with your return dates.

Yes, you may still participate in recruitment. The recruitment counselors will collect intersession conflicts, and women will be excused for Athletics during potential new member orientation.

Please contact Anjelica Cespedes, Panhellenic Advisor at acespedes@sandiego.edu with any conflicts or concerns about attendance for recruitment.

Letters of recommendations are not required to participate in Panhellenic recruitment and potential new members should not feel pressured to have to secure any letters of recommendation. Please visit the chapter's national website (listed below) for information regarding letters of recommendation if you would like to submit them. Our USD Panhellenic Recruitment Team does not manage or process these requests.

• Alpha Chi Omega
• Alpha Delta Pi
• Gamma Phi Beta
• Kappa Alpha Theta
• Kappa Delta
• Kappa Kappa Gamma
• Pi Beta Phi

New Member dues per chapter range. After the initial semester, active dues tend to be less expensive and vary per chapter.

All potential new members will be provided a booklet with an updated range of the costs for each chapter. View the Costs page for more specific information regarding the financial obligations of membership.

If you have been through the recruitment process at your previous institution and were not initiated into a National Panhellenic Conference sorority, then you are eligible to take part in recruitment at USD and join another sorority.

If you went through recruitment at another school and were initiated into a National Panhellenic Conference sorority, then you are not eligible to go through recruitment and join another NPC sorority. For more information, you can read through the National Panhellenic Conference Unanimous Agreements online.  

If you are a member of a sorority that you joined at another school, and would like to be involved with the same sorority at USD, you should contact your chapter leadership or national sorority to ask about transfer affiliation procedures.