What is Panhellenic?

Panhellenic is a group of sororities that have organized to promote Greek life and cooperation between member groups.

There are three levels within the Panhellenic system:

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is the governing body of all NPC members. Delegates are elected from their sororities to represent their groups within the NPC.

Local (Shreveport-Bossier Alumnae Panhellenic) is a community based organization, affiliated with NPC, whose membership is composed of representative alumnae from NPC member  sororities.

College Panhellenic Associations are established on campuses that have at least two NPC member group chapters. The College Panhellenics are responsible for their campus’ formal recruitment.   This will be the group of women that you will meet prior to formal recruitment

Why do I need to register with my University Panhellenic?

Your university needs to know you are participating in their recruitment.  

Contact the student activities office or Greek Life Office of your chosen school or access the college’s website to register with the college or university. As soon as your registration with the college Panhellenic is complete, it will be passed on to the participating sorority chapters.  They may have additional photo and resume requirements.

Be sure to check with the college regarding deadlines as soon as possible.

Registering with the Shreveport-Bossier Alumnae Panhellenic DOES NOT register you with your college Panhellenic.  You must register separately with your university.

Am I required to have recommendations?

As of 2021, many sororities no longer require letters of recommendation for potential new members.

If you personally know someone who is a sorority alumnae and your university has that sorority on campus, that person needs to write your recommendation. The Shreveport/Bossier Alumnae Panhellenic is no longer able to write blanket recommendations as sororities nationally do not accept them. Recommendations must come from people who know you personally, if you choose to get a rec.

Do not be afraid to publicize that you will be entering formal recruitment. It is a goal of all sorority women to keep the Greek system strong. Alumnae that you may know casually or have lost touch with will usually be thrilled to help. You never know who in your life is an alumnae! Just ask!

Why should I join a Panhellenic organization?

  • Leadership opportunities
  • Meet friends
  • Ways to be active on campus
  • Networking during and after college
    • Most sororities have private sides on their website that allow you to find other members in your career field.
    • Many sororities have career orientation to meet alumnae in various career fields to network.
    • You can find an alumnae chapter in most metropolitan cities and many small towns.  Great way to make friends when you move to a new area or expand your friendship circle in your hometown.

What will Recruitment be like?

Recruitment differs at each school, however, the basic format is the same everywhere.

  • Most Panhellenic chapters hold primary recruitment that is open to all women to participate.  There are usually between three and five rounds and each round emphasizes different aspects of sorority life.
  • Since 2021, recruitment has been a blend of virtual and in-person recruitment. Please be sure to check out your specific school’s information to know how to prepare.
  • You will be grouped with other women going through recruitment with a recruitment counselor that is a member of a sorority to go through the recruitment process with you.
  • Most Panhellenic chapters have a minimum GPA requirement and a fee to participate.
  • Most of all, remember that Recruitment is supposed to fun, so enjoy it!
  • You will learn the following about each sorority:
    • Membership requirements
    • GPA requirements
    • Fees
    • Activities in each sorority
    • Sorority involvement on campus

My goal in college is to make good grades and graduate with a degree. How would a sorority help?

Sororities typically have strong encouragement to maintain high grades and creating strong, successful women.
  • Study-buddies matching you with other members in the same major.
  • Academic workshops to help with study skills, test taking, etc.
  • Study hours
  • Test/syllabus files to help with choosing classes and preparing for test taking.
  • Notebook libraries – notes from members that have taken the class previously to help with studying.
  • Scholarships are available to members through the national organization and some on local levels.
  • Last year $445,085 in scholarship grants were awarded from alumnae Panhellenic groups.

What about hazing?

  • No hazing is tolerated in any NPC sororities
  • Many sororities have 1-800 numbers to anonymously report any hazing incident.
  • Educational programs to help members recognize hazing and stop it.

What is a legacy?

Legacies do not guarantee special treatment or preference when going through recruitment, but it’s still important to know if you are a legacy or not! Legacies are defined differently across the sororities.

  • Alpha Chi Omega: sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother (The Alpha Chi Omega member and her family define the step/blended family relationship)
  • Alpha Delta Pi: sister, mother and grandmother
  • Alpha Epsilon Phi:  sister, step-sister, half-sister, mother, step-mother, grandmother, step-grandmother
  • Alpha Gamma Delta: daughter, step-daughter, sister, step-sister, granddaughter or step granddaughter to an Alpha Gamma Delta member in Good Standing.
  • Alpha Omicron Pi: sister, step-sister, adopted sister, mother, step-mother, adopted mother, grandmother, step-grandmother, adopted grandmother
  • Alpha Phi: sister, step-sister, mother, step-mother, grandmother, great-grandmother.
  • Alpha Sigma Alpha: sister, step-sister, mother, step-mother, grandmother, step-grandmother, aunt, step-aunt.
  • Alpha Sigma Tau: sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin (blood and step)
  • Alpha Xi Delta: sister, mother, grandmother, aunt (step and half relations are considered legacies). 
  • Delta Delta Delta: sister, mother, step-sister, step-mother. 
  • Delta Gamma: sister, mother, grandmother, step-sister, step-mother, step-grandmother.
  • Delta Phi Epsilon: biological, adopted, or step mother or sister; biological or adopted grandmother, great-grandmother, or aunt.
  • Delta Zeta: biological or adopted sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother; or the same step- or half-relation if the relationship has been a close one.
  • Gamma Phi Beta: sister, step-sister, mother, step-mother, grandmother.
  • Kappa Alpha Theta: sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother (the Kappa Alpha Theta member defines the legacy relationship of step sisters, step daughters, step granddaughters and step great granddaughters).
  • Kappa Delta: sister, mother, grandmother (step and half relations are also considered legacies).
  • Kappa Kappa Gamma: sister, mother, grandmother, great grandmother
  • Phi Mu: sister, half-sister, step-sister, daughter, step-daughter, granddaughter, or great-granddaughter of a Phi Mu in good standing.  An alumna is in good standing if she left her Phi Mu chapter without owing any money to the chapter or national organization.  If she quit or voluntarily withdrew, she is not an alumna in good standing.
  • Phi Sigma Sigma: sister, mother, aunt, grandmother or through marriage sister, mother, aunt, grandmother. –
  • Pi Beta Phi: sister, mother, grandmother.  Individual chapters may expand their policy to include step relationships and great-grandmother.
  • Sigma Delta Tau: sister, step-sister, mother, step-mother, grandmother, step-grandmother, great grandmother and step-great-grandmother
  • Sigma Kappa: sister, step-sister, mother, step-mother, grandmother, step-grandmother, aunt, step-aunt.
  • Sigma Sigma Sigma: sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, stepmother, or stepsister of an initiated member.
  • Theta Phi Alpha: sister, half-sister, stepsister, daughter, stepdaughter, granddaughter, great-granddaughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, niece, aunt, or any other woman so designated by The Grand Council.
  • Zeta Tau Alpha: sister, mother, grandmother