Glossary

A member who has been initiated into lifelong fraternity or sorority membership and participates in chapter activities at the collegiate level.

Initiated fraternity or sorority members who have graduated from college.

A formal invitation to membership in a particular fraternity or sorority.

An active member of a fraternity or sorority who serves as a mentor to a new member, guiding him or her through the new member program and initiation.

A local group of the larger (inter)national organization, designated by a special Greek name.

A national organization composed of sororities and fraternities whose membership is historically of LatinX, Asian, and multicultural ethnicities. Nationally, these organizations are governed by the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), the National Asian Pacific Islander American Pan-Hellenic Association (NAPA), and the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC).

The name that applies to all Greek organizations, traditionally men’s organizations. Informally, women's fraternities are called sororities.

Governing body of select fraternities and sororities that are more content-specific in their membership and experiences (i.e. engineering sorority, christian focused organizations, music focused organizations).

Any member who has completed the new member process and has gone through the initiation ceremony.

The formal ceremony that marks the beginning of active membership. Each chapter has a different set of requirements in order to be initiated.

The process chapters conduct to recruit, interview, choose, and educate new members, traditionally a title given in culturally-based organization.

Title of a potential student who the organization knows is interested in becoming an active member.

The governing body of some fraternities at UNC Charlotte. Traditionally, IFC operates based on the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Standards, or affiliation requirements.

The mutual selection process that prospective members and chapter members go through during the recruitment period to get to know one another.

A national organization composed of four sororities and five fraternities whose membership is historically African/Black-American. May also be referred to as BGLO’s (Black Greek Letter Organizations).

The umbrella organization for 26 women's fraternities. NPC supports its chapters by promoting values, education, leadership, friendship, cooperation, and citizenship.

A member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been initiated.

A formal presentation of a new line to campus. Usually done in a public forum after members have been initiated.

A period of learning about fraternity and sorority life prior to initiation. This period varies for all groups.

Governing body for 64 national member men's fraternities and alumni associations.

The governing body for some sororities at UNC Charlotte. Traditionally PHA operates under the governance of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).

A charitable fundraiser or service project sponsored by a fraternity or sorority.

A ritual ceremony that designates the start of a new member process.

A college student who is interested in joining a Greek Organization and is taking part in the recruitment process.

The specified number of Panhellenic (PHA) potential new members to which each sorority may extend a bid.