Active: a fully initiated undergraduate member of a fraternity/sorority.
Bid: a formal invitation given by a chapter asking a prospective member to join the chapter.
Brother: a term used within men’s fraternities when referring to other members.
Colony: a fraternal membership which is in a trial period with their national organization and the University before
becoming a chapter.
Formal Recruitment: a designated membership recruitment period during which IFC and PHA holds a series of organized events. It is a mutual selection process.
Hand Sign: a symbol or gesture made with the hand(s) that signify membership in a particular organization. Hand signs should not be replicated by non-members.
Initiation: the formal ritual ceremony that brings new members into full membership of the sorority or fraternity.
Legacy: a prospective member whose grandparents, mother/father, or sister/brother is an alumni of a fraternity/sorority. Legacy stipulations vary per chapter.
New Member: a woman or man who has accepted a fraternity or sorority bid, but has not been initiated.
Panhellenic Association (PHA): the governing body for all UNC Charlotte sororities in the National Panhellenic Conference.
Potential Member: a person participating in recruitment/intake.
Recruitment Counselor (RC): a PHA or IFC member who has disaffiliated with their organization during recruitment to assist in the recruitment process.
