Panhellenic Loves Parents!
Parents and families are encouraged to become involved with their student’s sorority experience! While we realize that this experience is exciting for both you and your daughter, we as a community highly emphasize that the recruitment experience is an individual one. Joining a chapter is a lifelong commitment that can greatly benefit from family support and involvement, but we want Potential New Members to be as unbiased and open-minded as possible. We want those who are going through recruitment to join a chapter that they feel they most belong within – uninfluenced by outside factors, which parents can sometimes contribute to. We ask that you remain as positive of a support system for your child as possible.
Events throughout the year such as parents’ weekends are a great way for family to get involved in their child’s experience! We have compiled a great deal of information to answer questions that families frequently have regarding their child’s sorority experience. But if you have follow up questions or concerns, feel free to visit our Contact Us page!
You’re Always Wearing Your Letters!
The Panhellenic Community has five fundamental values: scholarship and learning, community service and philanthropy, brotherhood and sisterhood, leadership and engagement, and community awareness. These five pillars guide our chapters as they work to enhance their member’s overall collegiate experience. The purpose of the Panhellenic experience is to create a unified community of women who strive to better themselves and their university community.
Respect is a core value of our university community, and as a student at the University of Oregon you have the right to be treated with respect at all times. We encourage you to help us foster a culture of mutual respect on this campus.
Cost
Like many opportunities for involvement in college, there is a financial commitment associated with joining a sorority. New members can expect to pay higher dues their new member period due to one time new member fees. There are additional expenses that your student might incur such as purchasing sorority t-shirts or memorabilia, fees for additional events, fees to bring guests to events, etc.
All sororities have their own structure for dues, and this can vary a great deal from chapter to chapter. Generally, the following is included:
- New Member Dues: Typically include initiation fee, badge fee, meals, administrative fee, etc.
- Live-In Dues: Typically include dues to the inter/national organization, dues to the local chapter, room & board, etc.
- Live-Out Dues: Typically include dues to the inter/national organization, dues to the local chapter, meals, etc.
Please note that most chapters have payment plans available.
To educate chapters and make our community a safer place, chapter leaders participate in an annual Risk Management Summit at the beginning of the officer term. This training includes the president, social chair, and risk management chair of each FSL chapter recognized on campus. It is an 8-hour training covering sexual violence prevention and response, alcohol, hazing, and social events.
The Panhellenic Council helps to host this event in conjunction with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Interfraternity Council. PHC also hosts additional programs throughout the year to help support our chapters in operating safely.
Hazing is any intentional or reckless act, on or off University property, by one student, acting alone or with others, which is directed against any other student that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of that student, or which induces or coerces a student to endanger his or her mental or physical health or safety.
There is potential for hazing to occur in any student organization on a college campus. University of Oregon actively addresses and holds organizations or individuals formally accused and found responsible for hazing accountable. Each sorority is expected to uphold the University Of Oregon Student Code Of Conduct. For more information on incidences of hazing at the University of Oregon, please contact Office of Student Conduct & Community Standards at 541-346-1140. For more information on the Greek Conduct Process click here.
The University of Oregon and Panhellenic Council do not tolerate sexual violence or harassment. As Ducks, we respect each other and take care of each other. If you engage in sexual activity, you need explicit, sober consent from everyone involved—including yourself. If you see that someone is in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation, intervene or call for help.
The Panhellenic Community is committed to combating sexual violence and we work diligently to spread awareness and implement effective programming as a part of this effort. The FSL Sexual Violence Prevention Leadership Board was created to lead these efforts with representation from chapters throughout the entire Greek Community. Together the representatives become more educated about sexual violence and motivate their respective chapter and community to prevent sexual violence.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating or domestic violence, and/or stalking, please visit safe.uoregon.edu or call 541-346-SAFE to speak with a confidential counselor who can explain your options and connect you with resources. This service is free and confidential for all UO students.
The University of Oregon Panhellenic Community opposes the misuse of alcohol and maintains that all chapters, all individual members, and all guests must abide by state, local, and university laws and regulations. Guidelines for social events involving alcohol are established by the University of Oregon and prohibit students from possessing alcoholic beverages in the chapter houses and on chapter premises. All chapters work to educate and foster a better understanding of social responsibility and alcohol education for its members.
Terms to Know
Active
An initiated collegiate member who is currently paying dues to a fraternity or sorority.
Bid
An invitation to join a Greek organization.
Big Sister
An active member who serves as a mentor to a New Member during their New Member period.
Chapter
The local group of undergraduate students on a particular campus recognized by the university and the national organization.
Formal Recruitment
A designated membership recruitment period during which each sorority holds a series of organized events. It is mutual selection process.
Fraternity
Name that applies to all Greek-letter organizations, characterized by a ritual, pin, and strong ties of friendship. Informally, women’s fraternities are called sororities, although the full name of a sorority may include either sorority or fraternity.
Recruitment Counselor
A member from a sorority chosen and trained to assist during Formal Recruitment events and to advise potential new members throughout the process.
Greeks
Fraternity and sorority members.
Initiation
A ritual-based ceremony that marks the acceptance of a lifetime commitment to a Greek organization. Hazing is absolutely prohibited from all aspects of sorority life, including initiation ceremonies.
Inter/National Headquarters
The central organization of a particular fraternity or sorority.
Legacy
Someone whose grandparent, parent or sibling is a member of a particular Greek letter organization. Being a legacy does not guarantee membership.
Panhellenic Council (PHC)
The governing body of all sororities on campus.
New Member
A new member of a fraternity or sorority aspiring to become an initiated member.
Philanthropy
A charitable project or organization supported by a fraternity or sorority.
Potential New Member
A non-member who is eligible to participate in the recruitment process, visiting fraternities or sororities with an interest in possibly affiliating with one organization.
