Parent & Family Information
Hello, and welcome! Providing support to students participating in Panhellenic Recruitment or those who are members of a chapter is truly gratifying. The opportunities available to our Panhellenic members and their families are unparalleled. The staff at The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Ball State University are here to assist you with any questions you may have—rest assured, no question is too trivial! We aim to serve as a valuable resource for you as your student embarks on their journey through Fraternity and Sorority Life at the BSU. This page will offer specific information tailored to parents and families, along with additional tips and insights to help your student navigate the Fraternity and Sorority experience here at our university. Thanks, and Chirp Chirp!
Recruitment 2024 Schedule & Important Dates
Registration Opens: June 1, 2024 at 11:00am
Registration Closes: September 1, 2024 at 11:55pm
Welcome Rounds: September 4-5, 2024
Involvement Round: September 6, 2024
Philanthropy Round: September 7, 2024
Preference Round: September 8, 2024 (Morning)
Bid Day: September 8, 2024 (Evening)
Common Questions
How does the Primary Recruitment process work?
Recruitment involves mutual selection, meaning as your child explores the various chapters and interacts with their members, the chapters are also gaining insight into them. Your student will have the opportunity to choose which chapters they prefer to revisit, and in turn, the chapters will extend invitations for the next round of the recruitment process.
Is it possible for my child not to receive a bid?
It is unlikely, but possible. Going through the recruitment process does not guarantee a bid to join a chapter. The recruitment process is through mutual selection. During Welcome Rounds, all participants will visit each of the 10 National Panhellenic Conference chapters at Ball State, but the remaining rounds are by invitation only. Membership selection is at the sole discretion of the chapter and its members and is not influenced by the Office of Student Life or Ball State’s Panhellenic Association.
What is the time commitment for someone participating in Primary Recruitment, and as an active member?
There certainly is a time commitment for someone during the recruitment process and as an active member. Primary Recruitment has several events each day that the student attends during the process.
As a new member, your student spends various hours throughout the week attending meetings, spending time with chapter members, events, retreats, study hours, philanthropic events, and other sorority activities in order to learn about the sorority life and sister/siblinghood. Please visit the Membership Expectations page for more details.
Do parents and families come to Bid Day?
Parents are families are not allowed to come to Bid Day. New Members will be busy meeting and bonding with their new siblings and will not have time for any guests or visitors. We encourage families to send a text message to congratulate them or talk to them the next day after the festivities!
How Can I Support My Child During Recruitment?
Aid in the process with your student. Assist in their research of the sororities on campus, discussing their values, philanthropic efforts, missions, siblinghood, and more. By conducting this preliminary research together, you'll be better equipped to provide support during recruitment. Aid your child in clarifying and understanding what they seeks from their sorority experience. Engage in discussions about their goals for sorority membership, making their decisions more straightforward.
Listen to them. Sorority recruitment offers a distinctive journey marked by extended days, encountering numerous new faces, and swiftly forming connections. Your student navigating through recruitment will likely need time to reflect on her experiences. Throughout this process, there are trained individuals known as recruitment counselors or RCs, available to assist your student in navigating their emotions and thoughts. Despite this support, they may feel more at ease discussing their feelings with you. The key is to lend an attentive ear and provide a supportive presence. Your student will rely on your support during this period.
Take Notes. Encourage your student to take notes during the recruitment process. It can be difficult to remember everything about each chapter after multiple days, 10 chapters, and meeting members from each chapter.
Encourage them to keep an open mind. Maybe your student has connections with members in certain chapters or believes they have a preference for a particular chapter. It's important to recognize that every chapter is comprised of exceptional individuals and offers its own enriching experience. If your student finds themself not being invited back to a chapter they were fond of, please urge them to persevere and remain engaged in the process. Our saying during recruitment is, “Trust the process”.
Know what resources are available. During the recruitment process, recruitment counselors are available to talk to about the process. The Panhellenic Executive Board and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life are able and willing to discuss options, help process thoughts, and counsel your student.