Sorority Terminology

Understanding Common Language

• General Terms

  • Big/Little Sister
    When new members join a chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha, they are given a Big Sister or “Big” who serves as a mentor and role model. It is not a financial commitment or a determination of their best friend but truly a titled mentorship role to provide guidance, accountability and a support of their development in Alpha Sigma Alpha.
  • Chapter
    Each college/university’s campus has Greek letters designated for their specific chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha. For example, the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha is at Longwood University.
  • Alumna/Alumnae
    Alpha Sigma Alpha is an all-women’s organization and that is reflected in the terms we use:
    An alumna is a woman who has graduated.
    Alumnae are women who have graduated.
    “A, nae but never I”
  • Chapter Meeting: Sometimes referred to as a chapter business meeting, is a weekly meeting where all members come together to share chapter updates, conduct chapter votes and receive officer reports.
  • Dues: Term used to explain the financial responsibility of a member. Chapter dues can range in amount from campus to campus, but are used for chapter operations, social and sisterhood events, scholastic programming, recruitment costs, national programming fees and national events.
  • National Headquarters: The AΣA national headquarters building is located in Indianapolis, Indiana.
  • Initiation: A ceremony performed by initiated members for all members following the completion of new member education. During initiation, new members will formally join the chapter by participating. Alcohol is prohibited at any activities in conjunction with initiation.
  • Membership Badge: A physical pin insignia of Alpha Sigma Alpha membership worn only by initiated members.
  • Service & Giving
    Service:  hands-on volunteering for a cause that is performed by an individual or group.
    Charitable giving:  a donation of money or goods to a cause through fundraising, collection of goods or personal donation. Usually there is no personal interaction with the cause.
    Service and Giving:  phrase Alpha Sigma Alpha uses to describe work an individual, group or chapter gives to benefit a cause.
  • Recruitment: Chapters extend offers of membership to potential new members throughout the year. The process requires the participation of all members and may happen in a formalized structure or an informal structure/setting.
  • Ritual: The private traditions and practices of Alpha Sigma Alpha deeply rooted in the shared values and purpose of the members. Ritual serves as a reminder to each member of the responsibilities of membership. Rituals connect the past with the present and the future.

• Extension Terms

  • EXTENSION: The addition of a new sorority to a college or university.
  • AN EMERGING CHAPTER: A group of women on a collegiate campus, who has invited Alpha Sigma Alpha to establish, who have participated in the Phoenix Degree Service (new member ritual) and who are completing the benchmarks of their emerging chapter development program in order to become as AΣA chapter.
  • ESTABLISHMENT: The period between the Phoenix Degree Service (new member ritual) and Sanctuary Degree Service (initiation ritual). Completion of the emerging chapter development program, membership education, as well as other benchmarks given to each emerging chapter leads to the installation of the chapter and initiation of the new members.
  • INSTALLATION: The ceremony part of the celebration, most commonly conducted over a weekend, at which an emerging chapter is “installed” as an official chapter of Alpha Sigma Alpha. Installation is usually conducted alongside the Sanctuary Degree Service at which point the new members of the emerging chapter become initiated members of that installed Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter.
  • EXPANSION RECRUITMENT: The process of Alpha Sigma Alpha’s initial recruitment of women on a campus who have invited AΣA to establish.
  • NATIONAL PANHELLENIC CONFERENCE (NPC):  The National Panhellenic Conference exists to promote the values of and to serve as an advocate for its member groups in collaboration with those members, campuses and communities. Alpha Sigma Alpha is a member of NPC along with 25 other organizations.

• Recruitment

  • Continuous Open Bidding (COB): The recruitment process that occurs after the primary recruitment period or in the semester primary recruitment is not held.
  • New Member: A woman who has recently joined a sorority but is not yet an initiated member.
  • Potential New Member (PNM): A woman who is eligible to participate in recruitment. Chapters might use the term PNM to refer to any woman eligible for recruitment.
  • Primary Recruitment: The process that happens for potential members to join a sorority once an academic year.
  • Recruitment: Chapters extend offers of membership to potential new members throughout the year. The process requires the participation of all members and may happen in a formalized structure or an informal structure/setting.
  • Quota: The number of potential new members that each chapter can offer bids to during primary recruitment.
  • Recruitment counselor: A sorority member who serves as a recruitment guide for potential members. They are a resource for questions or concerns during primary recruitment.
  • Snap bidding: An option available to chapters that did not match to quota. Chapters may offer bids to potential new members whose preferences were not matched after preference round. Snap bids should be coordinated and extended through the College Panhellenic, prior to the distribution of bids and the start of Bid Day activities.
  • Total: The allowable chapter size on a campus, as determined by the College Panhellenic, including new and active members. Chapters that fall under total may be allowed to participate in continuous open bidding until they reach total.
  • Values-based recruitment: A recruitment style that focuses on meaningful conversations between collegiate members and potential new members with the goal of recruiting women who will have a positive impact on chapters and the College Panhellenic community. Nonessential features such as skits, elaborate decorations and costumes are removed from the process, and the focus is on the values, benefits and obligations of membership for each organization.