Recruitment:
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Joining Delta Phi Lambda® is an incredibly rewarding and lasting experience that will be a defining part of your college life and after graduation endeavors. Joining this Sisterhood is a partnership, and while the Sorority will give members access to leadership opportunities and growth resources, members will be asked to give back and support the Sorority as a whole.
RECRUITMENT
Do I have to be Asian to be a member of Delta Phi Lambda®?
Absolutely not! As an Asian-interest Sorority, we are looking for passionate, dedicated, and spirited young women who will advocate for the minority experience and can bring a unique perspective to the organization. As such, we do not discriminate membership on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability. Undergraduate females from any and all backgrounds who share our values in promoting Asian awareness and female leadership are highly encouraged to participate in recruitment or start a chapter on their campus.
What is recruitment?
Recruitment is a non-binding period where you to get to intimately meet Sisters and see first-hand what makes our Sisterhood so unique. Each event is specifically tailored to give you a sense of our mission and values, and there will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions about becoming a Sister. If you’re serious about joining our Sorority, make sure to attend at least 2/3 of the scheduled recruitment events to be considered for a bid.
How much does it cost to participate in recruitment?
Nothing! All recruitment events are FREE for interested women. Sisters will arrange and provide rides, supplies, and food.
When does recruitment start?
We encourage interested women to get to know us through our year-round educational programs, philanthropic activities, and social events. This is an opportunity to see our amazing Sisters in their element, giving back to their communities. Formal recruitment periods start at the beginning of each semester (generally, January for spring semester and August for fall semester). The recruitment period varies by chapter but can last 2-3 weeks.
Who should I contact about recruitment?
Check out your local Delta Phi Lambda chapter website and contact their Recruitment Chair.
What are the requirements to receive a recruitment bid?
In order to be considered for a bid (or an invitation to join Delta Phi Lambda®), you must attend at least 2/3 of the recruitment events, be 18 years old at the time of the bid, and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.
Does everyone receive a bid?
The purpose of recruitment is to determine if you and the Sorority are a good match. The reality is not every interested woman matches with our Sorority for one reason or another. A formal bid will be extended to women who have demonstrated shared values and standards of philanthropic passions, good character, financial responsibility, and leadership ability among others.
Do I have a chance to receive a bid it I am a junior, senior, international, or traditional aged student?
Of course! We do not discriminate on your class standing or age. We have had many Sisters initiate into the Sorority as a junior, senior, or international or non-traditional aged student. They have the same opportunities as lower-classman to receive a bid and to create a memorable Sorority experience. Plus, this is an Everlasting Sisterhood. We give many opportunities after graduation to continue giving back to the Sorority.
May I decide not to accept a bid that I receive?
You do not have to accept a bid; however, you must directly contact the Sorority local chapter recruitment chair from which you receive the bid to decline it.
If I find the cost of joining too expensive, is there any assistance that I can receive?
Dues and new member fees vary from chapter to chapter. Assistance in the form of scholarships and payment plans vary from chapter to chapter in their availability and should be discussed with chapters on an individual basis.
NEW MEMBER EDUCATION
What is the New Member Education Process?
This is a period between 6 to 8 weeks to help familiarize yourself with our history, traditions, values, and prepare you to be a contributing member to the Sorority.
What if I discover the Sorority is the wrong one for me?
Once you’ve accepted a bid, the new member process is designed to make sure you are ready to make a lifelong commitment to our Sorority. If after initiation you decide we are not the Sorority for you, you will need to contact our National Headquarters (HQ) to begin the disaffiliation process.
Will I be hazed?
Absolutely not! No chapter, colony, member, or alumna of Delta Phi Lambda Sorority shall condone hazing in any form, which is defined as any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule. Activities included in this definition are:
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Any morally degrading or humiliating games and activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with academic achievement, fraternal law, ritual or policy or the regulations and policies of the educational institution or applicable state law.
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Any action or situation, which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health and/or safety of an individual for the purpose of initiation or admission into or association with DPhiL.
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Brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, paddling, beating, branding, forced calisthenics, exposure to the elements; forced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance; or other forced elements; or other forced activity which could adversely affect the mental or physical health or safety of the individual
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Any activity that could subject the individual to mental or physical stress such as sleep deprivation, forced exclusion from social contact, forced contact which could result in embarrassment, or any other activity that could adversely affect the mental or physical health or dignity of the individual.
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Quests, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, or any other such activities carried on outside or inside of the confines of the chapter house.
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Wearing of public apparel, which is conspicuous, and not normally in good taste.
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Engaging in public stunts and buffoonery.
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Forcing or requiring the violation of the chapter's respective university policies, federal, state or local law.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
Will my grades suffer if I join?
As academic excellence is one of our founding Virtues, we encourage Sisters to reach their fullest potential by providing intellectual opportunities through scholarship programming, recognition incentives, and mentoring opportunities.
Will I be able to work in addition to Sorority?
Many chapter members have jobs in addition to being in a Sorority and a full-time student. The best piece of advice we could give you is to practice good time management! Additionally, we encourage you to communicate your work schedule to your local chapter in advance. Each chapter has a unique policy for handling excuses from events.
How much does joining a Sorority cost?
Being in a Sorority is like all other membership organizations and does require a payment of dues. We require members to pay roughly between $200 - $300 at the beginning of each academic semester. This amount is a combination of national and chapter dues that are used to fund chapter operations, social events, and programming as well as allows the national organization to provide resources and support for the chapter. Read more information on a member’s financial responsibility.
How much time does Sorority take?
The time commitment varies from chapter to chapter, but the first year is the most time intensive as you are developing your leadership and time management skills, learning about your organization operations, and developing friendships and becoming involved with other organizations on campus. Each chapter has weekly chapter meetings and other events (philanthropies, socials, fundraisers, etc) throughout the year, but they are planned well in advance. The more you participate in the chapter, the more you will get out of being a member!
My parents do not like the idea of Fraternities and Sororities. How can I offer them reassurance?
At some point, most of our Sisters had to have “the talk” with their families. We encourage you to share with them our Parents & Families resource page to help answer specific questions or concerns. They can also contact our National Headquarters at inquiry@deltaphilambda.org.
COMMON GREEK TERMINOLOGY
Active Chapter: A full-fledged chapter.
Alumni/alumnae/alumna:
Alumni—plural, male and female
Alumnae—female, plural
Alumna—female, singular
Associate Chapter: Status of a new chapter prior to installation. Also may be referred to Colony Chapter by other organizations.
Bid: An invitation to join a Greek-lettered organization.
Call: A type of vocal recognition for a particular organization, usually practiced by members of a NPHC or cultural-based Greek organizations.
Chapter: A chartered undergraduate national fraternity or sorority.
Chapter Advisor: An alumna who establishes and maintains a close advisory relationship with a chapter and serves as a teacher, counselor, and friend.
Charter: An establishing member of the first class at a university.
Council: The governing body of a Greek-lettered organization(s).
Crossing: Term used by NPHC or cultural-based Greek organizations to refer to the initiation of members into the organization.
Foundation/501 (c) (3): Under 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service, The Foundation is a public operating exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. Faculty Advisor: A member of the faculty or administration who establishes and maintains a close advisory relationship with a chapter.
Grade Point Average/GPA: It is a standard way of measuring academic achievement.
Greek Advisor: A member of the faculty or administration who maintains an advisory relationship to Greek-lettered organizations at a university.
Greek Life: Refers to being in a sorority or fraternity.
Greek Week: A weeklong event to promote unity among Greek-lettered organizations at a particular university.
Hazing: Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.
Initiation: A ritual-based ceremony that marks the acceptance of a lifetime commitment to the fraternity or sorority.
Interest Group: A group of individuals on campus in the first stage of the process leading to installation.
Interfraternity Council (IFC): The governing body of nationally recognized fraternities as a chapter of a Greek-letter organization. Always capitalized and not hyphenated.
Legacy: Someone whose mother, father, sister, brother, grandmother, or grandfather is an initiated member of the same Greek organization.
Line/Class: Terms used to refer to the members who crossed the same year and semester within the same organization and chapter.
Multicultural Greek Council (MGC): The governing body of minority Greek letter organizations.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC): The governing body of nationally recognized sororities as a chapter of a Greek-letter organization. Always capitalize.
National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)/The Divine Nine: The governing body for the nine historically African-American Greek letter organizations.
Neophyte/Neo: A new member of a Greek organization.
Panhellenic Council (Panhel): The governing body for nationally recognized sororities.
Probate (better known as Reveal): A no longer used term for formal introduction of a new member class or line to the public, usually performed by members of a NPHC or cultural-based Greek organization. Also may be referred to as a new member presentation.
Prophyte: A seasoned older member of a Greek organization.
Recruitment: Always lowercase unless when beginning a sentence. The usage of recruitment is preferred rather than rush.
Reveal: A formal introduction of a new member class or line to the public, usually performed by members of a NPHC or cultural-based Greek organization. Also may be referred to as a new member presentation.
Risk Management: Involves analyzing all exposures to the possibility of loss and determining how to handle these exposures; reduce risk or transfer risk.
Social/Mixer: An activity where the members of one Greek organization visit the chapter of another Greek organization for a social event
Step: A form of dancing, usually performed as a routine, popularized by NPHC organizations that includes elaborate, synchronized, complex, and dynamic movements and sounds produced by a combination of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps.
Stroll/Party Walk: A line dance, usually participated by members of a NPHC or culturally-based Greek organizations.
Syands/Sands: (Same year and semester) Term originally used by members of NPHC organizations to refer to travelling or crossing across the “Burning Sands,” now commonly used to refer to other members who have crossed over in other organizations or in the same organization, but from a different chapter.