University Panhellenic Council (UPC)
FAQs

• Recruitment Events: Tuesday, August 15 - Saturday, August 19
  • 8/15 Convocation & Open House Round
  • 8/16 and 8/17 Philanthropy Round
  • 8/18 Sisterhood round
  • 8/19 Preference Round
  • Bid Day: Sunday, August 20

A student is eligible to participate in recruitment and join a sorority if:

• They are a regularly matriculated student at UT Austin which means they are enrolled and have been granted full-time status.
• They are not a new member or initiated member of a National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) sorority.
• Students participating in the Pathway to Admission through Co-Enrollment, also known as PACE are eligible to register for recruitment.
  • Each sorority has individual membership requirements and membership decisions are the sole responsibility of the organization. We would encourage you to consult with the national organizations should you have questions about eligibility requirements.

Register for Panhellenic recruitment using the online application. The registration page will open on June 1, 2023. The registration link can be found online at texasgreeks.com or >texaspanhellenic.com. Registration will close Monday, August 7, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.

Please wait to register until you have a final high school GPA. No paper applications will be accepted.

The registration fee is $175.00 payable at time of registration. Electronic payment only.

When you register for recruitment please have the following items ready in an electronic format:

• High school GPA AND college GPA (if applicable)
• Legacy information for your family (if applicable) Please do not submit men's fraternity legacies.
• An electronic version of a current photo - in jpeg format
• An electronic version of your resume with a listing of activities from HS and/or College to upload.
• An electronic version of your transcript - HS students should upload a completed HS transcript (with full senior year), College students should upload a college transcript, and HS students with college hours should upload both. If you are uploading2 transcripts, please combine them into a single document for upload.
• PNMs MUST complete the "Values Activity". You can complete this activity now before accessing the form or when completing the form.

PNMs will create and upload an introductory Open House video to supplement their registration information. This video will serve as your Open House round introduction to chapters. Chapters will view these videos to get to know PNMs before offering invitations to meet them on Philanthropy Round. Detailed instructions for creating, submitting and uploading your video are included in your registration confirmation email. Videos should be submitted within 72 hours of completing registration.

The University Panhellenic Council represents 13 NPC organizations. All will participate in Primary Recruitment in August 2023.

• Alpha Chi Omega
• Alpha Delta Pi
• Alpha Epsilon Phi
• Alpha Phi
• Alpha Xi Delta
• Chi Omega
• Delta Delta Delta
• Delta Gamma
• Kappa Alpha Theta
• Kappa Delta
• Kappa Kappa Gamma
• Pi Beta Phi
• Zeta Tau Alpha

The recruitment process is designed to allow all interested women to get to know chapters and find their home in the Panhellenic community. The week is broken down into different rounds which have different themes or focuses, such as philanthropy, sisterhood etc. As you and the chapter get to know each other better you will both begin to narrow your options at the conclusion of each round. Your schedule is created through a process called mutual selection. You make preferences about the chapters you would like to return to the next round and the sororities also make preferences about which Potential New Members (PNM) they would like to invite back.

During events you will spend most of your time talking and getting to know active members as well as see presentations relating to the round’s theme. Our chapters also like to cheer and sing for PNMs as they enter and exit the house. It can be loud at times but it is always exciting and fun!

A legacy is typically a sister, daughter, or granddaughter of an initiated member of a UPC sorority. For details on each chapter’s legacy definitions and policies please visit their national website. Please note many national organizations have recently changed their legacy policies related to recruitment. Please refer any question on the policy or recent changes to each organization

If you are legacy you may be familiar with sorority life or a particular chapter. At UT Austin, there are often more PNMs who are legacies then it is possible to have in a new member class. Therefore while being a legacy might mean you have a special connection with a chapter it does not guarantee a bid. Additionally, if you are a legacy you should not feel obligated to that chapter if it is not a fit for you.

At UT Austin there are also many PNMs and chapter members who are not a legacy and may be the first person in their family to be interested in Greek Life. The best advice for any PNM, regardless of legacy status, is to keep an open mind throughout the process. Everyone is getting to know the chapter and active members during the recruitment process.

Yes, sophomores and other upperclassmen can register for recruitment! At UT we utilize a sophomore pool, which is a process that allows for an increased placement of sophomores. In recent years about 20% of PNMs are sophomores or juniors. Over 200 upperclassman received a bid to membership in 2021.

You live where you will live during the school year. You will need to contact your residence hall or housing complex to find out what the move-in date is and to make the appropriate arrangements for early move-in as needed. There may be a prorated cost associated with early move-in.

No. The chapter houses are within walking distance of most student housing. Additionally, because parking will be completely unavailable, PNMs cannot drive or be driven from house to house. The council encourages PNMs to take safety precautions such as traveling in groups and taking care when crossing streets. PNMs are discouraged from using motorized scooters during events. Privately chartered buses will be provided by UPC for PNMs to travel between the furthest distances in a timely manner.

You should not visit campus during the school year with intention of meeting sorority women. The council’s strict expectations about contact between PNMs and chapter members is in effect for most of the spring semester and all of summer break. Chapters and active members should not be recruiting women during the spring or summer by inviting them to campus or communicating via texting, calling, or social media.

The simple answer is no. This is called summer recruitment and UPC bylaws state no chapter should engage in summer recruitment activities of any kind. Chapters that do not abide by this policy will be subject to a judicial process. It is wise to think twice about joining a chapter that would knowingly break the rules.

Yes! Orientation is an important part of the Longhorn experience! It allows you to take any necessary placement tests, register for classes and become acquainted with campus. Sorority and Fraternity Life hosts an info session for both parents and students which is a great way to learn about the Greek community at UT. UPC will also host a late night event during each orientation which we highly suggest you attend! We highly suggest all students interested in going through Primary Recruitment attend a June or July orientation session.

We encourage all women interested in recruitment to attend an orientation session during June or July. However, we understand this is sometimes not possible. If you attend the August orientation session you can still participate in recruitment. Our team will work to accommodate both the orientation and recruitment schedules. Be prepared to be flexible!

If you know you will attend August Orientation or know of another conflict such as an athletic team, spirit squad, or academic program please reach out to us at sfl@austin.utexas.edu.

Some chapters continue to recruit and pledge women throughout the school year through a process called Continuous Open Bidding (COB). Chapters only participate in in COB if they have spaces to fill and schedule and organize their own events independently. If you want the opportunity to interact with all of our sororities before making your sorority choice, then you should participate in fall primary recruitment.

Learn more about references and recommendation letters here.

It is important for students and parents to be informed of the costs associated with sorority membership. During recruitment PNMs are encouraged to ask sorority members about financial obligations and payment options as each sorority sets its own fees and housing costs as well as the payment schedules.

Required Fees

*The Fees below were collected in August 2021- please check the Panhellenic website throughout the summer for the most up to date information.

Chapter dues fund chapter operations such as academic programs, sisterhood events, facility upkeep, philanthropy and service activities, alumni and parent events, and national dues. The ranges below reflect semester dues, room, and board information:

*Includes room and board

Additional/Optional Fees

Additional costs throughout the semester may include parking at the chapter house*, optional meal plans, pictures, gifts, social events, T-shirts, etc. **Parking availability and cost will vary by chapter

Several chapters offer payment plans and scholarships for members who need financial assistance. It is important to understand that when you become a new member of a sorority you may still be held responsible for fees or payments required to fulfill your contract with the organization even if you decide to disaffiliate and end your membership.

The new member period ranges from four to twelve weeks depending on the chapter. The new member period affords opportunities to meet other members, learn fraternity history and feel at home in the chapter. Each chapter follows a new member education program designed by their national organization. This is a great question to ask the active members as you meet them during recruitment.

Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act, occurring on or off the campus, by one person alone or acting with others, directed against a student, that endangers the mental, or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of joining, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization whose members are primarily students.

Hazing is not tolerated at UT Austin and all students should feel safe joining and maintaining membership in an organization. However, hazing can occur in any student organization or team setting, including sororities and fraternities. If you know of someone being hazed or who has been hazed, it is your responsibility to help us shift the culture of hazing and report it to the Office of the Dean of Students. More information about the definition of hazing, hazing prevention initiatives, reporting hazing, and student organizations found in violation of hazing can be found at https://hazing.utexas.edu.

Being a member of a sorority is like taking another academic class. You can expect one chapter meeting each week, as well as other weekly programming such as study sessions, sisterhood activities, community service projects, and social events. As a new member you will also have new member education meetings. Taking on a leadership role, such as a committee chair or officer position entails more time commitments, but is extremely rewarding. Remember, the more you put into the sorority, the more you will get out of it!