Parents
Advice for Parents
All of us want to see that your daughter has a positive recruitment experience. Parents may play an instrumental role in helping your daughter during this week. Here area a few bits of advice to help you support your daughter through this process.
- Encourage her to keep an open mind and not limit her choices too early. This is the biggest mistake women make and often leads to disappointment.
- If she needs information to be clarified, encourage her to talk with her Recruitment Counselor or Gamma Chi. The Gamma Chi has received extensive training to support your daughter through this week.
- Encourage her to stick with it. It is a long week, but most sorority members find the rewards are some of the most valuable parts of college.
- Listen and offer your support, but encourage her to make the final decision based upon her interactions with the chapters rather than the comments of others
Terms you might want to know
Active Member: A sorority member who has been formally initiated by her chapter.
Bid: A formal invitation to join a sorority.
Chapter: The local group of the larger national organization.
Formal Recruitment: A series of parties/events given by each sorority during a specific time period which is scheduled and governed by Panhellenic Council.
Greek: A member of a sorority or fraternity, so-called because the organizations bear Greek-letter names.
Panhellenic: Both the governing body for women's sororities, as in the Panhellenic Council, and a name of the facility where sorority activities take place on campus, as in the Panhellenic Building.
Prospective Member: A college woman participating in formal or informal recruitment.
Legacy: A prospective member whose mother, sister, grandmother, or possibly aunt is an alumna or an active member of a certain sorority.
Recommendation: A written statement from an alumna to a chapter of her sorority recommending a particular woman for membership.
Gamma Chi: A disaffiliated sorority member who serves as a counselor during recruitment and acts as a guide or source of information for prospective members.
Resources for Parents
If you have questions about any aspect of your daughter’s interest or involvement in sorority life at the University of Tennessee, there are a number of resources to consult.
Panhellenic Affairs Office
As a part of the University of Tennessee Dean of Students Staff, the Panhellenic Affairs Office is the department that works daily with the chapters and governing Council to support the sorority community at UT. The professional staff is always happy to answer questions and provide insights to parents about any question that they may have. The office is located inside the Panhellenic Building at 1531 Cumberland Ave. Knoxville, TN 37996. Feel free to contact Panhellenic Affairs at 865-974-6604.
Chapter Advisors
Additionally, each sorority at UT has a support network of local alumnae that advise the chapter. Each of these women dedicates countless hours to ensuring that each member within their respective groups has a positive experience. You may meet these women at parent functions and gatherings throughout the year. They are interested in your questions and may be contacted through the chapter officers or Panhellenic Office at 865-974-6604.
National Offices
Every sorority at the University of Tennessee has a strong national organization at its core. Each national group has a headquarters or national office that works to ensure that collegiate and alumnae members across the country are provided resources to enhance their sorority experiences. In the event that you have additional questions that may not be addressed on a local level through the Panhellenic or Chapter Advisors, the national headquarters may be able to assist you. For information on contacting these offices, call 865-974-6604, or type in your browser www.spell out the sorority name with no spaces.org. ex: www.zetabetazeta.org