Active Member
A dues-paying fraternity/sorority member who as been formally initiated into a particular chapter.

Alumnae (plural) or Alumna (singular)
An initiated sorority member who is no longer in college, or is no longer an active member of the sorority.

Badge
An active member's badge is worn on the chest designating the lifelong membership in a particular fraternity or sorority. Many active badges are available with precious metals and stones.

Bid
An invitation to join a fraternity or sorority.

Bid Day
The last day of recruitment that includes a reception at the chapter house/suite.

Big Sister

The new member selects an active member to serve as their Big Sister. This initiated member serves as a resource, role model and problem solver for the new member.

Chapter
The local group of a larger national organization, often designated by a special Greek letter or special name.

Colony
A student organization in the final stage prior to being installed as a chartered chapter of a national Greek organization.

Continuous Open Bidding (COB)
COB bids may be extended and accepted at any time during the school year other than formal recruitment. (COB is also called open bidding and informal membership recruitment.)

Dry
Alcohol-free.

Dues
Money that is required of each member (and new member) that is used for Recruitment, events, banquets, dances, charities, and the overall functioning of each chapter.

Formal Recruitment
The organized period for the recruitment of prospective new members. This usually includes a series of events given by each sorority during a period which is scheduled and governed by the Women's Panhellenic Council or Interfraternity Council.

Fraternity
An individual men's Greek organization, especially a general college fraternity; the term applied to all Greek organizations. Some sororities are identified as a fraternity in their official name, others describe themselves as being a "women's fraternity."

Greek
A member of a fraternity or sorority.

Greek Council
The term used for the joint activities of both the Interfraternity Council and Women's Panhellenic Council.

Greek Affairs
Greek Affairs is a Department of the Student Affairs at the University of Memphis. Its office is located in the Greek Affairs is comprised of the following four councils
Collaborative Greek Council (CGC), Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and Panhellenic Association (Panhellenic).

Greek Week
A series of events sponsored by the Greek community to promote community service and Greek unity.

House
A chapter's physical facility that serves as its home; also, a term referring in general to a fraternity or sorority.

Initiation
A traditional ritual ceremony which marks the acceptance of a lifetime commitment to and full membership in the fraternity or sorority.

Legacy

A potential new member of a fraternity/sorority who is the son/daughter, brother/sister, or grandson/granddaughter of a member of a fraternity or sorority. Some organizations may include aunts/uncles in legacy status.

New Member
A man/woman who has accepted a fraternity/sorority bid but is not yet an initiated member.

Philanthropy
The charitable projects sponsored by a fraternity or sorority.

Pin
Typically, a pledge pin is worn on the chest designating a new membership of a particular fraternity/sorority. Active members typically wear "badges."

Potential New Member
An undergraduate who is participating in Recruitment and is not yet a member of a fraternity/sorority.

Quota
The number of women that a sorority may pledge during formal or informal recruitment.

Recruitment
A function whereby undergraduates interested in a fraternity or sorority are able to meet with the members, learn more about the organization, and eventually join.

Recruitment Counselor / Rho Gamm
A sorority member who has given up her sorority association during Recruitment to assist the potential new members.

Ritual
The activity by which a fraternity or sorority brings into membership its new members who have met the initiation requirements; the traditionally secret ceremonies of a secret fraternity/sorority.

Social
An activity where the members of one (or more) Greek organization(s) visit the chapter of another Greek organization for a social event.

Sorority
An individual women's Greek organization. This is the term commonly used to distinguish between men's and women's organizations. As noted previously, some sororities are identified as a fraternity in their official name.