Formal and Open Recruitment
What to Expect
Fall Recruitment
Fall Recruitment, also known as Formal Recruitment, is the largest recruitment event of the year. For an entire week, you spend time getting to know the different aspects of the sorority chapters on campus.
Monday and Tuesday, August 19th and 20th
Starting at 4pm on Monday, you'll meet your Rho Gams and fellow Potential New Members. You'll also receive your tshirt, guidebook, and nametag. Afterwards, you'll begin short tours of each chapter. These tours will carry on through Tuesday. After you finish the last tour on Tuesday, you'll begin your first ranking session.
WHAT TO WEAR: For these two days, you'll be given a tshirt to wear. With it you may wear jeans, a casual skirt, or shorts, and comfortable shoes.
Wednesday, August 21st
On Wednesday you will visit no more than ten sororities. You will learn about the philanthropies of the chapters that you visit.
WHAT TO WEAR: A skirt, capris, casual sundress, or pants and a nice shirt and comfortable shoes. No jeans or heels are allowed.
Thursday, August 22nd
Thursday you will visit a maximum of six chapters. You'll start to see more personality from each chapter, and you'll also see their house.
WHAT TO WEAR: A sundress, skirt, pant outfit and comfortable shoes (flats, sandals, or a kitten heel).
Friday, August 23rd
On Friday you will visit a maximum of three chapters. You'll start feeling a bond with the chapters. Some may do a small ceremony with you, while other may just spend the whole time bonding and sharing their sisterhood with you. At the end of the day you'll make your final preference.
WHAT TO WEAR: A nice dress and comfortable heels. No jeans or formal/prom dresses.
Saturday, August 24th
On Saturday you'll receive your membership invitation, or bid! You'll also learn which chapter your Rho Gam belongs to. Afterwards, your Rho Gam group will split and you will go with the representative from the chapter you received your bid from. From there, each chapter will have activities for their new members.
WHAT TO WEAR: Tank top or tshirt (you'll receive a tshirt from your new chapter, so you'll want to wear something that you can slip a tshirt over). You'll also want to wear jeans or shorts. No dresses or heels.
For more information and a more in depth breakdown of the recruitment process and schedule, visit the UNL Greek Affairs page here.
Winter/spring recruitment, also known as Open Recruitment, is much more informal. Unlike fall recruitment, an entire week is not dedicated to the recruitment process. Instead, certain chapters will host recruitment activities and events either at their house or at a designated location. After a few events are held, the chapters will give out bid cards to women they feel will fit into their sisterhood and share the same values as the chapter.
All chapters in the Greek Community are not required to have open recruitment. If they are close to or at quota for their chapter, they may not have an open recruitment season. Open recruitment seasons and dates will vary from chapter to chapter. You will not have to opportunity to rank the sororities that you attended activities with, it will just be based on the chapter's decision.
If you are interested in open recruitment, the best way to find out about the dates, times, or activities of chapters that you're interested in is to visit the chapter's website. You can also contact Greek Affairs for more information.