Recruitment today doesn't look like it did even a decade ago. What’s new and why are our alumnae are more important than ever in the recruiting process?
Recruitment Today
With the goal of placing more women in the Greek community and enabling more sorority chapters to attain quota, the National Panhellenic Conference has updated their methods associated with calculating quota and the number of invitations each sorority may extend any given round.
What does this change mean to you? Chi Omega might be required to release more women earlier in recruitment. These would be women who would have typically been released before preference under the previous system, but the release will occur earlier, possibly after Round 1. This allows these women to consider other options and ideally find another sorority home.
Because chapters may be required to release more women earlier in recruitment, the need for Recruitment Information Form (RIF) information is even more critical. Please recognize how valuable alumnae input is in recruitment. The chapter must identify quality potential new members. The earlier this identification occurs, the better.
Likewise, recognize that it is the chapter’s responsibility to make selections that best match that chapter’s needs. Because the chapter may have fewer invitations to give, there could be situations where women with RIFs may not receive a courtesy invitation.
Similarly, it many not be possible to extend courtesy invitations on campuses having a large number of Chi Omega legacies. In these situations, it is the chapter’s responsibility to make selections that best match that chapter’s needs.
According to 2008 statistics, campuses using this new method are six times more likely to have sorority chapters reach quota. If you have questions about a particular campus, please contact the regional director or director of alumnae development at the Executive Headquarters.
Learn More Read about these recruitment-related subjects at
www.ChiOmega.com/EveryDay>Resource Center>Recruitment.
• NPC’s four acceptable styles of recruitment.
• Chi Omega Fraternity’s Position Statement on Membership Selection.
• The Release-Figure Method.
• Priority recruitment and what it means for PNMs.
• National Recruiter, Chi Omega’s new web based recruitment tool for collegiate chapters.
Recruitment Information Forms (RIFs) What is a RIF? • A RIF is a form on which a Chi Omega alumna provides information to a Chi Omega collegiate chapter about a potential new member (PNM) involved in the recruitment process.
• An alumna’s recommendation and the PNM’s background as provided on the RIF are considered during the chapter’s pre-screening process and during member-selection sessions.
Where can I get a RIF? The 2007 version of the RIF must be used. It may not be modified nor a new form created. RIFs and details about them are at
www.ChiOmega.com/EveryDay>Resource Center>Recruitment. Or call our Executive Headquarters at 901/748- 8600.
How do I complete a RIF? When completing a RIF, it is helpful if you can identify how the PNM demonstrates the six purposes of Chi Omega.
• Friendship
• High Standards
• Sincere Learning and Creditable Scholarship
• Participation in Campus Activities
• Career and Personal Development
• Community Service
If you know the young woman personally, you should be able to easily complete the RIF. However, if you’ve been asked to provide a RIF for a PNM you do not know personally, you may use other sources, including but not limited to:
• other Chi Omegas,
• high school yearbooks,
• newspapers,
• teachers, and
• friends.
If you do not know the PNM, do not call her. Doing so may result in the Chi Omega chapter being penalized.
Where do I send a completed RIF? The Area Recruitment Information Chair (ARIC) for the PNM’s hometown must sign the RIF and send it to the chapter recruitment advisor. If there is no ARIC listed, forward the RIF to the State Recruitment Information Chair (SRIC) or the local alumnae chapter. The list of ARICs and SRICs is available at
www.ChiOmega.com/EveryDay>Interactive Tools>Find a Chi O>Recruitment Search.
What About RIFs and E-mail? A completed RIF or confidential information about a PNM may not be sent via e-mail.
Why Are RIFs Important?
• A RIF outlines a PNM’s membership qualifications and provides references that support those qualifications.
• A RIF serves as an introduction of the PNM to a Chi Omega chapter.
• A RIF documents a PNM’s ability to live up to the purposes of Chi Omega Fraternity.
Note: All eligible women will receive consideration for membership without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, disability, or handicap.
RIF Protocol Chi Omega alumnae who submit RIFs should be appropriately thanked for playing an important role in recruitment. However, by submitting a RIF an alumna is not entitled to confidential information regarding the recommended PNM.
About Confidentiality Here’s how Chi Omega guards confidentialty, and examples of when confidentiality is expected and required.
THE CHAPTER RECRUITMENT TEAM EXECUTIVE BOARD , consisting of the chapter president, recruitment chair, personnel chair, personnel advisor, and recruitment advisor, handles all confidential issues and decisions related to the recruitment process.
COMMUNICATION that takes place during recruitment events/parties is not to be shared with those not involved in the process. For example, it is inappropriate to text message anyone during recruitment to share information regarding a PNM.
SELECTION SECTION PARTICIPATION is reserved for initiated collegiate-chapter members who have participated in the recruitment process. Chapter advisors may assist with selection sessions but do not vote on the selection of new members. Alumnae who are not advisors may not attend membershipselection sessions. The sharing of selection session information with those not fitting this description is prohibited. Membership selection and recruitment information is confidential. Alumnae should not request or expect to receive any information about the status of a specific PNM during recruitment.