Active

A fraternity member currently in college who has been formally initiated by his chapter and who is currently participating as a member

Alumnus

An initiated fraternity member who is no longer active in a collegiate chapter who has either graduated or changed academic status

Bid

A formal invitation to join a fraternity

Badge

A pin given to initiated members to identify their membership in an organization (typically worn to official events while in business attire)

Brother

An active member of a fraternity

Big Brother

An active member assigned or volunteered to be the personal mentor for a new member

Chapter

A local group of a national organization, designated by its own Greek letter name

Colony

A new fraternity being formed by its respective national organization

Formal Recruitment

The process in which potential new members visit all chapters, and through a mutual selection process, find a chapter that best suits them

Initiation

Ceremony during which new members become active, lifelong members of their organizations

Intake

Also called Membership Intake, a process through which NPCH fraternities select new members

Interfraternity Council (IFC)

An umbrella organization that presides over men’s fraternities, each of which is autonomous as a social, Greek letter society of college men, undergraduate and alumni

Legacy

A person whose parent, grandparent, or sibling was an active member of a fraternity

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC)

A council composed of nine historically black Greek-letter organizations, which includes four sororities and five fraternities

New Member

An undergraduate student who accepted a fraternity bid, but is not yet an initiated member

Panhellenic Council

The governing body of women’s Greek organizations at the University of Mississippi

Philanthropy

A national and/or local charity that a fraternity or council sponsors, donating time and money through service in order to promote human welfare

Potential New Member (PNM)

A student who is not yet affiliated with a chapter and is interested in becoming a part of the fraternity community

Rho Alpha

A neutral representative from the Infraternity Council who guides, counsels, and supports Potential New Members during Recruitment

Ritual

The ceremonies that bring together the beliefs and standards of a fraternal organization, which are sacred and unique to each fraternity and serve as a common bond between all members