Collegiate Panhellenic Council Recruitment
Spring 2023 Informal Recruitment/Continuous Open Bidding Information
What is Continuous Open Bidding (COB)?
Continuous Open Bidding is a very informal process that sororities use to take in new members. Unlike formal recruitment, there are no silence rules, no long days of going from party to party, or complicated invitation acceptances. When a sorority holds COB, they simply contact a potential new member on their own and hold a series of informal events to get to know her better. Each chapter does it differently. Some might go to dinner with a potential member. Some chapters might hold a ‘board game night’ at the chapter house and invite potential members to attend. The one thing these parties do have in common is that they are a great way to casually meet people and they are always fun.
Things to remember about COB:
- Some chapters will be eligible to extend bids of membership beginning January 17 - March 24 based on their chapter sizes.
- Pay attention to social media for each chapter to learn more about opportunities to meet some of our CPC sorority members - Chapter Instagrams: Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Sigma Tau, Phi Mu, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Theta Phi Alpha.
- All five CPC organizations will participate in Spring 2023 COB! Reach out to each chapter to learn more about opportunities to meet the chapters AND opportunities to join.
- Have you accepted a bid for the Spring? Congratulations! Make sure to complete the COB MRABA (in the link below) and bring it to the Office
for Student Engagment, Room 2307 of the Student Union (second floor above the Southeastern
"S" Breezeway across from the Campus Bookstore).
- Spring 2023 Contiuous Open Bidding Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA)
Make sure to register for Spring 2023 COB by following this link to registration.
Fall 2023 Primary/Formal Recruitment Information
CPC Primary or Formal Recruitment takes place at the beginning of the fall semester. Potential new members (PNMs) must identify as a woman, an undergraduate student, and be enrolled full-time at Southeastern Louisiana University. While a specific GPA is not required to participate in recruitment, it is strongly encouraged that a woman have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA from high school or college. The higher your GPA the more maximized your membership opportunities will be as a participant.
Dates are currently being established for the 2023 CPC Primary Recruitment Process. They will be available here in early March and registration will open in early May 2023 for women to sign up to participate.
Council Contact Information:
2023 President: Maddie Grippi, madeline.grippi@southeastern.edu
2023 Vice Presdient of Recruitment: Elizabeth Seddon, elizabeth.seddon@southeastern.edu
Advisor: Will Takewell, william.takewell@southeastern.edu
Council Email: cpc@southeastern.edu | SLU CPC Instagram
National Panhellenic Conference Website: http://www.npcwomen.org/
Frequently Asked Questions - CPC Formal Recruitment
When is fall primary recruitment?
Fall primary recruitment takes place during the fall semester or immediately before the fall semester. Dates for Fall 2023 are being determined by chapters and the CPC now.
When can I register for fall recruitment?
Online registration will open in mid-May and close three business days before the first round of recruitment.
What are recommendation letters and do I need one?
Letters of Recommendation are historically letters of reference written by an alumna of a sorority to her sorority’s chapter at Southeastern on behalf of the potential new member. Letters of recommendation are not a requirement in the recruitment registration process, but you are welcome to have letters submitted on your behalf if you would like. Recently, some of our chapters’ national organizations have decided to no longer accept letters of recommendation in an attempt to promote inclusivity and remain open-minded and unbiased in the decision-making process during recruitment. Please visit a chapter's individual website or social media to learn more about letters of recommendation.
How do I register for recruitment?
Registration is completely online! Beginning mid-May, you will be able to access our registration portal where you will fill out the application, upload a picture of yourself and make your online payment of $75.
Recruitment Registration is not complete until the application fee and transcript information are received and confirmed.
What is the recruitment registration deadline?
Sorority recruitment registration and fees must be received no later than midnight three business days prior to the first round of primary recruitment.
What do my fees cover?
The recruitment registration fee covers several meals/snacks during recruitment, a t-shirt, access to online registration, mail-outs and supplies used during recruitment. The recruitment fee is non-refundable.
How will I know I am registered?
Once you have completed your online registration, the Fraternity & Sorority Life office will send a confirmation email to the email address provided in your application.
When is Bid Day and who can come?
Bid Card distribution is the last day of primary recruitment. Distribution is closed to everyone except potential new members (PNM) and Panhellenic Members. After opening their bid cards, PNMs will arrive to Bid Day. New members will "run home" to their chapters on Bid Day. Parents and family members, as well as CPC alumna members, will be invited to attend Bid Day. More details to come soon.
What happens if I have a conflict due to a University sport or official event?
In the event that you participate in a sport or other University-approved activity that conflicts with recruitment, we will do our best to accommodate your schedule and plan as many parties as possible. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to attend all parties though. If you can’t attend a round of recruitment, chapters will be notified of the excused absence and will be asked to act as if you were present. You will work with your Gamma Chi to make your selections from a distance.
What do Panhellenic sororities have to offer?
Panhellenic sororities provide support systems for their members that become like a home away from home. Greek membership fosters leadership, academic enrichment, career development, community service, and good citizenship. Panhellenic sororities also provide friendships and memories that will last a lifetime, making for a well-rounded and unforgettable college experience.
What is a Gamma Chi?
A Gamma Chi is a recruitment counselor that helps guide you during the recruitment process. She is an active sorority member who disaffiliates temporarily from her sorority to guide and support women through the recruitment process. All Potential New Members will be assigned to a Gamma Chi group prior to recruitment and will be placed in that group during the convocation.
