PROSPECTIVE NEW MEMBERS

Within Villanova’s Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) community, there are 25 distinct chapters and growing, each with its own unique culture, values, and traditions. Together, these organizations foster meaningful student engagement and provide opportunities centered on leadership development, service and philanthropy, personal growth, and academic excellence.

Students interested in learning more about joining Villanova’s Fraternity and Sorority Life community are encouraged to complete an interest form. Submissions are supported by our FSL student ambassadors, who are trained on council structures, recruitment and intake processes, and the overall FSL experience at Villanova. These students are current members of the community and are excited to share what fraternity and sorority life looks like on our campus and help prospective members explore the path that’s right for them.

Participating in Fraternity and Sorority Life can be an incredibly rewarding and transformative experience. Students involved in fraternities and sororities have the opportunity to build lifelong friendships, develop valuable leadership skills and give back to the University community and local causes. The decision to join a fraternity or sorority is personal and can sometimes be difficult. We highly encourage interested students to learn as much as possible and ask questions about the various groups, recruitment and/or intake processes and expectations of membership before joining so they can make informed decisions.

Recruitment, also known as rush or intake, is defined as any sorority or fraternity activity that seeks to add new members to a chapter. This could include information sessions, social gatherings and more. Some organizations host recruitment throughout the year, while others recruit during specified times each semester or year.

Any chapter activity for the purpose of adding new members is recruitment. These activities must be in compliance with organizational policies, Institutional Rules, and state law.

Villanova follows a deferred recruitment model, which means first-semester, first-year students are not eligible to join a fraternity or sorority.

Deferred recruitment gives students time to adjust to the academic, social, physical and spiritual dimensions of university life; explore different involvement opportunities; and establish communities beyond Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Students may become eligible after completing at least one full semester at Villanova. Transfer students may be eligible if they enter Villanova with at least one semester of completed college credits.

Eligible sophomores, juniors, seniors and transfer students are welcome to explore membership opportunities. The availability of opportunities will depend on the council, chapter and time of year.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

To participate in a recognized fraternity or sorority recruitment or intake process at Villanova, a student must:

Have completed at least one full semester at Villanova or transferred to Villanova with at least one semester of completed college credits.
Have at least a 2.7 cumulative GPA.
Be in good disciplinary standing with the University.
Meet any additional eligibility requirements established by the individual organization or its inter/national headquarters.

PNMs must also complete a bystander intervention training through the Office of Health Promotion before participating in any formal recruitment or intake process.

Meeting Villanova’s minimum requirements makes a student eligible to participate in a recruitment or intake process. Eligibility does not guarantee an invitation to membership. Individual chapters may maintain additional academic or membership requirements.

INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL RECRUITMENT

The Interfraternity Council, commonly referred to as IFC, coordinates recruitment opportunities for Villanova’s recognized IFC fraternities.

Primary IFC recruitment typically takes place during the spring semester through a semi-structured process that includes council-sponsored programs, chapter events and opportunities for prospective members to learn about multiple organizations. The process concludes with chapters extending formal invitations to membership, commonly known as bids.

After the primary recruitment period, eligible chapters may have opportunities to continue meeting prospective members and extending invitations in accordance with IFC, University and inter/national organization policies.

Students interested in IFC recruitment should check out IFC's social media for updates, complete the required registration via CampusDirector, review the published schedule and attend all mandatory programs.

EXPLORE IFC ORGANIZATIONS

INTERCULTURAL GREEK COUNCIL JOINING PROCESSES

The Intercultural Greek Council, commonly referred to as IGC, represents Villanova’s culturally based fraternities and sororities.

IGC organizations coordinate their own intake processes at different times throughout the academic year. Opportunities may include informational programs, interest meetings, educational events, interviews and other chapter-specific activities.

Not every IGC organization conducts intake each semester. Because timelines and requirements vary, interested students are encouraged to explore the recognized organizations, complete the FSL Interest Form and contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life for current information.

EXPLORE IGC ORGANIZATIONS

PANHELLENIC SORORITY RECRUITMENT

The Panhellenic Council coordinates the primary recruitment process for Villanova’s recognized Panhellenic sororities.

Primary recruitment is a structured, mutual-selection process that typically takes place once each year during the spring semester. Prospective members have opportunities to meet participating organizations, learn about their values and membership experiences and consider where they may feel most connected.

Registration and a participation fee are required. Because primary recruitment begins before the start of spring classes, students should carefully review the schedule once published and consider travel expectations before registering.

Some eligible Panhellenic organizations may also participate in a less-structured informal recruitment process during the fall semester. Informal recruitment, also called Continuous Open Bidding (COB), opportunities are not guaranteed, and not every chapter will participate.

EXPLORE PANHEL ORGANIZATIONS