Glossary

 A line dance done by members of cultural Greek organizations; usually done at a party or step show (also known as Party Walk, Party Hop).

A historically black tradition characterized by synchronized hand foot movements, along with singing, dancing, chanting, and acting. Many Latino/Latina and Multicultural groups participate in stepping as well.

A Panhellenic sorority member who will assist potential new members during formal membership recruitment. She is specially trained to help potential new members and answer any questions they may have about sorority membership.

A get-together event with another Greek organization.

The specified number of Panhellenic (PHA) potential new members to which each sorority may extend a bid.

A college student who is interested in joining a Greek Organization and is taking part in the recruitment process.

A ritual ceremony that designates the start of a new member process.

A charitable fundraiser or service project sponsored by a fraternity or sorority.

The governing body for some sororities at UNC Charlotte. Traditionally PHA operates under the governance of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC).

Governing body for 64 national member men's fraternities and alumni associations.

A period of learning about fraternity and sorority life prior to initiation. This period varies for all groups.

A formal presentation of a new line to campus. Usually done in a public forum after members have been initiated.

A member of a fraternity or sorority who has not been initiated.

The umbrella organization for 26 women's fraternities. NPC supports its chapters by promoting values, education, leadership, friendship, cooperation, and citizenship.

A national organization composed of four sororities and five fraternities whose membership is historically African/Black-American. May also be referred to as BGLO’s (Black Greek Letter Organizations).

The mutual selection process that prospective members and chapter members go through during the recruitment period to get to know one another.

The governing body of some fraternities at UNC Charlotte. Traditionally, IFC operates based on the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) Standards, or affiliation requirements.

Title of a potential student who the organization knows is interested in becoming an active member.

The process chapters conduct to recruit, interview, choose, and educate new members, traditionally a title given in culturally-based organization.

The formal ceremony that marks the beginning of active membership. Each chapter has a different set of requirements in order to be initiated.

Any member who has completed the new member process and has gone through the initiation ceremony.

Governing body of select fraternities and sororities that are more content-specific in their membership and experiences (i.e. engineering sorority, christian focused organizations, music focused organizations).

The name that applies to all Greek organizations, traditionally men’s organizations. Informally, women's fraternities are called sororities.

A national organization composed of sororities and fraternities whose membership is historically of LatinX, Asian, and multicultural ethnicities. Nationally, these organizations are governed by the National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations (NALFO), the National Asian Pacific Islander American Pan-Hellenic Association (NAPA), and the National Multicultural Greek Council (NMGC).

A local group of the larger (inter)national organization, designated by a special Greek name.