Below are the rules from the Panhellenic Association Bylaws specifically regarding Membership Recruitment.

WSU Panhellenic Constitution May 2010

ARTICLE II. Membership Recruitment

In addition to these rules and procedures, the Code of Ethics for Membership Recruitment Activities (Appendix E) and the NPC Unanimous Agreements shall be upheld.

A. Rules and Procedures for Formal Membership Recruitment

1. There shall be no grade requirement to be eligible for participation in Membership Recruitment. Specific grade requirements shall be determined by each individual chapter prior to formal Membership Recruitment.

2. Fees

a. All women wishing to participate in Membership Recruitment shall register with the Panhellenic Association and pay the stipulated registration fee established by the Panhellenic Association.

b. This fee is good for one calendar year.

3. Participation

a. Only active women’s fraternity and women’s sorority members, new members and enrolled undergraduate alumnae may participate in Membership Recruitment activities.  All visiting alumnae must be distinguished by introductions and nametags to let the Potential New Members know they are alumnae.  Alumnae may only participate in the serving of food and beverages.

b. All NPC women’s fraternities and women’s sororities shall participate in all scheduled Membership Recruitment activities.  Associate members may not participate in Formal Membership Recruitment.

c. A women’s fraternity or women’s sorority desiring any participation during Membership Recruitment from the active membership of another chapter or sorority must have the permission of the Panhellenic Executive Council.

4. Potential New Member Lists

a. A list of registered Potential New Members will be sent by the Panhellenic office during the summer to chapter Recruitment Chairs, alumnae Membership Recruitment advisers and/or others designated by the chapter.

b. The names of summer addresses of the persons to receive Potential New Member lists must be submitted by the chapters to the Vice President of Membership Recruitment at a Recruitment Chair meeting in the spring.

5. Membership Recruitment Schedule

The Membership Recruitment schedule will be decided during spring semester, with minor variations permissible during the summer planning period, prior to each fall Membership Recruitment period by the Vice President of Membership  Recruitment and the Director and/or Assistant Director of Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life.

6. Quota/Total

a. Quota shall be determined following all established NPC guidelines.  

b. Bids will be matched to fill New Member class quotas. All unmatched Potential New Members will be eligible for quota matching unless they expressed an intentional single preference.

7. Budget Cap

a. Chapters will utilize a budget of $2500 applying to items specifically purchased and used for formal Membership Recruitment. This includes the value of donated items. Recruitment Chairs will create an itemized list of items bought and cost of each item which will be turned into the Vice President of Membership Recruitment within one week of the close of formal Membership Recruitment.

8. Membership Recruitment Events

a. Entertainment

i. Only New Members, members and enrolled undergraduate alumnae talent shall be used for entertainment at Membership Recruitment functions.

ii. All event plans and themes must be submitted to the Vice President of Membership Recruitment during spring semester.  Any conflicts in event plans or themes will be discussed and resolved by the Recruitment Chairs involved, with the Vice President of Membership Recruitment acting as a facilitator if necessary.

iii. Any changes in event plans, menus, decorations or philanthropy projects made during the spring or summer must be submitted and approved by the Vice President of Membership Recruitment prior to the opening of formal Membership Recruitment.

iv. Chapters will not waive in unison upon Potential New Members exit and party coming to a close. 

v. There will be no skits during formal Membership Recruitment.

vi. There will be no entertainment outside the chapter house during the third and fourth rounds of formal Membership Recruitment.  The following will be allowed ONLY on the first and second round of formal Membership Recruitment (Panhellenic Day and House Tour Day).

1. Members may walk Potential New Members into and out of the house with no singing concurrently inside,
    OR
2. Two members may be outside while the chapter is singing inside.

vii. A Philanthropy focused theme and project will be utilized during the third round of formal Membership Recruitment (5 event day). In addition chapters are required to provide the Vice President of Membership Recruitment with the beneficiary of their philanthropy to ensure the donation of the product being assembled on Philanthropy Day. 

b. Decorations/Favors/Themes

i. The Vice President of Membership Recruitment must approve decorations.  This request must be submitted and approved before formal Membership Recruitment begins.

ii. Potential New Members must leave decorations and favors of all kinds at the chapter house.

iii. No decorations may be placed outside the chapter house unless enclosed behind a 7-foot wall and not visible from the street.

iv. Chapters will not utilize decorations during the first and third round of events. 

v. Theme decorations/displays are prohibited. Chapters shall not have any themed rooms throughout the chapter house during the 2nd round of formal Membership Recruitment. This includes any and all display areas around the house. The only exception to this is bulletin boards

vi. Chapters may not use printed napkins during formal Membership Recruitment.  Only solid colors are allowed.

vii. Each Potential New Member may hold only one flower or candle during recruitment events. 

viii. Pins/lavalieres, etc. may not be given to Potential New Members during events or placed on place cards.

ix. No personal written poems, cards, or letters can be given to Potential New Members.  The same poem may be used for every Potential New Member, whether it be written or oral. 

c. Clothing

i. During the Open House round of events (Panhellenic Day), all sororities will wear the Panhellenic “Theme” design on their t-shirts.

ii. During all other rounds of formal Membership Recruitment, chapters will not wear matching clothing. No bulk orders are to be placed.

d. Menus

i. The type of food to be served at formal Membership Recruitment events will be decided upon by the chapter Recruitment Chairs.

ii. All menus must be approved by the Vice President of Membership Recruitment prior to formal Membership Recruitment.

iii. Food may not be served at formal Membership Recruitment events until Preference Day.  Water should be served every day during formal Membership Recruitment (and is the only beverage allowed on the first round of formal Membership Recruitment).  Chapters may serve “powdered” drinks (kool-aid, lemonade, etc.) during the second round of formal Membership Recruitment. Chapters may serve any drink they choose on the third and fourth round of formal Membership Recruitment.

e. Location of Formal Membership Recruitment Events

Formal Membership Recruitment functions must be held on chapter property and must not be visible or audible from the street. All chapters must have windows, doors, etc. closed between events.
 
f. Conversation

i. Any verbal or written promise or guarantee of membership given to a Potential New Member before, during, or after formal Membership Recruitment is prohibited.

ii. Any persuasive statements made to Potential New Members to influence her opinions against chapters are not allowed.

9. Membership Invitation/Acceptance Procedures

a. Invitations/Bids

i. Invitations for all functions are issued through the online recruitment service (ICS) utilized by chapters and the Panhellenic Council. 

ii. All event invitations or membership bids shall be submitted to the Panhellenic Council according to the Membership Recruitment schedule.

iii. Chapter Invitation Lists or Bid Lists that are turned in past the specified “due” time will result in a fine of $5 per minute for every minute overdue.

b. A woman is bound by the signing of the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Card.  A broken pledge exists when either the chapter or the New Member decides to terminate her New Membership.  The woman is no longer eligible to pledge any other chapter on this campus for one year, and must notify the Panhellenic Executive Council immediately.  However, she may re-pledge that chapter at any time during that year. 

c. Verification of the acceptance or non-acceptance of bids offer to Potential New Members by a chapter must be provided by the chapter Recruitment Chair within 24 hours to the Vice President of Membership Recruitment.

d. Every Potential New Member must attend the maximum number of events offered.  If a Potential New Member intentionally skips an event, she will not be allowed to continue the formal Membership Recruitment process. Special exceptions are up to the discretion of the Vice President of Membership Recruitment.

e. Recruitment chair meetings during work week and the actual formal Membership Recruitment period will begin precisely at the scheduled time.  If Recruitment Chairs or the Vice President of Membership Recruitment arrive more than 10 minutes late they will be fined $5 per minute.

9. Recommendations

a. Chapters and alumnae should not contact high schools or parents for Potential New Member recommendations.

b. A general Panhellenic Membership Recruitment registration form shall be completed by each Potential New Member prior to formal Membership Recruitment.  These will be available to all chapters through the Panhellenic Executive Council during Membership Recruitment.  Alumnae may obtain this information from the chapter.

c. Women’s fraternities and women’s sororities may not send or give flowers, gifts or favors to any high school women or non-affiliated women students.

10. General Conduct for Recruitment Events/Recruitment Period

a. Contact with Potential New Members shall be during formal Membership Recruitment events only.  Written, personal or telephoned contact outside of events is not permissible.

Examples of “normal friendly contact” include:  Offerings a brief greeting to a Potential New Member or phoning a close relative. 

Phone calls to non-close relatives, phone inquisitions concerning GPA discrepancies, or other Potential New Member applications, visits to a Potential New Member (in her residence hall or anywhere else), or engaging in extended conversations or meetings with Potential New Members and discussing Membership Recruitment, loitering or “stationing” members in public areas, and the wearing of chapter identifying Membership Recruitment apparel or costumes “out” after Membership Recruitment events have ended shall all be considered violations of this policy.
  
b. There shall be no persuasions against a Potential New Member’s final pledging choice after Bid Day or during formal Membership Recruitment.

c. Hot Boxing, or any other conduct harmful to a Potential New Member is not allowed (i.e. hazing, mental or physical harm).

Hot Boxing is defined as:

i. Three or more chapter members talking to a Potential New Member at one time.

ii. When a Potential New Member becomes segregated or separated away from the main event by one or more chapter members

1. Ex: a Potential New Member taken outside on a sun porch alone with no other Potential New Members.

Clarification: Chapter Presidents and Recruitment Chairs speaking to Potential New Members during a Potential New Member’s conversation with another chapter member is not considered hot boxing.

d. Men’s Fraternities and persons outside the chapter memberships cannot assist in formal Membership Recruitment before, during or after formal Membership Recruitment.  Therefore, chapter women are not allowed on men’s fraternity property and contact of ANY kind with men during Membership Recruitment is strongly discouraged.

e. Members’ looking through Potential New Member handbooks and personal belongings is not permitted.

f. All deliverers, workmen, or kitchen staff that work at chapter facilities during Formal Membership Recruitment week must enter and exit through the back door and cannot be seen by Potential New Members.

g. In accordance with the National Panhellenic Conference, Pledge Day/Bid Day is a Formal Membership Recruitment Day and all formal Membership Recruitment rules are still in effect (i.e. until midnight).

h. In accordance with National Panhellenic Conference, there is no alcohol allowed until formal Membership Recruitment is over, (i.e. 24 hours after Bid Day festivities begin).

11. Recruitment Guides (Rho Gammas)

a. The Recruitment Guides will be chosen according to the criteria set up by the Vice President of New Member Services and her committee, consisting of the Panhellenic Executive Council.  Qualifications will be sent to chapters.

b. Chapters will be encouraged to evaluate their own Recruitment Guide candidates through the use of a recommendation form completed by the chapter’s Executive Board.

c. Recruitment Guides and chapter members serving as Resident Advisers in the residence halls shall have no contact with their chapter during Membership Recruitment.  They shall remain anonymous and not reveal their chapter affiliation until after Membership Recruitment is completed.

d. If a Recruitment Guide commits a violation, she will be removed from Membership Recruitment at her own expense, and her chapter may have a mediation hearing on the matter. She will not be permitted to participate in formal Membership Recruitment events as a part of her chapter.

e. A member may not apply to be a Recruitment Guide if she has a sister going through formal Membership Recruitment.

B.  Rules and Procedures for Informal Membership Recruitment

1. Any NPC chapter that is under Panhellenic total or quota may participate in Continuous Open Recruiting during the regular school year until they reach the Panhellenic total or quota.

2. Continuous Open Recruiting shall begin immediately after the official distribution of invitations by the Panhellenic Executive Council for chapters who are not at total or quota.

3. There shall be no grade requirement for Potential New Members to be eligible for Continuous Open Recruiting. Specific grade requirements shall be determined by each individual chapter. In order to determine eligibility for Continuous Open Recruiting, each chapter must verify the acceptance or non-acceptance of the bids extended to women on the chapter’s final bid list with the Vice President of Membership Recruitment within two days of the completion of formal Membership Recruitment.

4. During Continuous Open Recruiting, any eligible woman at Washington State University may be entertained at meals, teas, dances, etc., by invitation of the fraternity and/or sorority or by a personal invitation.

5. Prior to issuing the bid, the chapter will verify the eligibility of the Potential New Member by contacting the Vice President of Membership Recruitment or Panhellenic Association Adviser. Once her eligibility is verified, the chapter may deliver the bid to the Potential New Member. 

6. Any woman who is pledged after formal Membership Recruitment must sign a Membership Recruitment Acceptance Agreement. That agreement must also be signed by the chapter and given to the Vice President of Membership Recruitment within 24 hours of acceptance of the bid.

7. Transfers affiliating with a group are not charged a Membership Recruitment fee. They must be registered with the Vice President of Membership Recruitment immediately after affiliation. 

C.  Requirements for Pledging and Initiation

1. A Washington State University Panhellenic Association women’s fraternity or women’s sorority may not issue an invitation to membership or formally pledge a woman during the summer vacation period. Organized summer Membership Recruitment Events are not allowed for women’s fraternities or women’s sororities.

2. A student must be a regular, matriculated, full-time student to be eligible for Membership Recruitment.

3. A New Member may be initiated whenever she has met the requirements of the chapter to which she is pledged.

4. A pledge is binding for one calendar year to the extent that a woman may not be pledged to any other national organization on this campus for one calendar year from the date of her signing the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Agreement. 

5. Upon the termination of a pledge by either the chapter or the New Member, the Director and/or Assistant Director of the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life and the Vice President of Membership Recruitment shall be notified in writing from the chapter of which she was a New Member.

6. Any woman who withdraws from school during her New Member period is not eligible to pledge another group on this campus for one calendar year from the day of signing the Membership Recruitment Acceptance Agreement. 

7. Any woman who has been a New Member for less than one calendar year and meets the requirements the semester prior to her initiation may be re-pledged and initiated in the same semester.

8. International students (at WSU on exchange) may be pledged and initiated and will not be counted as part of quota, total, or chapter GPA.

D. Penalties and Violations

1. Handling Infractions of Rules for Membership Recruitment, NPC Unanimous Agreements, and Other Violations

Each Panhellenic Association shall establish a Judicial Board and shall establish procedures for handling infractions of NPC Unanimous Agreements, the Constitution and Bylaws of the Panhellenic Association, violations of either campus Panhellenic membership recruitment rules or NPC Unanimous Agreements relating to membership recruitment and other infractions that reflect unfavorably upon the Panhellenic Association. The guidelines for the NPC Judicial Process provide a comprehensive outline for complying with these provisions relating to the handling of violations and will be utilized by the WSU Panhellenic Association.

a. The Panhellenic Formal Membership Recruitment Standards Board will handle infractions with involved parties that take place during Formal Membership Recruitment, the preceding preparations week and bid day.

b. The Formal Membership Recruitment Standards Board will consist of the Panhellenic Association President, the Panhellenic Vice President of Policy and Procedure, the Panhellenic Vice President of Membership Recruitment, a member from the Center of Fraternity and Sorority Life Staff and four current chapter presidents. The chapter presidents will be selected at random during the fall semester presidents’ workshop. Two alternates will also be selected in the case that one or two of the selected presidents are required to attend hearings, due to their chapter’s alleged policy violation.

c. The processes and procedures of the hearing will follow the National Panhellenic Conference Manual of Information under the section titled “Judicial Procedures,” page J-2.

ARTICLE III. Chapter Total

A.  The limit of chapter total is determined by adhering to the recommendation about chapter membership total in the NPC Manual of Information.

B.  The Panhellenic Association has established chapter total to be 98 members for all Washington State University regular member chapters.

C.  Vacancies in the chapter membership roll that result when a member withdraws or suspends her fraternity affiliation, or is officially granted inactive status, transfers, graduates or drops out of college can only be filled if they chapter is below total.