Glossary

Alumna/alumnae

Someone who has graduated from a women's Greek Letter organization; plural is alumnae.  

Alumnus/alumni

Someone who has graduated from a men's Greek Letter organization; plural is alumni.

Bid

A formal invitation to become a member of a Greek Letter organization.

Chapter

The local campus group of a fraternity or sorority.  

Dues

Fees paid to a Greek organization for membership, typically paid per term.

Gender-Inclusive Greek Council

The council that oversees and supports the three gender-inclusive fraternities at Dartmouth College: Alpha Theta, Phi Tau, and The Tabard. 

GLC

The Greek Leadership Council oversees and supports the five sub-councils. The presidents of each sub-council are part of its executive board. 

IFC

The Interfraternity Council. At Dartmouth, this council oversees and supports its member fraternities, including both national and local organizations. 

ISC

Inter-Sorority Council. At Dartmouth, this council oversees and supports its eight member sororities, including both national and local organizations.

Legacy

When a relative, usually a parent, grandparent, or older sibling is in a Greek Letter organization and you join the same one (it could be at different schools), you have a legacy in this organization.  

Local Organization

A Greek Letter organization that is only found at Dartmouth. 

Multicultural Greek Council

This council oversees and supports its member organization: Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc. 

National Organization

A Greek Letter organization that has chapters at other colleges and universities around the country.

NPHC

National Pan-Hellenic Council. At Dartmouth, this council oversees and supports its two member chapters: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 

New Member

A person who has gone through the recruitment process and is in the process of becoming an initiated member of the organization.

New Member Period

The six week period from Bid Day until initiation.

Potential New Member (PNM)

Someone who could potentially become a new member of a Greek Letter organization. This often refers to students who are going through recruitment or who plan on going through recruitment.  

Recruitment

The process of joining or showing interest in becoming a member of a fraternity or sorority. Each of the sub-councils has its own recruitment process. 

Senior Society

The Senior Societies are separate from the Greek community, in that they are only for members of the senior class. The majority of these societies keep their membership secret, and are thus often referred to as secret societies. 

Six Principles

Six principles that all Greek Letter organizations and members agree to uphold. These include leadership, scholarship, service, brotherhood/sisterhood, inclusion and accountability.

Sub-councils

The governing councils that operate under the GLC. These include MGC, NPHC, IFC, ISC, and the Gender-Inclusive Greek Council.

Undergraduate Society

Social and residential communities that are not a part of the Greek community. Amarna and Panarchy are the two undergraduate societies at Dartmouth.