Tapping Process

The joining process, or 'Tapping', for senior societies is a mutual selection process that is initiated by each individual society. Eligible students who are selected to be tapped will be contacted by representative(s) of one or more societies during the official tapping periods. Eligible students meet the following requirements:

• Currently in or have completed their junior winter term
• Active and enrolled student at Dartmouth College (On/Residential Term (R))
• Currently in good standing with the College
• Be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50
• Is not and has never been an active member of any other senior society

Once a student accepts a tap, they can only accept a singular tap from a society by the determined deadline. Additionally, new members must:

• Meet any/all council-wide and organization requirements or registrations (reviewed and set by respective council(s), organizations, and advisors)
• Complete the New Member Contract within 48 hours of joining

Spring 2026 Tapping

• Tapping shall occur in fall, winter, and spring terms, and dates will be determined by the Senior Society Council each term.

• Each society must submit a potential taplist to the office of Greek Life and Student Societies by Monday, April 6, 2026. The list should be an excel spreadsheet, submitted via DartGroups: Potential Tap List Submission Form.

• A junior will be tapped if they have completed the equivalent of six terms of scholastic credit (including transfer students), and is in good academic standing.

  • Single: If a junior is offered a bid by only one society, then they may be tapped regardless of residence status.

  • Multiple: If a junior is offered a bid by more than one society, then they must be in residence during that term (i.e. has an "R" on their D-Plan or physically be living in Hanover on a leave term and working at the college for example).

• Tapping can take place between April 14, 2026 - April 18, 2026. 

  • Tapping will take place between 6:00 PM Tuesday and 11:59 PM on Saturday. 

• The tappee has until Sunday, April 19, 2026 to decide whether or not to join a senior society. Final Tap Lists and New member contracts are due April 20, 2026. The final tap list must be submitted via DartGroups: Final Tap List Submission Form

• Iit is your obligation of a multiple tappee to notify the society(ies) that they are choosing not to join by noon on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

• If there are conflicts or concerns regarding tapping, the Senior Society Council President and/or Director of Greek Life and Student Societies will determine reasonable outcomes. Otherwise, representatives are expected to be respectful, mindful and civil.  

  • Up to two representatives from the tapping organization may be present while tapping.

  • The representatives may tell the tappee any appropriate information about the society: may only share the identity of one other society member if two members are tapping, or two other society members if only one member is tapping making a total of three known members at tapping.

  • Only the person tapping may have contact with the tappee during the 42-hour tapping period.  No other society members may have contact with the tappee during this time (barring class, sports, etc.)  There is to be no extensive or out of the ordinary contact with potential tappees until the tapping period is over and the tappee has made his/her decision.

  • Society members are forbidden from interacting with potential tappees before the official tapping weekend for the purpose of disclosing any information about the tappee's status with any society, applying direct or indirect pressure on the tappee to join a particular society, or providing any information or making any statements about another society (this includes answering questions about other societies asked by the tappee). Each society will be held responsible for any violations of this protocol and may be subject to adjudication by the Senior Society Council.  The society in question, if found guilty of violating this protocol, will also be expected to take action internally against a member or members who violate the purpose or spirit of this protocol.

• All tappees (single and multiple) must inform the society representatives who tapped them from each organization individually. 

• Societies will only know whether their tappees are eligible and if they are single or multiple taps. Tapping representatives are forbidden from asking the tappee where else they've been tapped or who else has contacted them, but is responsible for letting the tappee know that they will be receiving multiple taps.

• Shakeouts will only occur for double taps between Sphinx and Dragon. In this instance, Sphinx and Dragon will correspond to organize the shakeout.

• Each society's representative will submit a final, list of new members who accepted taps to the Office of Greek Life and Student Societies by 4 PM the Monday following tapping weekend (Monday, April 20, 2026).