Membership Intake or Recruitment

Sorority and fraternity-affiliated students are retained as full-time undergraduate students at a higher rate than non-affiliated students.

• Sorority & Fraternity Life (SFL) comparison to all Illinois State University (ISU) undergraduate population (data reflects new, full-time students who returned from their first fall semester to the next academic year)
  • Fall 2023 to Fall 2024
    • SFL Members
      • Overall= 90.2% (395/438)
      • Fraternity= 84.4%
      • Sorority= 94.7%

• • • Illinois State University Undergraduates
      • Overall=81.4% (3,365/4,132)
      • Male Retention= 78.7%
      • Female Retention= 83.4%
      • Non-Binary Retention= 84.2%

• • Fall 2022 to Fall 2023
    • SFL Members

      • Overall= 93.8% (375/400)

      • Fraternity= 91.1%

      • Sorority= 94.9%

• • • Illinois State University Undergraduates
      • Overall= 81.3% (3,232/3,974)
      • Male Retention= 79.0%
      • Female Retention= 83.2%
      • Non-Binary Retention= 76.2%

• • Fall 2021 to Fall 2022
    • SFL Members
      • Overall= 94.4% (221/234)
      • Fraternity= 91.9%
      • Sorority= 94.9%

• • • Illinois State University Undergraduates
      • Overall= 80.3% (2,694/3,353)
      • Male Retention= 78.6%
      • Female Retention= 81.6%

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Sorority and fraternity members graduate on time at a higher rate than their non-affiliated counterparts (Note: Illinois State University uses a six-year graduation rate as its benchmark)

• Sorority & Fraternity Life (SFL) comparison to all Illinois State University (ISU) undergraduate population 
  • Fall 2018 (Reflects students who began in 2018 on the 6-yer rate)
    • SFL Members
      • Overall= 81.7% (451/553)
      • Fraternity=67.4%
      • Sorority= 86.1%

• • • Illinois State University Undergraduates
      • Overall= 64.5% (2,369/3,669)
      • Male Graduation= 57.0%
      • Female Graduation= 70.3%
      • Non-Binary Graudation= 60.0%

• • Fall 2017
    •  SFL Members
      • Overall= 77.8% (439/564)
      • Fraternity= 67.4%
      • Sorority= 83.2%

• • • Illinois State University Undergraduates
      • Overall= 66.3% (2,209/3,331)
      • Male Graduation= 59.4%
      • Female Graduation= 71.3%
      • Non-Binary Graduation= 60.0%

• • Fall 2016
    • SFL Members
      • Overall=82.2% (467/564)
      • Fraternity= 72.5%
      • Sorority= 87.2%

• • • Illinois State University Undergraduates
      • Overall= 67.0% (2,465/3,681)
      • Male Graduation= 60.5%
      • Female Graduation= 71.8%

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College is a time to explore who you are, what matters to you, and what value you want to bring to the world! And joining a sorority is about finding your people – the women who will cheer you on and challenge you along the way. Your future sisters will be there to support you as you learn all that you’re capable of, and through the sorority experience you’ll tap into your potential through exploring leadership, giving back to the community, and serving others.

Sorority is … coming together to make a difference! Sororities bring incredible women together and provide outlets and support for us to do real good in our community. We believe there is no group at Illinois State that has the power to impact our world like sororities!

Sorority is … fun! It’s about always having those go-to girls you can sing at the top of your lungs with, late-night study buddies, that sister who is there when you need ice cream (or a hug), and a mentor who inspires you to be the best version of you. 

Sorority is … a deep network and well of opportunities that will help you succeed – beyond what you can imagine today. Your sorority helps you find your niche at Illinois State through opportunities to connect and lead, and the benefits of the sorority experience are real. Sorority women are three times as likely to have an internship in school and twice as likely to have a job when they graduate.

Sorority is … a community of support. You’ve heard about our “sisterhood.” Sororities provide a family and a home away from home. Your sisters will be there for you – for celebrating your wins, for tough conversations, and for when you need a shoulder to lean on. Sisterhood is deeper than friendship and lasts far beyond the few years we’re in college. 

Like what you’ve heard? Want to meet the Illinois State  sororities? 

Sorority Recruitment is where you find your people! Sign up by August 13 at 3 p.m. !

Primary Recruitment for Fall 2024

Registration for Primary Recruitment will open May 1st, 2024 and be open until August 13th at 3 pm. Primary recruitment is the main selection process of all of the housed sororities on campus. The cost of registering is $50. This process will take place during Welcome Week and students need to plan to move into their Residence Halls on Monday, August 12 or Tuesday, August 13th to participate! 

Schedule

Tuesday, August 13: Recruitment Orientation and Meet Your Rho Gamma

• 7-8 p.m. Bone Student Center
• Casual attire
• Recruitment Orientation and Meet Your Rho Gamma provides you a recruitment overview and the opportunity to meet the recruitment counselors (Rho Gamma) assigned to small groups of potential new members.

Wednesday, August 14: Welcome Round

• Welcome Round will take place in the chapter homes. You will meet all 11 chapters on this day.
• Attire: romper, sundress, nice shorts/pants/skirt and top
• Lunch is provided.

Thursday, August 15: Philanthropy Round

• This round will also take place in the chapter homes. You will visit a maximum of 8 chapters on this day.
• Attire: romper, sundress, nice shorts/pants/skirt and top
• Philanthropy Round provides you the opportunity to learn about the philanthropies that each chapter supports through awareness campaigns, community service, and fundraisers.
• Lunch is provided.

Friday, August 16: Sisterhood Round

• This round will also take place in the chapter homes. You will visit a maximum of 5 chapters on this day.
• Attire: romper, sundress, nice shorts/pantsskirt and top
• Sisterhood Round (lunch provided) allows you to will learn about the traditions and unique qualities of each chapter.
• Lunch will be the Welcome Week Spirit Lunch on this day!

Saturday, August 17: Preference Round

• This round will also take place in the chapter homes. You will visit a maximum of 2 chapters on this day.
• Attire: jumpsuit, dress pants or skirt and nice top
• Preference Round is the final round that allows you and the chapters to have the most personalized interaction of the week.

Sunday, August 18: Bid Day

• Attire: casual shorts or jeans and a top (you will be given a bid day shirt from the chapter you join)
• BID DAY is where you will receive your invitation to one of the chapters you visited on Saturday. A celebration as a community and then with your new sisterhood will follow. Activities will conclude by 5 pm in order for you to attend your residence hall meeting.

Please note: Individual schedules for Thursday – Saturday will vary. Please plan to be present during the hours listed, but you may be done early. Schedules will allow you to participate in many Welcome Week activities.

The Interfraternity Council (IFC) host informal recruitment, which takes place throughout the fall and spring semesters. Chapters host most of the events individually for members and interested students to learn about the opportunities provided through membership. Students who are interested in joining an IFC fraternity must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. Registration for Fall 2024 recruitment is now open!

Fall 2024 Council-Sponsored Recruitment Schedule 

Saturday, August 17th: Basketball at Hewett-Manchester Courts

Thursday, August 22nd: Yardgames and Food at Tri-Towers

Wednesday, August 28th: IFC Tabling at Festival ISU; Quad from 10:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.

Friday, Septebmer 6th: IFC Fall Bid Day in Brown Ballroom III; Bone Student Center

• Follow IFC on Instagram (@ilstu_ifc) for additional information regaridng council-sponored and individual chapter recruitment events.

There is no council-run intake process for the culturally based organizations that are a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) and United Greek Council (UGC). Students interested in one of these chapters should attend NPHC and UGC week of events or chapter's week of events to learn more about the organizations and the intake process. If you need assistance in contacting individual organizations or to gain more information, please email the Sorority and Fraternity Life unit. You can also follow the SFL Instagram, NPHC Intstagram, or UGC Instagram for more details.