Recruitment for the Interfraternity Council (IFC) is a semi-structured process. Students interested in joining an IFC fraternity should make every effort to introduce themselves to each chapter and develop a connection with chapter members. To assist in this process, IFC hosts a variety of events that allow recognized fraternities and potential new members (PNMs) to meet. It is important that interested students attend events for each fraternity to determine which fraternity is the best match. Even students who aren’t sure if they’d like to join an IFC fraternity should attend recruitment events to learn more and make an educated decision.
During the fall semester, IFC will be conducting a semi-structured recruitment process consisting of information sessions, council-sponsored events, and chapter events.
Please visit tulaneifc.mycampusdirector2.com to register for recruitment. IFC recruitment registration will open on Wednesday, August 31st, 2022 & close on Friday, Janaury 20th, 2023. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Programs staff will verify students' credit hours, GPAs, and student conduct status once grades are posted after final exams. Please note: Students, not their parents or guardians, must complete the registration form. Please contact Assistant Director, Anthony Ciliberto with any questions regarding the registration process.
Follow IFC on Instagram for the latest information about recruitment!@tulane_ifc
Info Sessions & Chapter Expo: Info Sessions provide an overview if the Fraternity & Sorority Programs community while highlighting the Interfraternity Council and its member organizations. The IFC President and IFC Director of Recruitment & Retention will host the event and review all necessary materials. Potential New Members will receive information on recruitment requirements and logistics. Each chapter will be given an opportunity to provide information about their organization during the presentation. The chapter expo will take place directly after the formal presentation. Chapters will be provided a table and able to invite 4-6 members to represent the org.
Quad Days: Open event to anyone interested in IFC to meet chapters in a casual way (I.e. lawn games, music, food).
Chapters are also encouraged to host their own recruitment events in the fall to meet potential new members.
Convocation: Convocation is the kick-off to the spring recruitment process. Potential New Members will hear from Council Executives and Fraternity & Sorority Life staff about fraternity life at Tulane and the recruitment process. Potential New Members will also be able to meet chapter representatives.
Spring Open Houses: “Open Houses” are sponsored by the Interfraternity Council and allow potential new members to meet active members of each the organizations. Potential New Members will have the opportunity to visit chapter facilites/approved locations on designated
days.
Invite-Only Events: Chapters can host invite-only events for potential new members they identify as being a good “fit” for their organization before they extend a bid of membership. This will allow the chapter to have more personal conversations with potential new
members. Events may be hosted at the chapter facility or an approved location (i.e., restaurant, alumni’s house, etc.) by the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Programs and IFC.
Bid Day: Bid Day will be held in the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Programs. This is the conclusion of the structured recruitment process and new members can formally accept a bid with the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Programs for the organization
they are invited to join.
A bid is an invitation to join an organization. Tulane students may not join a fraternity or sorority until they’ve earned 12-credit hours and a 2.5 GPA, approved by Tulane. We believe it is important for students to adjust to college life before deciding whether to join a Greek organization. Deferring the process of bid extension and acceptance until this time allows the students to truly find the right fit.
In January, IFC holds its formal bid signing week that culminates on Bid Day. Although recruitment events are in full swing throughout the fall semester or even though a fraternity member says his fraternity will extend you a bid, it is important to note that fraternities may not extend official bids to first-year students until Bid Day.
What requirements must I fulfill in order to participate?
All requirements and their details can be found here.
How many members can each fraternity take each spring?
Interfraternity Council fraternities admit members they feel are a good fit, without any restrictions on the number they may take. In the last few years, IFC new member classes have ranged from as few as ten to as many as 35 members, with the average size being 20–25.addi
I registered for recruitment early in the fall so the fraternities would know I'm interested. Do I still need to go to their events?
Our fraternities use the registration system to help them keep track of everyone who is interested in fraternity membership, but they rely much more on the in-person interactions they have with students. They want to be sure they are really able to get to know the people they invite to join their organization. Students who simply register for recruitment and then don't attend any events – or only attend the bare minimum of events – are less likely to receive a membership bid.
I thought Tulane didn't allow recruitment until the spring; why are there recruitment events in the fall?
While Tulane doesn't allow students to join fraternities until the spring semester, we want those students to make an informed decision about whether to join a fraternity and, should they decide to do so, which one to join. Taking time throughout the fall to get to know members of each fraternity in relaxed, casual settings allows students to focus on academics without feeling pressure to rush into a decision about fraternity membership.
Do you make exceptions to the requirements to go through recruitment?
No. Our IFC chapters have a strong commitment to academic achievement; the all-IFC GPA is currently 3.346. Interested men should display a similar commitment and prioritize their academic responsibilities before seeking fraternity membership. Likewise, our fraternities and sororities expect members to hold themselves to higher standards of personal behavior than the average student might. Therefore students who are not in good disciplinary standing with the University are not eligible to join these organizations.
Fraternities that extend bids to students who do not meet the eligibility requirements to join will be subject to charges under the Code of Student Conduct.
What if I am trying to resolve an issue with a grade in a course (make-up exam, received an incomplete, petitioning to have a grade changed, waiting for transfer credits, etc.)?
All issues with GPAs or credit hours must be reconciled, with documentation provided to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Programs, by Friday, January 22, 2021, at 5 p.m. CST.
How much does it cost to be in a fraternity?
The first semester of membership is generally the most expensive because there are one-time, new-member, initiation, and badge fees. Costs in the first semester average $600–$1500. Thereafter they range from $500–$1200 per semester.
Can I visit fraternity houses in the fall?
Absolutely, provided that you have been invited to do so. Fraternity houses are private residences that students live in; they are not open for people to wander into. Just as you wouldn't want someone you don't know walking into your family's home uninvited, you shouldn't enter a fraternity house uninvited. If you are invited to a fraternity house, either for a social event or other activity, you should not bring others along with you, unless a member has specifically told you that you may.
Can upperclassmen join fraternities?
Yes, though different fraternities have different practices about upperclassmen. Some chapters decide to take a new member class in the fall semester, and provided that students meet the minimum eligibility requirements, they may join in the fall. However many fraternities only take new members in the spring.
The following organizations are currently not recognized by Tulane University, Tulane Interfraternity Council, nor their own (Inter) National Headquarters:
Unrecognized fraternities and sororities are not held to the University or governing council standards that govern their behavior. They operate without oversight, training, and education provided by the staff in the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Programs nor by any national organization.
Please note: The University is currently working with staff from Kappa Sigma on plans to re-establish their chapter at Tulane. Affiliating with the group of students interested in this effort does not constitute affiliating with an unrecognized organization.