Fraternities use particular terms for recruitment, chapter operations and alumni relations. Delta Chi is no exception, and a list of terms is provided below to help you be more prepared in the recruitment process. If someone is using a term you don’t understand, feel free to ask for an explanation.

“A” – Delta Chi uses a system of letters as the esoteric titles of our chapters’ executive officers. For example, the person commonly called the president would be the “A” of a Delta Chi Chapter. Other officers are as follows: “B” vice president, “C” secretary, “D” treasurer, “E” alumni secretary, and “F” risk management officer.

Active - A person who has been initiated into lifelong membership in a Greek organization. Also called a Member.

Alumna - A graduated member of a women’s sorority/fraternity: plural is alumnae. Alumnae often support chapter activities through donations, assistance with advising, employment of undergraduates, etc.

Alumni Board of Trustees (ABT) – A group of volunteer alumni organized to provide advice, oversight and mentoring to undergraduate officers and committee chairmen.

Alumni Chapter - An organization of Delta Chi alumni based on geographical location regardless of graduating chapter.

Alumnus - A graduated member of a men’s fraternity: plural is alumni. Alumni often support chapter activities through donations, assistance with advising, employment of undergraduates, etc. 

Associate Member - A person who has accepted a bid to join Delta Chi, received the associate member pin, and is engaged in preparing for initiation but who has not yet been initiated into full membership.

Associate Membership - The term used to describe the period of time that an individual is an Associate Member.

“BB” - An alumnus who establishes and maintains a close advisory relationship with a chapter and serves as a teacher, counselor and mentor.

Badge - The pin of an initiated Delta Chi.

Bid - An invitation to become a member of Delta Chi.

Big Brother - An older member assigned to assist an associate member as a mentor.

Brother - An initiated member of Delta Chi. It is used as a term of address when an initiated member refers to another member.

Chapter - The local campus group of Delta Chi.

Chapter Advisor - Referred to in Delta Chi as the “BB.”

Canadian InterFraternity Conference (CIFC) - An annual national leadership conference on Greek leadership held at various campuses throughout Canada.

Colony - A newly-organized group working toward becoming a chartered chapter of Delta Chi.

Disaffiliation - The process of terminating one’s fraternity membership before initiation.

Faculty/Staff Advisor - A faculty member who is the chapter’s representative to the university and who advises the chapter on university matters.

Fraternity - A men's Greek organization. Some sororities are identified as fraternities in their official names; others describe themselves as being a “woman's fraternity”.

Greek Organization - A fraternity or sorority (social, honor, or professional).

Greeks - Members of a fraternity or sorority. The term Greek is used because a majority of fraternities and sororities use Greek letters to distinguish themselves.

Hazing - Any conduct that subjects another person, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or psychologically, to anything that may endanger, abuse, degrade, or intimidate the person as a condition of association with a group or organization, regardless of the person's consent or lack of consent. Delta Chi has a NO HAZING policy and takes strict action against any chapter or colony that participates in hazing activities.

House - The residence of a Delta Chi chapter or colony, if it has one.

House Corporation - A legal entity holding title to, or leasing, any real property (land and buildings) for a chapter's living/meeting purposes. This alumni body has basic responsibilities relative to property ownership and maintenance.

Inactive Member - A member who has no material participation in undergraduate chapter activities, such as social activities, intramural competition, living in the chapter house or voting at undergraduate chapter meetings.

Informal Recruitment - A continuous, open recruitment period with no specific, scheduled, system-wide activities. Bids may be extended and accepted at any time.

Initiation - A formal presentation of the Delta Ch Ritual in which an associate member becomes a full member of Delta Chi.

Interest Group - A group of individuals on campus in the first stage of the process leading to colonization as a Delta Chi colony.

Interfraternity Council (IFC) - The umbrella organization for fraternity chapters and colonies on a particular campus. Also referred to as an Inter-Greek Council if women’s groups are included.

Legacy - A son, brother, grandson or nephew of a Delta Chi.

Member - See Active. 

National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) - The governing body for 26 national and international women's fraternities/sororities. (See also www.npcwomen.org)

National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) - The governing body of nine historically African-American Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities. (See also www.nphchq.org)

North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) - The governing body for 66 national and international men’s fraternities. (See also www.nicindy.org)

Philanthropy - Fundraising events conducted by fraternities and sororities for local and international charities. Each Delta Chi chapter has its own local philanthropy to which it donates time, money, and energy. 

Ritual - The traditional beliefs and oaths of a sorority or fraternity, usually used in reference to the Ceremonies of Initiation as well as some formal chapter meetings.  These traditions do not include any forms of hazing, because hazing weakens the bonds of brotherhood and undermines the common experience of the fraternity.  Ritual does however, ensure that all members share a common experience across multiple campuses and generations.

Rush/Recruitment Chair - The person from each fraternity or sorority who is in charge of each chapter's recruitment functions.

Rush/Recruitment - A program (and period of time) of membership recruitment by Greek organizations.  Fraternity members give information about their respective organizations to potential new members. The potential new members give information about themselves and inquire about the missions, philosophies, financial obligations, alumni opportunities and membership commitment of the organization that they are considering joining. It is an active process on both sides to ensure that new members are properly matched with a fraternity.

Rushee - A person who is going through formal rush to join a Greek organization. 

Sister - An initiated member of a sorority/women’s fraternity. It is used as a form of address when one initiated member refers to another member. 

Social - a term used to describe the interpersonal development that occurs within Greek organizations, not to be confused with parties.

Sorority - An individual women's Greek organization. This is the term commonly used to distinguish between men's (fraternity) and women's (sorority) organizations. As noted previously, some sororities are identified as fraternities in their official names.

Here is an index of the Greek alphabet to better identify various fraternities and sororities.