Greek Life

Learn the lingo of Greek life at Doane University.

Rush: the new member recruitment process that takes place each spring.

Active: a current student who is a member of a Greek organization.

Bid: a formal invitation to join a Greek organization after all rush requirements have been completed.

New Member: an individual who has accepted a bid to join a Greek organization and is in the process of completing New Member Education activities.

New Member Education Activities: activities designed to teach New Members about the values of their organization and build relationships among New Members and actives. Each group leads activities that are unique to their organization, but all activities take place during the same time periods throughout New Member Education. All fraternities and sororities are required to have an advisor present throughout all New Member Education activities.

New Member Class: a group of individuals who are in the process of joining a Greek group. New Member classes can be comprised of freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors.

New Member Education Hours: designated time periods during New Member Education in which fraternities and sororities facilitate pledging activities.

Potential New Member: a student who is eligible for membership but not yet accepted a bid to a Greek organization.

What you need to know about rushing and bids

The first steps to rushing are attending greek life events on campus and especially open houses at the end of the fall semester. Then the official rush parties start in the spring semester. Each group will have their first rush parties which are open to everyone and you should definitely attend as many as possible! Second and third rush parties are usually invite only. After the third rush party the groups decide who they want to give a bid, or invitation into the group to. Those are delivered by members to individuals on bid morning which usually falls on a Saturday. Those individuals then decided whether they would like to accept their bid. If they do decide to accept, greek week will start that day.

Who is eligible to join a Greek organization at Doane University?

To be eligible to join a fraternity or sorority, an individual must be a full-time Doane University student with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher – although a few groups have chosen to have a higher minimum GPA requirement. All eligible students must have also completed one semester of classes at the college or transferred in a minimum of 12 credits from an accredited institution (those credits must be on file with the Registrar’s office by the beginning of the spring semester). Dual credits obtained during high school will not be counted toward the 12 credit hour minimum. If necessary, the college reserves the right to deem a student ineligible to join a Greek organization due to behavior or disciplinary problems.

I’m not a first-year student, can I still go Greek?

Of course! Many students decide to go Greek after their first year at Doane. While it’s true that most members pledge during their freshman or sophomore year, there is no rule against upperclassmen rushing or pledging.

How many rush events should I attend if I am considering going Greek?

It’s important that individuals who want to join a Greek organization make informed decisions when determining which group fits them best. The best way to assess if an organization fits you is to meet their active members and find out if you support their organization’s core values. Each group may host up to four recruitment events through the school year. The two first recruitment events each group hosts – an introductory event in the fall and an official rush kickoff event early in the spring semester – are open to all eligible students. The last two recruitment events each group hosts in the spring are by invitation only.

What if I’m interested in rushing a particular organization or learning more about them but can’t attend one of their rush events?

If you’re interested in a group but can’t make it one of their events, let them know in advance. The group could invite you to future recruitment events.

If I participate in rush, am I guaranteed a bid to at least one organization on campus?

The Greek community at Doane University does not guarantee that everyone who attends a rush event will receive a bid. This system allows each group to recruit members they know will fit their culture and uphold their values. It also ensures individuals who have received a bid that the members of that organization sincerely want a potential member to be a part of their group.

I have a family member who is an alum of a Doane University Greek organization; does that mean I automatically get a bid to join the group to which they belonged?

Each fraternity and sorority has their own policy regarding legacy members. For more information on a group’s legacy policy, please contact their organization directly or Jayma Ausdemore, Director of Student Engagement and Greek Life.

How and when will I know if a group wants me to join?

Groups deliver formal invitations called “bids” to each person they invite to join their organization. Bids are delivered to recipients’ residence hall rooms or off-campus locations. All bids are distributed between 8-10 a.m. the first Saturday of Greek Week.

What if I won’t be on campus or am unavailable during the time period when bids are distributed?

If you will not be in your residence hall room or if you live off campus, you need to give the Greek System Director a phone number where you can be reached that morning. You will receive a call with bid information if you are unable to receive a bid in person.

How do I accept a bid?

Bid recipients must return bids to the Perry Campus Center Board Room between 10-11 a.m. the morning they are received. The ballots and boxes where bids are to be returned are provided in the Perry Campus Center Boardroom. Each group has their own ballot box for returning bids. Individuals joining a Greek organization accept a bid by signing it. Unaccepted bids are returned to groups unsigned.

How many bids can I accept?

Students may rush as many groups as they want in the process of deciding which group fits them best, but they may only accept a bid from one organization.

What do I do if I don’t want to accept a bid?

Individuals joining a sorority should leave the bid unsigned and return it to the Perry Campus Center Board Room the morning it is received. Those joining a fraternity do not need to take any action and it will be assumed they decline their bid(s) if they do not complete a ballot in the board room.

The Greek system at Doane University is comprised of local organizations. What are the benefits to joining a group that doesn’t have a national affiliation?

There are three main benefits for individuals who join a local fraternity or sorority rather than an organization with a national affiliation. The first is that belonging to a local system allows groups to maintain complete control of how their organization operates. This is important because it allows groups to grow and develop in ways that are relevant to their particular campus without forcing them to adapt to a larger organization that may be out of touch with their particular campus environment. In addition, members of a local organization pay dues that are far below the cost of belonging to a national organization, making it significantly less expensive to belong to a local organization rather than a national one. Moreover, joining the Doane University Greek system allows students to be a part of the most tightly knit alumni network associated with our college. Each Greek organization has several hundred alumni spread across the country and around the world available for career networking purposes.

What you need to know about pledging and Greek Week

When does New Member Education start and how long does it last?

NME activities start the first Saturday of Greek Week.  All new members are required to attend a meeting at 11:30 a.m. before they are eligible for participating in activities. (New Members who cannot attend this meeting must meet with the Greek System Director individually before participating in NME activities.) All new members are invited and encouraged to attend a luncheon following the meeting. Official NME activities start at 1 p.m. that Saturday and occur every day for a set period of time through the following Saturday.

What are new member education activities like?

Because each group on campus is different, they have different activities, but all activities are designed to teach new members about their organization and build camaraderie among their members. All activities are closely monitored by the college, and each fraternity and sorority is required to have a sponsor present at all times during new member education hours.

What if I’m joining a group and can’t attend all new member activities for my group?

It’s important for new members to be present during as much of the NME process as possible. However, conflicts do arise. It’s each new member’s responsibility to communicate with their group in advance of when they will need to be absent from NME activities so their group can manage the situation accordingly.

The Greek Life Awards program is a way to honor and recognize Doane’s Greek Life community for the great work they do throughout the year. Nominate Greek students or their Greek organizations to help highlight the community.

Greek Council Member of the Year

This award is given to two members of Greek Council who went above and beyond in service to the council and the greater Greek community. These students exemplify the mission and values of our Greek System and work for the betterment of the Greek Council and Greek System. These students have made a significant impact on the council and in our system. 

Outstanding Academic Excellence

This award seeks to recognize one Greek organization that demonstrates a high commitment to academics, promotes lifelong learning, and engages with the academic mission of Doane University. Academic excellence includes academic performance of the group's membership and supportive and accountability measures implemented by the group to promote high academic performance.

Outstanding Community Service Award

This award seeks to recognize one Greek organization that demonstrates a high commitment to generosity and personal engagement with others, and that has conducted a community service project for Doane University or the Crete community. Community service projects considered for this award include any project organized by the group that provides direct interaction of members with an agency, community or service that needs assistance through the time and talent of members.

Outstanding Event

This award seeks to recognize one Greek organization that hosted an event for Doane University or the Crete community that collected funds and/or goods to support a charity, program or agency. Philanthropy events considered are any event organized and conducted by the group as a means to raise funds and/or goods for a philanthropic effort. 

Outstanding Greek Advisor

This award seeks to recognize a Greek organization advisor who exemplifies the mission and values of the Greek system, contributes significantly to the success of the local chapter and demonstrates exceptional mentorship for members of the Greek group. All current Greek advisors are eligible to receive this award. There is no requirement for length of time involved as an advisor.

Outstanding New Member

This award seeks to recognize newer members who are seen as emerging leaders in the Greek Life community at Doane University. An Outstanding New Member should show a commitment to living out their organization's mission and values, exemplify leadership in their Greek organization and make significant contributions to their Greek organization or the Greek system.

Outstanding Greek President

This award seeks to recognize the contributions, dedication and hard work of Greek organization presidents who served the Greek community during the last academic year. The student should have demonstrated a commitment to the mission and values of their organization and the Greek system, exceptional leadership skills, ability to overcome adversity and character.

Sorority Member of the Year

This award seeks to recognize and highlight the outstanding contributions of one sorority member in the Doane University Greek Life community. This student should exemplify the mission, values and purpose of their organization and the Greek Life community. This student should have made significant contributions and impacted the Greek Life community overall during their tenure as a member.

Fraternity Member of the Year

This award seeks to recognize and highlight the outstanding contributions of one fraternity member in the Doane University Greek Life community. This student should exemplify the mission, values and purpose of their organization and the Greek Life community. This student should have made significant contributions and impacted the Greek Life community overall during their tenure as a member.