Glossary of Terms
Fraternity and Sorority Life has its own terminology that you may encounter throughout the joining process and membership experience. Whether you’re exploring our community for the first time or looking up a specific term, this glossary is designed to help you better understand the language, traditions, and programs that make up Fraternity and Sorority Life at Grand Valley State University.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Panhellenic Association (PHA) | The Panhellenic Association is a local extension of the National Panhellenic Conference, with an executive board that has judicial authority over the chapters it represents. |
| Pers/Personal/Special | A mentoring relationship between a new member and an established chapter member; can be used regionally to describe a person going through intake who shares the number of an initiated member. Commonly used by NPHC. |
| Philanthropy | A charity or community service. Each organization has their own specific national charity that they donate to and some organizations have an additional charity individualized for their chapter. |
| Potential New Member (PNM) | A non-affiliated individual interested in fraternity and sorority life. |
| Primary Recruitment | Primary recruitment is the main way of joining a National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) organization. It typically takes place in September at GVSU. |
| Quota | A specific number of women to which each Panhellenic Council sorority may extend membership during a formal (fall) recruitment period. |
| registered Student Organization handbook | A resource guide and policy manual for officers, members, and advisors of Grand Valley State University student organizations. |
| Registered Student organization (RSO) | Student organizations that have gone through the process to be officially recognized by the university. |
| Rho Gamma | An active member from one of the Panhellenic chapters who guide potential new members through Panhellenic Primary Recruitment. |
| Stepping | Stepping is a form of percussive dance in which the participant’s entire body is used as an instrument to produce complex rhythms and sounds through a mixture of footsteps and handclaps. |
| Strolling | Also known as “party walk(ing).” An energetic, synchronized dance. Typically, National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizational members move together in a line expressing pride for their organization. Emulating or cutting in/through the line is considered a sign of disrespect. |
| The National Asian Pacific Islander American Panhellenic Association (NAPA) | A national umbrella organization for 18 Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Greek-letter organizations. |
| The North American Inferfraternity Conference (NIC) | The national umbrella organization that represents 70 fraternities, including multiple NPHC and MGC fraternities. |
| The Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution | Located within the Dean of Student''s Office that handles all student and organizational conduct for the university. |
Page last modified June 30, 2026