First-Year Recruitment Pilot

Introduction

In the spring of 2026, Gettysburg College will be piloting a policy allowing students to join fraternities and sororities as early as the second semester of their first year.

This pilot will be assessed continuously using the metrics provided below to ensure the changes that are being tested do not have a negative impact on our community. As a pilot, the College may change, add to, extend, or end the program at any time if the assessment data indicates that these changes are negatively impacting students or the College. Any such changes will be communicated to the appropriate student leaders.

Metrics

The College will use the areas of academic success, student involvement, student behavior, and institutional impact to assess if the pilot is successful. Based on the information collected through this assessment, the College may end or modify the pilot as needed. Specific metrics for each of these areas include:

Academic Success

  • The community average new member GPA continues to align with the average GPA of the new members' peer groups.
  • Academic suspension rates of new members remain consistent compared to previous years.
  • Class withdrawal rates of new members remain consistent compared to previous years.

Student Involvement

  • New member involvement rates in co-curricular opportunities remain consistent compared to previous years, accounting for the change in semesters.
  • Rates of new members involved in or seeking opportunities to be involved in academic opportunities outside of the classroom (ex. faculty research)  remain consistent compared to previous years, accounting for the change in semesters.

Student Behavior

  • Organizations support the safe use of alcohol and do not contribute to an increase in alcohol violations or medical transports among new members compared to rates among first-years in previous years.
  • Organizations support a safe new member education process and do not engage in activities that violate the College's Anti-Hazing Policy, Organizational Misconduct Policy, or other policies related to student safety.
  • Organizations do not extend bids or otherwise invite first-year students to be members of their organization prior to Bid Day, as set by the College.
  • Organizations do not permit first-year students who do not meet the College's eligibility requirements to join in an unofficial capacity including as a "social member", underground member, or similar status.

Institutional Impact

  • Retention rates of fraternity and sorority members remains consistent.
  • Retention rates of first-year students remains consistent.
  • Withdrawal rates of students due to experiences with fraternities and sororities does not increase.
  • The College's ability to recruit an appropriate first-year class is not impacted.

  • Recruitment Eligibility

    Fraternities and sororities may extend bids or invitations of membership to students that meet the following criteria:

    • Have completed at least 3 credit hours on-campus or have transferred from another college or university where they have completed a similar course load.
    • Are not currently on conduct probation.
    • Agree to the College’s academic, judicial, and educational record release waivers.
    • Have at least a 2.500 cumulative GPA if they are a first-year student or have at least a 2.200 cumulative GPA if they are a sophomore, junior, or senior. Students should be aware that these are the College's requirements. Governing Councils and chapters may require higher GPAs for a student to join an organization.
    • Register for recruitment.

  • Timing of Recruitment

    Fraternity and sorority governing councils may open recruitment registration for the spring semester and host recruitment events for first-year students starting on November 1st. This may include events that highlight chapters at different times, provided the event is coordinated by the council and all organizations within the council are invited to participate. The College may cancel events if there is evidence that this process is being used to circumvent the timing restriction on chapter specific events outlined below.

    Individual chapters may start hosting their own recruitment events, as defined in the Fraternity & Sorority Policy Manual, for first-year students starting on the second Saturday of the spring semester. Bids or other forms of membership invitations may not be distributed to first-year students until the third Sunday of the spring semester.

  • Additional Education

    In addition to the new member education expectations outlined in the Fraternity & Sorority Policy Manual, new members that are first-year students are also required to complete an additional module on academic skills and time management. First-year new members will also be expected to complete all of their First-Year Residential Experience (FYRE) requirements as part of the College's new member education expectations.

    Chapter Presidents and New Member Educators from each chapter are required to complete training provided by the Office of Student Activities & Greek Life related to promoting academic success, hazing prevention, and supporting campus involvement prior to extending bids or other forms of membership invitations in the spring semester.