Frequently Asked Questions about Primary Recruitment

Any alumna can complete a RIF for any PNM participating in recruitment at any university with a Pi Phi chapter. Relatives, including sisters, mothers and grandmothers, may complete RIFs for their family members. The alumna completing the RIF can be a member of any Pi Phi chapter — not just the one where the PNM is participating in recruitment.

An alumna member can complete both a LIF and a RIF for the same PNM; however, the LIF is not necessary if a RIF is also being completed.

A collegiate member cannot complete a RIF but may complete a LIF. Collegiate members can let their chapters know about relationships with PNMs participating in recruitment at their university by completing a Friendship Form, available in the Resource Library.

A RIF is not required for membership in Pi Phi, and multiple RIFs do not increase the chances that a chapter will extend a bid to membership to a PNM. Chapters consider whether a PNM has sponsorship, not the number of recommendations she has from alumnae. One RIF is necessary to provide sponsorship.

RIFs completed on paper should be mailed directly to the chapter (not to Headquarters or an alumnae club). There is no need to send photos, resumes or other recommendations to the chapter; the PNM provides this information to the university when she signs up to participate in recruitment. Addresses can be found here.

Pi Phis accept RIFs until the preference round of recruitment begins. We recommend completing the RIF before recruitment so the chapter sees the information before the first round.

An alumna does not have to pay her dues to complete a RIF. However, we encourage you to update your profile while you’re logged in to your account.

If you have a concern or question, we ask that you contact headquarters by phone (636-256-0680) or email (recruitment@pibetaphi.org) rather than the chapter.
 
Both the chapter and alumnae are bound by National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) policy and College Panhellenic recruitment rules. According to Pi Phi’s Policy and Position Statements, alumnae may not assist with or be present for recruitment activities, may not contact collegiate members during recruitment to discuss recruitment progress or the status of a PNM, or be present during a membership selection meeting (except for Alumnae Advisory Committee members, visiting Fraternity officers or staff).

Our Policy and Position Statements and NPC policy also state that gifts should not be sent to the chapter on behalf of a PNM. Chapters can receive negative repercussions from their College Panhellenic if gifts are accepted.

Per Pi Phi’s Constitution and Statutes, a daughter, sister, or granddaughter of a current, initiated member shall be considered a legacy of the Fraternity. Chapters may add in their own bylaws to include step relationships and great granddaughters as legacies. Keep in mind that not all NPC groups have the same definition of a legacy; this definition is specific to Pi Phi.

Complete the Recruitment Information Form (RIF) if you are an alumna or the Legacy Introduction Form (LIF) if you are not an alumna.

No. Chapter members and alumnae advisors are not permitted to discuss why a PNM was released because membership selection is private chapter business, happens under Ritual and is strictly confidential between the current members of that chapter.
 
Please know that chapters are educated on legacy policies before recruitment begins. As our organization gets older, the number of legacies increases each year and these decisions become more difficult for our collegiate sisters. For example, there are a number of chapters who see more legacies come through the recruitment process than they are eligible to extend bids to. Our collegiate members are guided to make what they believe is the best decision for their chapter at the time and that decision is theirs to make.

The Fraternity has prioritized and elevated attention on diversity, equity and inclusion. Of increased focus for collegians and alumnae has been the special treatment of legacies during the recruitment process. The Fraternity supports equitable and inclusive membership selection practices which allow all Potential New Members to have an equal opportunity for membership based on their qualifications.

Chapters can choose from three legacy courtesy options for the 2020-2021 academic year: 

1. Follow existing legacy procedures.  These chapters will invite all legacies to the first invitational round and if invited to Preference, legacies will be placed at the top of the bid list.

2. Eliminate  the  top of the bid list courtesy  but keep the first-round  invitation  courtesy. These chapters will invite legacies to the first invitational round. 

3. Eliminate  the  top of the bid list courtesy  and  the  first-round invitation courtesy. These chapters will consider legacies just as they consider any other PNM for membership. These chapters will meet the requirements of the Constitution and Statutes special consideration by identifying all legacies for members of the chapter prior to the start of recruitment.