Legacy Policies and FAQs

Sharing Pi Phi sisterhood with a sister, daughter or granddaughter is a special part of the membership experience. Recommending a legacy for membership is a fulfilling way for alumnae to express their Lifelong Commitment to Pi Phi. The legacy information below may be helpful for Pi Phis and Potential New Members (PNMs) preparing for primary recruitment.

If you have questions not addressed here, please email recruitment@pibetaphi.org.

Pi Phi’s Constitution and Statutes define a legacy as a daughter, sister, or granddaughter of a current, initiated member. In their bylaws, chapters may expand that definition to include step relationships and great-granddaughters. Keep in mind that not all NPC groups define legacy the same way; this definition is specific to Pi Phi.

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

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 among the current members of that chapter.

Please know chapters are educated on legacy policies before recruitment begins. As our organization gets older, the number of legacies increases each year and membership selection decisions become more difficult for our collegiate sisters. For example, a number of Pi Phi chapters have more legacies come through the recruitment process than the total number of women they can 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. 

Leading with values.

Pi Phi's collegiate and alumnae programming is designed to promote friendship, develop women of intellect and integrity, cultivate leadership potential and enrich lives through community service.

Learn more

Every Sister. Every Year.

As a premier organization for women, we've supported and empowered our sisters since 1867. Your gifts to our Foundation provide the resources Pi Phi needs to ensure that work continues.

Learn more

We believe in the power of reading.

For more than a century, we've worked to inspire a lifelong love of reading that can unlock true potential, creating a more literate and productive society. Today, Pi Phis participate, donate and advocate for literacy through our Read > Lead > Achieve® reading initiatives — just as our sisters first did in 1912. 

Learn more