Intake Info
Greek Forum
The Greek Forum is mandatory for students who wish to pursue membership to any of the NPHC Greek organizations. The NPHC Executive Board will host a Greek Forum the second Wednesday of both the Fall and Spring semesters. Save the date for Fall 2017’s Greek Forum, which will be held on Wednesday, August 30th. Students who are considering participating in a NPHC affiliated Greek organization’s Intake process must attend Greek Forum before attending any NPHC organizations interest meeting. For additional information about the Greek Forum please contact Fraternity & Sorority Life at (662) 915-7248 or visit us in Minor Hall, Room B05C.
Register for the Fall 2017 Greek Forum here.
What is Intake?
Both undergraduate and graduate/alumni chapter members must realize that bringing new members into the NPHC affiliate organization is based upon the aspirant’s possession of specific qualifications. Individual chapters must be guided by membership identification and selection standards, which will promote the building of a strong and effective chapter. There are three important components in the membership intake process for NPHC affiliate organizations.
Generally, the actual intake process begins with an informational meeting. The University of Mississippi NPHC requires all active affiliate organizations to post notification of their upcoming interest meetings at least one week prior to said meeting. Notification in the form of a flyer is required. Flyers will be posted around campus.
At the informational meeting, interested students (aspirants) are invited to learn more about a specific organization and the specifics of the application process for that organization. You should note that at this point, hopeful aspirants are expected to have researched all of the NPHC fraternities and sororities and know a great deal about the organization they are visiting. It is not generally accepted behavior for a person to attend more than one organization’s informational meeting, although this practice is not prohibited by the NPHC.
After the informational meetings, potential aspirants are asked to complete a membership application and show proof that they have achieved the organization’s minimum standards for academics, community service, and leadership. Each organization is different in what they ask for, how proof of adherence to requirements can be documented, how they vote on aspirants, and how/if they will notify aspirants about being selected by their membership; but all require a minimum grade point average and an official transcript. An aspirant must possess a 2.5 cumulative GPA to be eligible for intake. The approval process for the applications vary from organization to organization, but all include alumni in the review and evaluation process.
After the applications have been approved, the membership education program begins. There are three important components in the membership intake process: (1) a pre-induction/orientation period, (2) the final induction ceremony (ritual or “rit” for short), and (3) an in-depth education program. The final pledge of oath of allegiance taken by a candidate is to be taken seriously. NPHC organizations take pride in the fact that membership in these organizations is considered a lifelong commitment.
Each affiliate organization implements the guidelines and details of its own membership intake process, so the length of the specific programs vary. The University of Mississippi does have a specific membership intake window each semester where intake must begin after a certain date and end before another date that semester. In no cases should the full intake process take longer than one semester. In addition to the time-frame requirement, other requirements for intake include, but are not limited to the following:
- Each chapter must file a list of intended candidates with the Office of the Dean of Students immediately following any informational meetings.
- Each chapter must file a list of initiated members with the Office of the Dean of Students immediately following initiation ceremonies.
- Intake processes must fall within the defined window.
- Each chapter must obtain approval for intake from the Office of the Dean of Students prior to conducting initiating an intake process.
- No chapter shall intake members prior to meeting the requirements of the college/university and its national organization.
- No intake shall be held without the presence of at least one graduate chapter and/or advisor.
- HAZING in any form, including physical and mental abuse, is prohibited and will not be tolerated.
- No person who has resigned from one sorority or fraternity may hold membership in any other organization in the NPHC.
- Each organization has a grade point average and credits earned requirement. The University of Mississippi NPHC requires aspiring members to possess a 2.50 cumulative GPA (even if the organization in which said aspirant is interested requires less.)
- To learn more about the NPHC organization’s membership requirements and application, please visit their national websites, as shared below.
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.