Panhellenic Association
The Grand Valley State University Panhellenic Association oversees and governs NPC sororities at GVSU. They work to promote cooperation, communication, and unity among the sororities, while also fostering a positive image of the sorority community both on and off campus. The Panhellenic Association also plans and coordinates formal sorority recruitment, establishes and enforces community standards and policies, and provides educational programs and resources for sorority members. Additionally, the Panhellenic Association may organize philanthropic events, social activities, and leadership opportunities for its members.
Welcome fellow Lakers!
On behalf of our 9 Panhellenic chapters, welcome to the Grand Valley Panhellenic Association. My name is Madison Johnson, and I am the 2024 Panhellenic President.
As you begin, or continue, your journey at Grand Valley, I encourage you to explore all of the amazing opportunities that GVSU has to offer. I am beyond excited about your interest in the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) which consists of 26 total chapters. Grand Valley is so lucky to have nine of these sororities, offering a home to around 600 Panhellenic sisters. Each of our chapters offers a supportive, inspirational, and empowering environment that flourishes members' experiences here at GVSU. Our sisters are encouraged to strive to improve in academics, leadership, service, and sisterhood - offering a stronger, safer, and more inclusive environment and sisterhood that is GVSU Panhellenic.
Reflecting on my time as a Grand Valley student, I could not imagine my experience without this community. I feared that I would have no sense of belonging as I began this next stage of my life. Going through recruitment and joining this community truly subsided all of these fears. Each and every Panhellenic sister that I have met has been nothing short of welcoming with open arms, offering unwavering support in all of my endeavors. Being a part of this community has given me limitless opportunities, leadership skills, networking opportunities, and friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. These women continuously push me to be a better version of myself, and I can wholeheartedly say that my time in Panhellenic has shaped me into the person that I am today.
I have been given the privilege to lead this community alongside a remarkable group of Panhellenic women who are part of many of our chapters. Our hope is to continue to grow our community with women who embody our values, so we can continue to offer a community of inclusive, hardworking, driven, kind, and genuine women. I am beyond grateful for all this community has offered me in my time thus far, and I am beyond excited to foster this experience for the generations to come. I’m delighted to help you find your home away from home!
Madison Johnson
2024 Panhellenic President
Hey There Lakers!
On behalf of the GVSU Panhellenic Executive Board, we are so very excited to have you join our fantastic sisterhood! We know that the transition to college is a huge one filled with questions and new experiences, so why not add sorority recruitment? Whether you're a freshman beginning your college journey or a transfer student seeking connections on campus, joining a sorority can be an experience that enriches your college years in countless ways. Joining a sorority allows you to make connections with fellow collegiate women, who have or are experiencing many of the same transitions, who can help guide you through this new stage in life.
This community is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and empowering environment where every member can grow personally, academically, and socially. When you become a member of the Panhellenic community you are provided with tons of opportunities that can help to advance your future. Joining a sorority can provide you with experiences that will positively impact your life and help you to create the best college experience.
I know that joining a large student organization like Panhellenic sororities may seem daunting, it did to me in 2021, but it is also the most exciting. When I went through recruitment I was looking for a home away from home. I wanted to branch out from my dorm and connect with older students who could answer my many questions about college. All nine of the fantastic chapters here on GVSU’s campus welcomed me with open arms and gave me a small insight into what sorority life and sisterhood could be.
In a sorority, new college friends turn to family and surround you with a strong community to lean on, even in the hardest of times. These chapters are all devoted to empowerment and betterment, whether it be in academics, friendship, service or leadership. We hope that you will take this opportunity to connect with other women, build meaningful relationships, and make lifelong memories.
Illy Taylor
2024 Vice President of Recruitment
Panhellenic Recruitment
Formal Recruitment
Panhellenic formal recruitment is a process by which sororities affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) recruit and select new members. The recruitment process typically occurs at the beginning of each academic year or semester and is a structured and formalized process that takes place over several days. The Panhellenic formal recruitment process at Grand Valley involves a series of events, including information round, values round, and preference round, during which potential new members have the opportunity to visit each sorority and meet with its members. These events are designed to allow potential new members to learn about each sorority's values, traditions, philanthropic efforts, and sisterhood culture.
Throughout the recruitment process, potential new members will attend events with fewer and fewer sororities as they make decisions about which sororities they feel most connected to. Each sorority also makes its own decisions about which potential new members they would like to extend a bid to. At the end of the process, potential new members are offered bids to join one of the sororities they visited and can decide whether to accept or decline the bid.
Panhellenic formal recruitment is a highly structured process that is designed to ensure fairness and equity among all sororities and potential new members. The process aims to match potential new members with sororities that align with their values, interests, and goals and create a sense of belonging and sisterhood among its members. More information about other opportunities to join will be made available at the end of the Panhellenic Formal Recruitment.
To learn more information, visit our Panhellenic Recruitment page!
Panhellenic Governing Documents
List of Panhellenic Association Sororities
Alpha Omicron Pi - Lambda Eta Chapter
The object of Alpha Omicron Pi Women's Fraternity shall be to encourage a spirit of Fraternity and love among its members; to stand at all times for character, dignity, scholarship, and college loyalty; to strive for and support the best interest of the colleges and universities in which chapters are installed, and in no way to disregard, injure, or sacrifice those interests for the sake of prestige or advancement of the Fraternity or any of its chapters. We are inspired and committed to our founding principles and are guided by the following values: trusting and respecting each other, building lifelong friendships, contributing time, talent and financial resources, promoting integrity, developing leaders, striving for excellence, encouraging innovation and creativity, using teamwork and collaboration, acting philanthropically, and being a living example.
Founded Nationally: January 2nd, 1897
Founded at GVSU: May 6th, 1989
Alpha Sigma Alpha - Zeta Tau Chapter
The purpose of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority is to foster close friendships between members and to develop women of poise and purpose. The vision of Alpha Sigma Alpha is to cultivate values and ideals in women who are known for their character and concern for others. Alpha Sigma Alpha inspires women to lead, to serve and most of all to make a difference. Alpha Sigma Alpha promotes high ideals and standards for its members throughout their lives by emphasizing balance among our four aims of intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development. Alpha Sigma Alpha provides opportunities through: Sisterhood forming strong bonds of unconditional friendship based on common values and experiences; Heritage expressed through creed, ritual and history; and Leadership and Service enhanced by chapter, campus and community involvement.
Founded Nationally: November 15th, 1901
Founded at GVSU: March 27th, 1999
Alpha Sigma Tau - Gamma Xi Chapter
Alpha Sigma Tau Sorority is committed to developing scholars, philanthropists, leaders and sisters among our collegiate and alumnae members. The Sorority strives to have a cooperative relationship with our host colleges and universities as we educate our members on who we are as Alpha Sigma Taus. Alpha Sigma Tau promotes the ethical, cultural, and social development of its members, specifically: to develop the character of each member through a study of ethics so that she will show in all her relationships sincerity, honesty, love and understanding; to help each member enjoy the cultural advantages in life so that she will know how to select those things which are most worthwhile; and to develop in each member the social graces to the extent that she will be able to take her place in life with true dignity and poise.
Founded Nationally: November 4th, 1899
Founded at GVSU: April 13th, 1991
Delta Zeta - Xi Psi Chapter
The purpose of Delta Zeta Sorority shall be to unite its members in the bonds of sincere and lasting friendship, to stimulate one another in the pursuit of knowledge, to promote the moral and social culture of its members, and to develop plans for guidance and unity in action; objects worthy of the highest aim and purpose of associated effort. The purpose of this sorority shall be advanced through the National Convention, the National Council, and the college and alumnae chapters. We share a common purpose: to make life fuller, more meaningful, more rewarding.
Founded Nationally: October 24th, 1902
Founded at GVSU: October 14th, 1989
Gamma Phi Beta - Eta Delta Chapter
The mission of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority is to inspire the highest type of womanhood. Our vision is to build women of character who celebrate sisterhood and make a difference in the world around us. We promote lifelong commitment, intellectual and personal growth and service to humanity. We perpetuate our heritage as we commit to the growth of our Sorority. We foster enduring friendships. We advocate ethical behavior, respect, authenticity, accountability, and integrity. We aspire to excellence in all that we do.
Founded Nationally: November 11th, 1874
Founded at GVSU: December 4th, 2010
Phi Mu - Rho Eta Chapter
Phi Mu Women's Fraternity is a women's organization that provides personal and academic development, service to others, commitment to excellence and lifelong friendship through a shared tradition. Phi Mu promotes vibrant living, encouraging members to achieve their personal best. Phi Mu Fraternity is a vibrant values-based women's organization. Our purpose is found in the principles of love, honor, and truth.
Founded Nationally: March 4th, 1852
Founded at GVSU: December 6th, 2008
Phi Sigma Sigma - Iota Iota Chapter
The mission of Phi Sigma Sigma Women's Fraternity is to inspire the personal development of each sister and perpetuate the advancement of womanhood. Our vision is to be a dynamic sisterhood of powerful women fostering uncompromising principles, igniting positive change and embracing individuality. We are a dynamic, principled, passionately committed group of women from around the world who define ourselves not by our distinct differences, but by what we have in common.
Founded Nationally: November 26th, 1913
Founded at GVSU: April 14th, 2007
Sigma Kappa - Kappa Beta Chapter
The purpose of Sigma Kappa Sorority is to provide women lifelong opportunities and support for social, intellectual, and spiritual development by bringing women together to positively impact our communities. Our values are personal growth, friendship, service, and loyalty; bound by a promise.
Founded Nationally: November 9th, 1874
Founded at GVSU: January 27th, 1996
Sigma Sigma Sigma - Epsilon Gamma Chapter
The purpose of Sigma Sigma Sigma is to establish among its members a perpetual bond of friendship, to develop in them strong womanly character, and to impress upon them high standards of conduct.
Founded Nationally: April 20th, 1898
Founded at GVSU: April 14th, 1984
Fraternity & Sorority Life is a part of the Office of Student Life, which is a department of the Division of Student Affairs of Grand Valley State University.