All six of UNI’s sorority chapters will be hoping to recruit their newest members when primary recruitment begins on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and runs through Sunday, Sept. 13. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the recruitment process will look different than normal years, as the events will take place virtually as opposed to the traditional in-person format.

Held each fall during the semester’s first few weeks, primary recruitment is a mutual selection process where students partake in a multitude of activities designed to teach them about the different sorority chapters in a concentrated period of time. It is also an opportunity for students to meet sorority members, ask questions and define financial obligations.

Virtual recruitment meetings will be on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10. Students will visit all six of the sorority chapters on one of the two days. The conversations will focus on topics such as high school involvement, summer activities and what they want to get out of the sorority experience. Students will attend six 30-minute events with 15 minutes in between each for breaks. There will be an hour break at 6 p.m. for dinner.

Once recruitment is up, it is up to the sorority chapters themselves to decide the events they will be hosting for the remainder of the week and if they will be in person, virtual or a mix of both. Many sorority chapters plan to hold both in person and virtual events.

“We will take this semester as it comes, but our events will be both virtual and socially distant with masks in person,” said Alpha Xi Delta President Lauren Scholbrock. “All chapters want to ensure that all members remain safe while also getting the most out of their membership.”

Despite the different format, sorority chapters are optimistic for the event, with Alpha Phi President Kelsey Van Aalsburg stating there are more women registered for recruitment this year than last year.

“Since virtual recruitment has never been done before, there were many obstacles we had to overcome,” said Van Aalsburg. “All of the women in Greek life at the University of Northern Iowa are very resilient and we bounced back quickly. I am very proud of this community and the innovation that we have all had during these uncertain times.”

For more information on Sorority Primary Recruitment, visit studentlife.uni.edu/sorority-primary-recruitment.