Formal Greek recruitment starts this week, beginning Sept. 18 for the Interfraternity Council and Sept. 15 to 19 for the College Panhellenic Council.

Recruitment is based on a mutual-selection process by the potential member and the chapter, said Chris Juhl, activities adviser for Greek affairs.

“Chapters try to select the people that would have the biggest impact for their organization on campus, but we want potential members to be aware that there are a number of organizations and they should take the time to ask questions,” he said.

Potential CPC recruits must attend at least one of two mandatory informational meetings at 7 p.m. Wednesday or at 8 p.m. Thursday in the Holmes Student Center’s Carl Sandburg Auditorium.

On Friday, potential members visit all eight sorority chapters for about 25 minutes each to learn more about them and meet their members, said Amber Hicks, CPC vice president of membership selection.

The following day, chapters are narrowed down to five through mutual selection of the chapter and the potential member. These five visits are longer, and they concentrate on the chapter philanthropy, which is the community service project each chapter organizes.

Formal recruitment ends with a visit to two chapters on Sunday and a Bid Night Celebration later that evening, at which the Panhellenic community welcomes its newest members.

IFC formal recruitment begins at noon on Saturday with an informational meeting in the park off Russell Road. Following the meeting, potential members have the opportunity to visit each chapter. On Sunday, bids are received and the fraternities welcome their newest members.

Following recruitment, potential members go through a new-member process that lasts six to eight weeks. During this time, potential members learn the values and traditions of the chapter, Hicks said.

Greek Life is developed to build a lifelong bond, where students have a home away from home and an instant family on campus, Juhl said.

“Some say by choosing to go Greek, I would pay for my friends. But if that is the case, I haven’t paid enough,” he said.

Being in a Greek organization also provides a place for strong minds to meet, Hicks said.

“Greek life provides a social atmosphere while at the same time building leadership and community involvement,” he said. “Very few organizations give you all that in one package.”