What is Panhellenic? It’s a strange word, don’t you think? I do too! Why would anyone choose that name for an organization? Let’s break it down to understand.
The word “Panhellenic” (pan-huh-len-ic) is formed from two Greek words, “pan” meaning “all” and “Hellenic”meaning “Greek.” When you hear the word Panhellenic in reference to a college council, an alumnae association, or a national conference, you want to think “all sororities.” The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is the body of 26 women’s fraternities established to support the collegiate chapters of the NPC member groups.
Wait, did you say fraternities?
Yes, I did! In the early days of collegiate sororities, many women’s organizations called themselves “fraternities” until the term “sororities” was coined around 1874. So in the NPC you’ll find a nice blend of both sororities and women’s fraternities. Sometimes these women’s fraternities are simply called fraternities. If you stumble across a Greek fraternity on the internet or elsewhere that is unfamiliar to you, the organization may be for women, men, or both.
Your collegiate Panhellenic Council may go by many names: Pan, Panhel, PHA (Panhellenic Association), CPH (College Panhellenic), CPC (College Panhellenic Council), or WPA (Womens Panhellenic Association). Typically alumnae Panhellenic organizations (for women who have left the college scene) are called associations.
At present, nearly 4 million women are members of (National Panhellenic Conference) NPC groups. This figure includes both collegiate and alumnae members (uh-lum-nee).
Note: ‘Collegiate’ is an adjective used to describe a person or thing. ‘Collegian’ is a noun used to describe a person. ‘Alumnae’ (uh-lum-nee) is the feminine plural form of the feminine Latin word ‘alumna.’ ‘Alumni’ is the plural form for a group of men or men and women together. One man? He’s an ‘alumnus.’
SUNDAY TOLLEFSON is an author, professional speaker, coach, and a leading authority on sorority recruitment. She is the author of RUSH RIGHT: Reveal Your Best YOU During Sorority Recruitment and the founder of SureSister.com.
Copyright 2009-2010 Sunday Tollefson, SureSister.com
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