Record growth strengthens Panhellenic community at William & Mary

Primary Panhellenic sorority recruitment at William & Mary drew the largest number of participants in decades. 506 students were fully engaged in the process, and ultimately over 410 accepted a bid to join one of the university’s 10 Panhellenic chapters.

The two-weekend-long process saw a 26.5% increase in participation compared to last year, and after Bid Day, the formal conclusion of the process, a total Panhellenic community size of more than 1,230 members.

“This is an exciting time for William & Mary Panhellenic and the larger fraternity & sorority community,” said Alexa Gerling, assistant director in Student Leadership Development and Panhellenic advisor. “The growing interest in membership reinforces that our chapters continue to be spaces of inspiration, belonging, and growth on campus and beyond.”

Growth in Numbers

• Registrants: 554 women initially registered for recruitment, with 506 fully participating.
• Community size: 820 members entering fall semester; 1,230 following recruitment.
• Chapter membership: Following Bid Day, 9 of 10 chapters reached or exceeded “Total” membership, which was set at 127 this semester.

A Decades-High Panhellenic Community

William & Mary’s Panhellenic community has seen consistent growth in recent years, with Total (the total allowable chapter size in terms of membership numbers) rising from 96 in fall 2022 to 127 this year. While the community has experienced fluctuations over the past two decades, this year’s recruitment marks a return to historically high levels of participation and membership.

According to long-time staff, this is the largest community size they’ve observed since the late 1990s.

How Primary Recruitment Works

Primary Panhellenic recruitment at W&M takes place each fall semester across two weekends to minimize conflicts with classes. The process is designed to provide interested students the opportunity to visit each of the university’s 10 National Panhellenic Conference chapters. During the process, potential members talk one-on-one with current sorority members and learn more about each sorority's activities, sisterhood, and values.

Panhellenic Recruitment is a mutual selection process, meaning participants visit all 10 chapters during Open House, and then can start narrowing down their options. During Philanthropy round they can visit up to 8 chapters, up to 5 during Sisterhood, and up to 2 chapters during Preference Round. The process concludes with Bid Day, when new members receive invitations, or bids, to join chapters.

“Our role is to make the sometimes-stressful primary sorority recruitment process as manageable as possible for potential new members,” said Annabelle Glassman ’26, Panhellenic president. “We seek to decrease barriers by providing resources, standardizing information across chapters, and making the process accessible for all.”

For Sarah King ’27, a junior who transferred to William & Mary last year, sorority recruitment provided a way to connect in a new environment.

“Throughout the entire process, I felt so loved and supported by the chapters and by my friends,” she said. “I was able to meet many amazing women through the process, with whom I am still very close. On Bid Day, when I ran home to my chapter, I felt that I had found a second home within my William & Mary experience, and for that I am so thankful.”

Looking Ahead

The Panhellenic sorority community at William & Mary now exceeds 1,200 members, meaning sorority women make up a significant portion of the student body. The year ahead will bring opportunities for new members to engage in leadership development, service, and traditions that have long shaped the sorority experience at William & Mary.

“Our sorority members are driven and passionate,” said Alexa Gerling. “Most importantly, they are leaders on campus and in their communities. It is exciting to see so many new members embark on their journey and the opportunities that await them.”