Release Figures Methodology Alpha Gamma Delta & NPC Recruitment Release Figures Methodology

What Are Release Figures? The National Panhellenic Conference endorses a formula recommending the number of invitations a sorority chapter may issue at each invitational round to assure recruiting success. RFM provides the opportunity for a Panhellenic to pledge the greatest number of women.

Why NPC Made the Change to RFM OBSERVATIONS: Strongest groups do not need “law of averages” figures to make quota They don’t need 7 times quota on 7 event day They don’t need 3 times quota on 3 event preference The only way for the weakest groups to have a chance at making quota is for the strongest groups to make releases early PNMs will be statistically eliminated from recruitment if the strongest groups do not make their releases earlier Released just before preference or “cross-cut” in preference

RFM Priorities Promoting parity in Chapter Size Maximizing number of PNM’s pledged

OLD Green Book Formula Was based on the Law of Averages Theory, which assumed that a PNM is equally likely to accept invitations to all groups. Aimed for each chapter to have the same number of PNM’s at each event. For Preference, this was 2 times quota. Was based solely on the three-year return rate to preference and did not take bid list performance into account Large discrepancy in # PNMs returning to each chapter Devastating for chapters with weakest returns Some chapters have an excess of PNMs at Preference events Significant % of PNMs withdraw/do not match Significant % of chapters do not reach quota, leaving a large open recruitment hurdle for some chapters New members of small classes may be apprehensive initially

Panhellenics Using RFM

The Basic Concept Stronger recruiting groups are required to release more PNM’s earlier in the process, causing those PNM’s to focus on the chapters that are the more realistic options for them.

Release Figures are Based on Recruitment Strength Each chapter’s overall strength in recruitment is determined by: Weighted return rates for each event over the past three years Percentage of bid list used to reach Quota Number of PNM’s that list a chapter in the top cluster or as their #1 choice Strength is not indicator of chapter excellence 8

Weighted Three-Year Average Each year is weighted and then combined 2007 90%*3 = 2.70 2006 96%*2 = 1.92 2005 89%*1 = 0.89 5.31 5.31/6 = 88.5% (91.6% if unweighted)

How will my chapter know how many PNM’s to carry over? Each chapter will be given the exact number of PNM’s they can carry over to the next event, which will be based on the number of PNM’s actually inputting their priorities and the chapter’s performance as evidenced by those priorities. This number will be delivered after each invitation ranking. You MUST follow the number exactly. If you don’t invite the EXACT number back the statistics are thrown off.

Adjustments & Flex Lists Sometimes a chapter will show surprising strength This chapter will be directed to release more Sometimes a chapter will show unexpected weakness This chapter will be asked to carry more for its own protection “Flex lists” facilitate this process when Priority (D&D) or Select and Rank (ICS) is used

Flex Lists PLUS Flex List (Add 10) MINUS Flex List (Remove 10) Alison Berry (#201) Betty Cho (#202) Cathy Davids (#203) Dana East (#204) Emily Franks (#205) Francie Goldie (#206) Gina Holden (#207) Heather Ito (#208) Iwona Jackson (#209) Jessica Kaplan (#210) MINUS Flex List (Remove 10) Kathy Lang (#200) Laura McDowell (#199) Mary Nguyen (#198) Nancy Olanski (#197) Olga Petit (#196) Paula Queens (#195) Quinn Rose (#194) Rachel Sampson (#193) Sarah Thompson (#192) Terry Unger (#191)

Bid Lists RFM: Adjusts number of Preference invitations to reflect how many PNM’s a chapter truly needs at Preference to achieve Quota based on: Recruitment Strength Historical Bid List Performance What percentage of PNM’s typically list this chapter as #1? Where does this chapter typically close to match Quota?

Quota Range Panhellenic will provide Quota Range to chapters for planning purposes each round during Fully Structured Recruitment Quota Range will be officially set AFTER Preference round of Fully Structured Recruitment – AFTER PNMs have signed their membership agreements. Quota Range will be based on the estimated quota +/- 8%.

Quota Range Group 22 23 24 25 26 27 Alpha Beta Gamma Delta Epsilon Zeta Eta 20 18 Theta Iota 21 19 Kappa 17   Unmatched PNMs 29 16 12 8 4 Good Faith Unmatched 15 10 7 5 1 Non-Max PNMs 14 11 9 3

Advantages and Results Return figures are based on overall recruitment strength for each round Percentage pledged is maximized PNM’s have more realistic expectations Non-Quota making groups have bigger New Member classes and a more reasonable COR hurdle Quota Additions are decreased or are eliminated Realistic expectations actually encourage PNM’s to stay in Rush - when they are disappointed earlier they are not as attached and there are many others 16

How Can Our Chapters Prepare? Be aware of your chapter’s recruitment strength on campus Utilize RIF data and “know” your PNMs Prepare for larger/smaller party size based on recruitment strength Conversation skills are much more important Larger then usual parties – logistics, recruiting ratio Smaller then usual parties – less action in room, connecting 1 on 1 occurs in earlier rounds Follow the invite/release numbers provided by RFMS

Implications for Stronger Recruiting Chapters You must be prepared to invite less PNM’s earlier in the process—know which PNMs you want!! You will be inviting fewer PNM’s to all events, which may leave you with excess members on the recruitment floor. Your lists will be shorter, so there may be an initial fear that you won’t make Quota, or a perception that you’ve “gone to the bottom of your bid list.” You must recruit harder – you can no longer rely on “status” or campus reputation

Implications for “Weaker Recruiting” Chapters All the women stronger recruiting chapters are not carrying over are looking at YOU now!! You will have more PNM’s attending your events. You may need to double recruit. You will not be competing as much against the stronger recruiting chapters for as many rounds. You will be entertaining women who have never seriously considered your chapter before – BE READY to sell your experience!!

Implications for ALL Chapters You should be prepared to give “flex lists” of approximately 10 - 20 in each direction. This allows the RFM specialist to add invitations to the next round or delete invitations as needed to meet the appropriate number. You should not necessarily take your return number as clear evidence of how well your chapter is performing in recruitment. With priority recruitment, your timing of membership selection (voting) may be impacted because your initial release number will be calculated only after the PNM’s input their priorities. The PNMs no longer “accept” or “regret” invitations. The PNMs “cluster & rank” the groups after each event for the sororities they attended.

Overall Effect: More New Members!! More Chapters reach Quota Number of Initial Unmatched PNMs is reduced Chapters historically not reaching quota will increase New Member class size Return rates will increase Event sizes will change Chapters releasing more PNM’s earlier will be able to focus on those attending events Domino effect (aka “cascade”) will provide more opportunities for chapters to interact with PNM’s PNM’s are not unfairly encouraged, will stay in recruitment Fewer women remain unmatched after bid matching Emphasize focusing on PNM’s VA Tech +6%, chapter with 10 got 25, more chapters made quota 21

What Are The Results? Number of Chapters Achieving Quota: Campuses with an INCREASE = 65% Campuses Remaining the SAME = 29% Campuses with a DECREASE = 7%

What Are The Results? Percentage of PNMs Matched Across All Campuses = 76% Across Accept-Regret Campuses = 73.5% Across Priority Campuses = 77.5%

What Are The Results? Is the RFM Helping Chapters that Struggled Under the old formula? Campuses where it is helping: 79% Campuses where it is not helping: 21%

What Are The Results? Almost always, all the PNMs who complete the FR process in good faith are placed – and almost always within the 5% Quota Addition standard. Many campuses are reporting a much higher percentage of 1st choice matches, resulting in happier PNMs on bid day and better new member class retention overall.

Common Concerns How can we make decisions about dropping this many PNMs on Day One? You’re cutting us to the bone by making us release so many PNMs! Won’t all the PNMs think we’re superficial snobs for dropping so many of them? Won’t everyone just withdraw when they don’t get invited back to the strongest recruiting chapters? How will we recruit this many women with the relatively few members we have?

RFM Support for Our Chapters Leadership Consultants Recruitment Specialists NPC Delegation NPC Release Figures Methodology Specialist NPC Area Advisor to your Panhellenic

Practice Scenarios