CANDIDATE PROCESS
In Sigma Alpha Omega® we cherish our founders' ideals and bond of secrecy. After the hustle and bustle of recruitment week and fun-tivities of bid day, Sigma Alpha Omega® (SAO) requires new members to attend weekly one-hour meetings with our Candidate Mentor. These meetings run for eight weeks, beginning the following week of recruitment and ending with Initiation. During this time our new members learn the history of how our sorority was established and the values our founders put in place. We continue those same values to keep our four founders' legacies alive. The new members will benefit from these classes by gaining knowledge of our sorority and the ideals we are expected to uphold as sisters. In addition, these meetings offer them countless opportunities to make friends and get to know the other candidates,
In addition to weekly meetings, candidates will also have numerous opportunities to get to know their sisters. Beginning on Bid Day, they will receive their "Bigs". Our SAO families are very special, as these become the women to whom our new sisters will go to for help, advice, coffee dates, laughs, love, and countless memories. The candidates will have a Big/Lil Retreat, during which they will be able to spend the day together, having fun and getting to know each other even further. Past activities have included scavenger hunts, shopping, brunch, mini golf, and water slides!
After the eight weeks of the candidate process, we welcome our members into our bonds of sisterhood at Initiation. This truly is a memory our new sisters will always remember.
Throughout the first year in Sigma Alpha Omega®, our new sisters will make lifelong friends and countless memories, and our candidate process will help them adjust to both college and being in a sorority.
In addition to weekly meetings, candidates will also have numerous opportunities to get to know their sisters. Beginning on Bid Day, they will receive their "Bigs". Our SAO families are very special, as these become the women to whom our new sisters will go to for help, advice, coffee dates, laughs, love, and countless memories. The candidates will have a Big/Lil Retreat, during which they will be able to spend the day together, having fun and getting to know each other even further. Past activities have included scavenger hunts, shopping, brunch, mini golf, and water slides!
After the eight weeks of the candidate process, we welcome our members into our bonds of sisterhood at Initiation. This truly is a memory our new sisters will always remember.
Throughout the first year in Sigma Alpha Omega®, our new sisters will make lifelong friends and countless memories, and our candidate process will help them adjust to both college and being in a sorority.
Each membership candidate will be required to:
- Affirm the Sigma Alpha Omega® Membership Eligibility statement and profession of faith.
- Attend all of the new member candidate class meetings.
- Score at least 75% on all of the new member candidate tests.
- Score at least 85% on the new member candidate final.
- Attend the candidate class service project.
- Attend the candidate class fundraiser.
- Make one class candidate paddle together.
- Interview all of her fellow new member candidates.
- Interview all of the sisters who attend the candidate meetings.
- Attend the candidate class retreat (Big/Lil Retreat).
- Pay the new member candidate dues on time.
- Visit her Big Sister each week.
- Have a written testimony.
- Wear her new member candidate pin to all meetings and activities of SAO.
- Prepare a Bible study on a Christian characteristic.
CANDIDATE MEETINGS SCHEDULE
Week One:
Week Two:
Week Three:
Week Four:
Week Five:
Week Six:
Week Seven:
- Introduction
- Candidate Requirements
- Develop Committees
- Candidate Traditions
- Greek Letters
Week Two:
- Greek Letter Test
- Sorority Facts
- National History
- Write Chapter History
- Candidate Officer Elections
Week Three:
- Facts and History Test
- Sorority Bylaws, Articles I-VII (read and edit)
Week Four:
- Bylaws Test, Articles I-VII
- Testimony Handout
- National Bylaws and Policies
Week Five:
- Testimonies Due to President
- Sorority Bylaws, Articles VIII-XIV (read and edit)
Week Six:
- Bylaws Test, Articles VIII-XIV
- Robert’s Rules of Order
Week Seven:
- Candidate Final (Write)
- Plan for next year
