Recommendation Letters

Information for Students

A letter of recommendation is written by an alumna member of an organization for the purpose of introducing a woman to a chapter. It provides a brief description of her interests, activities and personality. Please use the information below when considering recommendation letters: 

ALUMNAE PANHELLENIC ASSOCIATION CAN HELP YOU 
If you need assistance locating alumnae in your area that can provide a recommendation you can contact your local Alumnae Panhellenic Association to request a letter of recommendation for any of our 12 chapters. The alumna will obtain the proper forms from the sorority with which she is affiliated and will send the letter directly to the chapter. An alumna member unfamiliar with the recommendation letter process can visit the section below to learn more.  

KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR 
There is a difference between a "recommendation/reference" form and a "letter of support". An alumna can either write a personal letter of reference or obtain a standard form from their national chapter headquarters. When you are working with alumnae please be clear which you are asking for.

NO ALUMNAE IN YOUR AREA - NO PROBLEM 
It is okay if you can't identify any alumnae in your area. You are welcome to email us to request our standard Texas Tech Panhellenic Recommendation Form and you can have a member of your community fill it out and submit it on your behalf. We will not respond to requests until May 1st. You will only use this form if you DO NOT already have a recommendation from sorority alumna. See details on the top of the form for submission details. This form is for women who are from small towns and do not have alumnae in their area, you will be asked where you live, when you request this form.This form is to help if you can not find any recommendation letters. The chapters prefer a documentation from their alumnae, but will use this as a substitute if you are from a small town.

RECOMMENDATIONS ARE NOT REQUIRED & ARE NOT PART OF REGISTRATION
Recommendation letters are not required to register for Texas Tech's Recruitment, but the information provided may be considered by the chapter during their membership selection process. The Panhellenic Council suggests that you have one recommendation letter for each of our 12 chapters. You will NOT send any pictures or resumes to Texas Tech Panhellenic or directly to sorority chapters. Alumnae are responsible for sending any additional materials to chapter houses. 

Information for Alumnae

Thank you for your interest in assisting the women in your community with the Panhellenic Recruitment Process. Please consider the following guidelines for providing information to the chapters represented at Texas Tech University.

ATTENTION: NEW RECOMMENDATION LETTER RESTRICTIONS
At the request of all 12 chapters represented at Texas Tech University we created the following expectations and guidelines for submitting reference or recommendation documents

SUBMIT BASED ON ORGANIZATION 
It is encouraged that you use the recommendation/reference model outlined by your organization’s national headquarters. Information can be found in the "Online Recommendation/Reference Forms" section below.

NO FOLDERS AND FLUFF 
We discourage the enclosure of folders, special paper, binder clips, labeling, glitter or decorations of any kind. Additional material provided beyond the standard recommendation form/letter and a picture will be discarded and not considered during membership selection. AGAIN, we suggest you submit online if possible. IF you are providing hard copy information to the chapter please do not send anything larger than a 9.5x12.5 envelope, and nothing decorative. 

ADVISOR’S EYES ONLY 
General chapter members do not handle the recommendation documentation, and never see or consider additional "fluff" when making membership decisions.

THERE IS NOT A DEADLINE
There is not a deadline for having recommendation letters sent in for all chapters. Below we have indicated how and when each chapter would like to receive their letters of recommendation. Please do not break the bank having them certified or over-nighted if you are mailing them. You also are welcome to send them to the chapter houses beginning April 1st. 

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED 
Information should be submitted to the individual chapters, NOT Texas Tech Panhellenic Council. Physical letters should be addressed to the attention of the recruitment chairman. Contact information for each chapter can be found here.

THANK YOU, BUT NO THANK YOU 
Any gift (flowers, baked goods, food or signage) delivered to the chapter facility in support of a particular potential new member is not considered during membership selection and will not increase the PNM’s chance at receiving a bid.

NO GOLDEN TICKETS
Recommendation letters do not guarantee a bid to membership.

Please do NOT encourage women to provide decorative folders, labeling, excessive number of photos or fluff for your recommendation letter purposes. The energy, time and money the participants are putting into these packets do not align with our Values Based Recruitment Model, and are not considered when they are received by our chapters. 
One last time: 
No Folders
No Fluff

Legacies

WHAT IS A LEGACY?  
A legacy is typically a sister, mother, or grandmother that is an initiated member of a sorority chapter.  This can vary from chapter to chapter and in some cases includes aunts, cousins and/or any of the same step-relations. When registering women will have the option to include information about any legacy relationships. 

NO GOLDEN TICKETS
Each year there are often times more legacies that participate then possible to take in a pledge class. Therefore, you need to understand that while it is a special opportunity to potentially share a connection with a family member, being a legacy is not a guarantee to a bid to membership. Yes, even being a multi-generational legacy doesn't merit a golden ticket. 

KEEP AN OPEN MIND
It is important to consider that sorority life and chapter experiences vary from university to university and family members are not always alike. Being open minded as a mother or family member is just as important as the participant staying open minded.

DOES BEING A LEGACY LIMIT MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS?
Being a legacy of a NPC group(s) does not hurt your chances of joining any other chapter represented on campus. Chapters understand that college women may find they do not always feel comfortable in the chapter where they are a legacy.

THE FOLLOWING IS WHAT EACH SORORITY CONSIDERS A LEGACY: 

  • Alpha Chi Omega: Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother

  • Alpha Delta Pi: Sister, Mother, Grandmother

  • Alpha Phi: Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Step-mother, Step-sister

  • Alpha Xi Delta: Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Step Relatives

  • Chi Omega: Sister, Mother. Grandmother

  • Delta Delta Delta: Mother, Step-mother, Sister, Step-sister

  • Delta Gamma: Great Grandmother, Grandmother, Mother, Sister, Step Relatives

  • Kappa Alpha Theta: Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother

  • Kappa Delta: Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Stepsister, Stepmother, Half Relatives

  • Kappa Kappa Gamma: Sister

  • Pi Beta Phi: Sister, Mother, Grandmother

  • Zeta Tau Alpha: None

Online Recommendation/Reference Forms

For Alumnae use only. Please use the links below to submit a recommendation/reference to your national organization. If you have any difficulty or specific questions while filing out the forms, please contact your national headquarters directly. 

Alpha Chi Omega
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Phi
Alpha Xi Delta
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Pi Beta Phi
Zeta Tau Alpha

Texas Tech Standard Recommendation Form - Will not be provided until after May 1st.
(use only if you are unable to identify an alumna panhellenic association within 25 miles of your hometown.)

Mailing Addresses and Chapter Submission Preferences

Alpha Chi Omega

Due Date: August 1st

Preference: Email

Mailing Address:#7 Greek Circle, Lubbock, Tx 79416

Alpha Delta Pi

Due Date: August 1st

Preference: Online Only through their national email

Mailing Address: #18 Greek Circle, Lubbock, Tx 79416

Alpha Phi

Due Date: Preferred by June 30th

Preference: Online or Mail and must go through national website

Mailing Address: #1 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416

Alpha Xi Delta

Due Date: August 1st

Preference: Online or Mail

Mailing Address: 1414 Orlando Ave Lubbock, TX 79416

Chi Omega

Due Date: no set date

Preference: Online Only

Mailing Address: #4 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416

Delta Delta Delta

Due Date: August 1st

Preference: Must be sent through the national website

Mailing Address: #13 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416

Delta Gamma

Due Date: August 21st

Preference: Nationals website or email

Mailing Address: #5 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416

Kappa Alpha Theta

Due Date: July 16th

Preference: Email

Mailing Address: #19 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416

Kappa Delta

Due Date: August 1st

Preference: Email

Mailing Address: #14 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416

Kappa Kappa Gamma

Due Date: August 1st

Preference: Online Only

Mailing Address: #9 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416

Pi Beta Phi

Due Date: August 1st

Preference: Email

Mailing Address: #17 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416

Zeta Tau Alpha

Due Date: August 1st

Preference: Online Only

Mailing Address: #11 Greek Circle Lubbock, TX 79416