Indiana University, Bloomington. Panhellenic Association

Established in 1902, the Panhellenic Association is the coordinating student organization for sororities at Indiana University.

Kappa Alpha Theta became Indiana University's first women's fraternity (as sororities were called in the early years) in 1870, just three years after the arrival of the university's first female student, and enrollment in the sorority reached six members within a few months. Two years later, IU's second sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma was founded and more soon followed. From their inception, Indiana University’s sororities cooperated to create a sense of common purpose among the chapters, and over the years they formed various Societies and Leagues to that effect starting with the Hesperian Literary Society in 1870. The Hesperian was closely followed by the Women’s League, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, and the Panthygatric in 1894. By the time the National Panhellenic Conference was founded in 1902, IU was home to five sororities according to the 1902 yearbook: KAΘ, KKΓ, Pi Beta Phi (1893), Delta Gamma (1898), and Kappa Chi Omicron (1900). The Women’s Panhellenic Association of Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana (PHA) is the official name of the local chapter of the National Panhellenic Conference. The National Interfraternity Council was founded in 1909, seven years after the PHA.

Initially, the concerns of the PHA lay in overseeing Rush and developing policies for pledging, initiation, and the organization of new chapters. Over the years its mission evolved to include furthering the all around growth of sorority members, chapters, and the whole Greek system. The PHA now coordinates sorority events, community outreach, philanthropies, and many more activities in addition to its still central role as Rush organizer. The PHA works closely with Indiana University’s Interfraternity Council in planning such events as the annual Greek Week and leadership workshops, and it works with other student organizations to attract guest lecturers, presentations, and entertainment to the Bloomington campus. Indiana University has had two of its alumnae go on to serve as chair of the National Panhellenic Conference and consistently has one of the largest Rushes in the United States.

The PHA governing body consists of a seven member elected Executive Board, a number of Board-appointed directors, a Vice President Cabinet, and a Representative Council. A President and six Executive Vice Presidents, representing Administration, Standards, Operations, Membership, Recruitment and Finance make up the Executive Board. The Representative Council has one chapter-elected delegate from each sorority on the Bloomington campus. The VP Cabinet consists of Vice Presidents of Communication, Academics, Public Relations, Greek Relations, Leadership Development, New Membership, Service Programming, Greek Awards, Publications, Risk Reduction, and Risk Programming.

Taken largely from: Owen, Kent Christopher and Owen, Suzann Mitten. Greek Lettered Hoosiers: One Hundred and Fifty Years of Fraternities and Sororities at Indiana University. (Bloomington, IN: IU PHA and IUIFC, 1995). Indiana University Panhellenic Association. "Sororities: Your guide to rush 1983-1984". (Bloomington, IN: IUPHA, 1983). Indiana University Panhellenic Association. "Opportunities Await!". (Bloomington, IN: IUPHA, 1990).