Quota vs. Campus Total: What’s the Difference?
If you’re going through sorority recruitment from either side, you might’ve heard “quota” and “campus total” thrown around and wondered “what’s the difference?” We agree, they sound like the same thing, but they’re actually different and understanding these concepts can give you insight into how things go behind the scenes at primary (or formal) recruitment—and why Continuous Open Bidding (COB) is a thing. Here’s the deal.
What Is Quota?
Think of quota as the maximum number of new members a sorority can invite to join during primary recruitment. It’s both a target and a maximum.
How It Works:
After the final round (usually called Preference) of primary recruitment, Potential New Members (PNMs) submit a Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement (MRABA) to indicate that they will accept a bid from any sorority listed on that MRABA. The total number of PNMs who submit an MRABA is divided by the number of sororities participating in recruitment to determine quota.
Example:
Let’s say 300 PNMs submit MRABAs, and there are 10 sororities on campus. Quota would be 30, which means each chapter can invite up to 30 new members.
Why It Matters:
Quota keeps the recruitment process balanced, so every chapter has the opportunity to welcome new members. For PNMs, it means you have a fair chance to find your home—without one or two chapters dominating the numbers.
What Is Campus Total?
While quota focuses on new members, campus total applies to the big picture. It’s the ideal size for each chapter on campus, including all active members (both initiated sisters and new members). Campus total helps create a balance across chapters on a campus, so no one group is significantly larger or smaller than the others.
How It Works:
Campus total is recalculated annually—usually after primary recruitment or at the start of a new term. The Panhellenic Council typically sets this number based on the average chapter size on campus and might also consider how many PNMs participated in the previous primary recruitment, chapter retention rates, a new chapter coming to campus, or other external factors that might impact overall participation in Greek Life at a school —think COVID-19!
Example:
If the average chapter size on campus is 120 members, campus total might also be set at 120.
Why It Matters:
If a chapter is below campus total, they can recruit more members through Continuous Open Bidding (COB). This helps smaller chapters grow and keeps the sorority experience fair and consistent for everyone. It’s important to note that a chapter can be below chapter total even after holding a successful primary recruitment process where they accept the maximum number of new members possible (quota.) A chapter might be below total due to an over-representation of graduating seniors, students transferring to another school, members dropping, or if they don’t meet quota during formal recruitment (i.e. the number of PNMs who include that chapter in their MRABA is below quota.)
Key Differences Between Quota and Campus Total
- Quota = How many new members each chapter can take during recruitment.
- Campus Total = The ideal overall size for each chapter, including all members.
How Do Quota and Campus Total Work Together?
Here’s how these two concepts connect:
- Quota controls how many PNMs a chapter can invite to join during formal recruitment.
- Campus Total determines whether a chapter will keep recruiting after formal recruitment.
If a chapter is below campus total after recruitment ends, whether they reached quota or not, they can continue adding members through COB or informal recruitment. This is why some chapters may extend bids outside of formal recruitment—even if other chapters are already full.
Why Should PNMs Care?
Understanding quota and campus total isn’t just for recruitment chairs—it can help you, too! Here’s why:
- More Opportunities for Bids: Quota ensures that PNMs are distributed fairly across chapters, increasing your chances of finding a home.
- COB Explained: If a chapter is below campus total, they can offer bids outside of primary recruitment. This could be your chance to join if things didn’t work out during primary recruitment!
- A Fair Experience for All: Both systems work together to make sure chapters grow and thrive while keeping things balanced and fair for everyone on campus.
Recruitment can feel like a whirlwind, but understanding the mechanics behind it—like quota and campus total—can make the process a little less mysterious. Whether you’re a PNM or just curious about how sororities work, knowing these terms gives you a better understanding of how everyone works together to create a supportive and inclusive Panhellenic community.
Good luck with recruitment!
