Requirements for Membership
- Identify as a female or non-binary
- A minimum GPA of 2.5
- One semester completed at Ball State University
- One credit in a music course completed or currently enrolled in
- A sincere interested in music
Wondering who Iota Chi is?
Recruitment Process
Information Session: The information session is a chance for prospective members to receive dates and times of recruitment events, learn what it is to be a member, and ask any questions she has about membership or recruitment. Sisters will also be at the Information Session, so this event is an opportunity to meet sisters and get to know them.
Small Parties: Each prospective member should attend at least one small party. If a prospective member is unable to attend any of the small parties, she should contact the Vice President of Membership (VPM). This is a chance to get to know sisters and for sisters to get to know the prospective members all while doing something fun. In the past, small parties have involved roller skating, dressing up, playing getting-to-know you games, a murder mystery, food, and board games. Whenever a small party occurs off campus, sisters will be available to drive prospective members to and from the event. They will also do so even if a prospective member needs to arrive late or leave early. It's important to us that we get to know each prospective member no matter what her schedule may be.
Final Party: Attendance at the final party is required, unless a prospective member has talked to the VPM prior to the event. This is a prospective member's last chance to meet the sisters before they decided whom they will accept as members-in-training this semester. The final party is also meant to be fun, and there is usually food involved. Previous final parties have involved dressing up, a movie night, and food around the world. As with the small parties, whenever a final party occurs off campus, sisters will be available to drive prospective members to and from the event, even if a prospective member needs to arrive late or leave early.
Invitation to Membership Day: The VPM will schedule a time with each eligible prospective member to tell her whether or not she received a bid to join our fraternity. On this day, sisters and prospective members should not discuss the fraternity since sisters will not know whether the prospective member has yet met with the Vice President of Membership. Any prospective members who did not receive bids are encouraged to try again in the next semester.
Day of Questioning: The Day of Questioning allows a prospective member a day to consider whether she wants to accept her bid and ask any questions she still has. There are no "dumb" questions, so please don't hesitate ask any sister a question. Most sisters will be wearing letters on this day to make themselves noticeable to prospective members.
Day of Silence: The Day of Silence allows a prospective member another day to consider whether she wants to accept her bid without the influence of sisters. Sisters will not be wearing letters and will not discuss the fraternity with prospective members.
Decision Day: As with Bid Day, the VPM will schedule a time with each eligible prospective member to discuss what she would like to do with her Bid Card. If the prospective member would like to begin the Member-in-Training process, she should sign her Bid Card and bring a copy of her schedule to the meeting. If the prospective member does not wish to accept her bid, she should still keep her meeting with the VPM. If a prospective member wishes to accept her bid but is unable to get to the SAI office to turn in her bid card, she should e-mail the VPM to work something else out.
Small Parties: Each prospective member should attend at least one small party. If a prospective member is unable to attend any of the small parties, she should contact the Vice President of Membership (VPM). This is a chance to get to know sisters and for sisters to get to know the prospective members all while doing something fun. In the past, small parties have involved roller skating, dressing up, playing getting-to-know you games, a murder mystery, food, and board games. Whenever a small party occurs off campus, sisters will be available to drive prospective members to and from the event. They will also do so even if a prospective member needs to arrive late or leave early. It's important to us that we get to know each prospective member no matter what her schedule may be.
Final Party: Attendance at the final party is required, unless a prospective member has talked to the VPM prior to the event. This is a prospective member's last chance to meet the sisters before they decided whom they will accept as members-in-training this semester. The final party is also meant to be fun, and there is usually food involved. Previous final parties have involved dressing up, a movie night, and food around the world. As with the small parties, whenever a final party occurs off campus, sisters will be available to drive prospective members to and from the event, even if a prospective member needs to arrive late or leave early.
Invitation to Membership Day: The VPM will schedule a time with each eligible prospective member to tell her whether or not she received a bid to join our fraternity. On this day, sisters and prospective members should not discuss the fraternity since sisters will not know whether the prospective member has yet met with the Vice President of Membership. Any prospective members who did not receive bids are encouraged to try again in the next semester.
Day of Questioning: The Day of Questioning allows a prospective member a day to consider whether she wants to accept her bid and ask any questions she still has. There are no "dumb" questions, so please don't hesitate ask any sister a question. Most sisters will be wearing letters on this day to make themselves noticeable to prospective members.
Day of Silence: The Day of Silence allows a prospective member another day to consider whether she wants to accept her bid without the influence of sisters. Sisters will not be wearing letters and will not discuss the fraternity with prospective members.
Decision Day: As with Bid Day, the VPM will schedule a time with each eligible prospective member to discuss what she would like to do with her Bid Card. If the prospective member would like to begin the Member-in-Training process, she should sign her Bid Card and bring a copy of her schedule to the meeting. If the prospective member does not wish to accept her bid, she should still keep her meeting with the VPM. If a prospective member wishes to accept her bid but is unable to get to the SAI office to turn in her bid card, she should e-mail the VPM to work something else out.
The MIT Process
The Sigma Alpha Iota member-in-training (MIT) will:
- Meet the scholastic and performance requirements of the chapter
- Attend all members-in-training meetings unless excused (three unexcused absences authorize a chapter to delay initiation)
- Read and sign the SAI Hazing and Substance Abuse policy
- Meet all local chapter requirements for initiation
- Pay all fees prior to taking the national exam
- Satisfactorily pass the national membership examination
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a music major?
No! Our sisters represent a wide variety of majors, and all are welcome!
How much time does this take? I'm busy!
Most of our sisters are very busy with ensembles and other activities on top of a full-time college schedule. Once you are a member, we will expect you to attend our Thursday night chapter meetings, which usually last an hour and a half. We will also expect you to attend all ritual events--there are usually about three per semester, and all members have a say in when these are. We will absolutely work with you and your schedule. Even the busiest student will find that as long as there is good communication and time management, she can find a place in our sisterhood.
How much does it cost?
Breakdown of the costs per school year (August to April):
National fee: $35
Chapter fee: Around $180
The costs to join are one time fees:
Membership fee: $50
Initiation fee: $250
Iota Chi fee: $35
Please refer any additional questions regarding payment plans to sister Marilyn Peña, our Treasurer, at [email protected].
I'm already a member of a fraternity/sorority. Can I still join?
SAI is not a member of the National Panhellenic Council. Members of the PHC Greek community are eligible to join our organization! We cannot initiate members of the music fraternities Delta Omicron, Mu Phi Epsilon, or Phi Beta, none of which are currently on Ball State's campus.
No! Our sisters represent a wide variety of majors, and all are welcome!
How much time does this take? I'm busy!
Most of our sisters are very busy with ensembles and other activities on top of a full-time college schedule. Once you are a member, we will expect you to attend our Thursday night chapter meetings, which usually last an hour and a half. We will also expect you to attend all ritual events--there are usually about three per semester, and all members have a say in when these are. We will absolutely work with you and your schedule. Even the busiest student will find that as long as there is good communication and time management, she can find a place in our sisterhood.
How much does it cost?
Breakdown of the costs per school year (August to April):
National fee: $35
Chapter fee: Around $180
The costs to join are one time fees:
Membership fee: $50
Initiation fee: $250
Iota Chi fee: $35
Please refer any additional questions regarding payment plans to sister Marilyn Peña, our Treasurer, at [email protected].
I'm already a member of a fraternity/sorority. Can I still join?
SAI is not a member of the National Panhellenic Council. Members of the PHC Greek community are eligible to join our organization! We cannot initiate members of the music fraternities Delta Omicron, Mu Phi Epsilon, or Phi Beta, none of which are currently on Ball State's campus.
Sigma Alpha Iota - Iota Chi
Region V - Beta B Province
Ball State University - Muncie, IN