Decoding the MRABA
Friday, August 05, 2011
M-R-A-B-A do you know what that means? Probably not, which is why we're here. MRABA stands for Membership Recruitment Acceptance Binding Agreement. It's the document you sign to make your final selections during recruitment. The MRABA is broken into six sections, all of which someone will go over with you before you submit your final selections or preferences. The sections might seem official and confusing, but they're nothing to freak out about. Pay attention while we break it down.
I am willing to accept an invitation to membership from any sorority or women's fraternity that I list on this agreement.Only list the chapters that you are willing to join or accept a bid for membership from.
I may limit my choices to just one OR list any sorority or women's fraternity whose preference-round (last) event I attended, and from which I am willing to accept membership. I realize that by not listing the maximum number of events I attended, I may be limiting my potential to join any other NPC group during formal recruitment should I not be placed with my choice(s).You can only rank those chapters whose events you attended (if you went to A and B, C isn't an option). You don't have to rank all the chapters you attend, but we encourage you to maximize or list all the options available to you, as it gives you a better chance of being matched to a group. If you attend prefernce (final) round events for more than one chapter but could never in a million years see yourself as a member of one of those chapters it's OK to not list that one as long as you understand the risk you're taking by not listing all options available to you.
Once I submit this agreement to the College Panhellenic Association, I cannot change the order of my preferences or add or delete a preference.Know what you want! After submitting preferences, you can't go back.
If I do not receive an invitation to membership from a group that I have listed, I am eligible for continuous open bidding.If you don't get a bid from a group that you list, you can join a chapter through continuous open bidding (COB), or informal recruitment. This is only available to groups that have open spots in their chapter.
I have the option of not submitting an agreement at this time.You don't have to sign and submit an MRABA card right now. If you go through the final round and decide a sorority isn't for you, at least you know for sure.
Once I submit this agreement, I am bound by the National Panhellenic Conference one-calendar year rule. This rule states that if I receive an invitation to membership from a group that I have listed and then do not accept it, I am not eligible to be pledged to any other NPC member sorority or women's fraternity on this campus for one calendar year (12-month period) from the time of this signing.If you receive a bid from a group you have listed and later decide not to pledge or choose to break your pledge, you can't try to join another NPC group on your campus for one year. If you are
not initiated and transfer schools, you can participate in recruitment at the first opportunity.
See? Not so scary. In the end, just remember the MRABA is in place to help you. If you have questions, talk to the fraternity/sorority advisor, a Panhellenic executive member or a recruitment counselor. They're happy to help!