References and Referrals
Referrals
We want to know who is interested in membership in Tri Delta. If it’s YOU or someone you know, let us know. Use this form to introduce yourself or a potential new member to Tri Delta.
Introduce a potential new member using this referral form.
References
While references are no longer required for membership, they do help to identify women who are interested in Tri Delta membership. Tri Delta members in good standing can use this form to introduce a potential new member after signing in to your My Tri Delta account.
Use this form to write a reference.
FAQs
Why are references and referrals important?
Both are ways to introduce a potential new member (PNM) to a Tri Delta chapter. They provide valuable information to learn more about the potential new member and help the chapter have better quality conversations with the PNM during recruitment.
Each chapter uses references differently. If the chapter wants more information, they may contact the person who submitted the reference. Alumnae are asked to refrain from contacting the chapter regarding the status of any PNM.
Are references required?
No, the Bylaws of Delta Delta Delta state that references are not a requirement for membership. However, some chapters rely heavily on references as a way to learn about PNMs before recruitment.
What information do I need to complete a reference or referral form?
To complete a reference or referral form, you will need the PNM’s full name and the college or university they attend/will attend. Be ready to share if you personally know the PNM and why they are interested in Tri Delta and why you would recommend them for membership in Tri Delta.
Any additional information may be provided to you by the PNM through a resume or photo. The reference form includes other fields to provide information, such as activities the PNM has been involved in throughout high school or college or any previous work experience. This information is all helpful for our collegiate chapters as they prepare to meet the PNM during recruitment.
Can I submit a printed reference?
Tri Delta offers a printable PDF reference form in addition to our online reference form for your use. When a PNM provides you a physical packet with a printed resume and/or photo print the PDF reference form and mail the materials to the collegiate chapter.
When do I need to turn in a reference or referral form?
Deadlines for submission vary between our chapters. Reach out to the collegiate chapter director of member selection or ask the PNM.
If you are concerned that your submission is late. Please complete the online reference form anyways!
How do chapters select New Members?
Membership selection is ultimately the privilege and responsibility of each collegiate chapter. A reference form, a letter of recommendation or potential new member’s legacy status does not guarantee an invitation into membership. Additionally, the membership selection process is confidential. Chapter members may not disclose information regarding the decision to keep or release a PNM in the process.
Overall, membership in Tri Delta is mutual. Our membership selection process helps us get to know PNMs we think might be a good fit, while PNMs get to learn more about us and decide if we are the organization for them. It is important for both sides to feel like we are a good match!
A MESSAGE FROM THE CURRENT REFERENCE CHAIR OF THETA ZETA:
Hello Alumni!
My name is Lexi Lewis and I will be serving as Texas Tri Delta’s Reference Chair for 2022 Recruitment! I look forward to hearing from you all, and am so excited to get started! I’d like to start by quickly reiterating Texas Tri Delta’s updated policies from last year’s recruitment process:
Last year, Tri Delta eliminated collegiate chapter legacy policies.This decision was made to reduce the barriers of entry to Tri Delta for potential new members without a Tri Delta or Greek connection, ultimately fostering a more equitable and mutually selective recruitment process. Read more on this policy change.
To further reduce barriers of entry to Tri Delta’s Theta Zeta Chapter, last year Texas Tri Delta introduced third-party references. We no longer require recommendation letters at all, and we now allow references to be written by any adult figure in the potential new member’s life. These third-party references do not replace alumni references altogether, but rather provide an equitable alternative for those without a connection to a Delta Delta Delta alumni.
While references are no longer required for membership, they do help to identify women who are interested in Tri Delta membership. Tri Delta alumni and members in good standing can use this Reference Form at tridelta.org to introduce a potential new member after signing in to their My Tri Delta account. Third-party references can be submitted by non-alumni through this Referral Form to introduce a potential new member. A maximum of two references can be submitted for each potential new member, but one is preferred. All references must be submitted electronically by July 1, 2022.
Because the University of Texas has Open Recruitment, all of the girls from your area will attend our Open House party. After this, all rounds are by invitation only. This is why references are helpful to us and beneficial to the potential new member, although not required. When submitting a reference, please complete all of the required information on the reference form in addition to attaching a resume, transcript, and photos.
We’re so excited about Recruitment this year! We greatly appreciate your support of Theta Zeta. We cannot stress it enough - please keep us informed. It is so important! Looking forward to hearing from all of you.
Delta Love,
Lexi Lewis MC '19
Reference Chair - Texas Tri Delta
Email: thetazetareference@gmail.com
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A MESSAGE FROM THE CURRENT D&I CHAIR OF THETA ZETA:
I am sure y’all have seen the recent organizational change email from Tri Delta Nationals regarding the elimination of collegiate chapter legacy policies, which will take effect on July 31, 2021. While Theta Zeta has already committed to removing legacy preference prior to the national announcement, I believe there are certain points that must be underscored to understand the importance of this decision.
In the words of Nationals:
1. Across college campuses, the number of legacies has increased at a much faster rate than the number of available bids. In fact, in recent years, there have been chapters where there were not enough bids to welcome all the Tri Delta legacies going through recruitment.
2. The net result is that chapter-level policies have not alleviated the challenges related to legacies. Instead, they have resulted in a great deal of confusion and disappointment for potential new members and families of Tri Delta legacies.
3.Many of Tri Delta’s current collegiate and alumnae members have passionately advocated the view that legacy policies present an additional barrier to entry for these potential new members.
I am extremely proud of Theta Zeta’s direction to true diversity, equity, and inclusion through the removal of barriers to entry! On a personal note, this message from Nationals has made my own experience in Tri Delta grasp a deeper meaning.
My entire existence in the Panhellenic community as a person of color has been a fluke. I did not know anyone around me rushing traditional Greek Life, let alone any alumni. I joined multiple different campus organizations in college; academic-based, philanthropy-based, and multi-cultural based. Yet, I was still surrounded by women who looked like me, but instead rushed multi-cultural Greek organizations. I consistently heard a singular point of view from these crowds- how sororities in Panhellenic were not meant for "people like me", and that I should just give up and rush an multi-cultural sorority instead if I wanted a sisterhood where I could be treated fairly. The lack of access to women in Panhellenic was a barrier that prevented both myself and many others from rushing traditional Greek life during my freshman year, and it was not until I received a random roommate my sophomore year who had connections into the organization that I decided to explore it further. My roommate was outside my bubble, and her information on Panhellenic sororities allowed me to become comfortable with the process. I ended up attending recruitment with her, and my life has genuinely changed for the better.
I am the random result of deviation from my original community's norm. The barrier to entry I experienced stems from a lack of representation of BIPOC in Greek life, and just as important the education given to freshman about all the opportunities available. I know that there are so many other girls out there just like me, which gives me hope that through ensuring a diverse and inclusive environment, actual change can occur which will truly allow our members to grow in a heterogenous environment that models the growing globalization of the real world.
I truly hope that the addition of third-party recommendation letters, the removal of the legacy policy, new university endowment scholarships, and D&I education can serve as a medium to mitigate the current imbalance of racial equity in our chapter, one of which will continue to make you proud.
Sri Palavala, MC '19
Diversity & Inclusion Chair - Texas Tri Delta
