I would encourage you to read recruitment stories on this website. I bet you any amount of money you won't find one where the PNM's main focus is on a sorority's philanthropy, their colors, where they were founded, etc. The #1 thing that everyone talks about is a CONNECTION. PNMs want to be in a chapter where they can find some true friends... actual SISTERS. Everything else is just icing on the cake.

This statement worries me. I don't think I could find an NPC sorority whose philanthropies, mission statements and purposes I don't identify with. My sorority means the WORLD to me, and I wouldn't give it up for anything. But loving something, no matter what it is, takes time. It takes getting to know your sisters and the organization through readings, teachings, rituals and experiences. And while every organization is different, they all essentially have the same goals and purposes.

Expand how? Expand Greek life? Expand their knowledge? Any way you look at it, it saddens me to think that you believe a website (any website) could give you all of the information you need.. about anything.

Because every other sorority apparently has inferior philanthropies and their purposes are dedicated to sacrificing puppies and worshiping Satan. You are an insulting embarrassment and have absolutely no comprehension of the real bonds of sisterhood.

Actually, I think it's St John's U in Staten Island. They have 2 NPCs, one NPHC (3 nationals, she didn't say 3 NPCs) and a ton o' locals. The locals are the distinguishing factor. :)

The presence of NPCs is very new at the school.

ETA: Waiting for people to look at the sororities and have a "national tier discussion" ensue.

my best advice based on experiences i have had........a campus has to have a need to expand if there is an already established greek life on campus. the campus panhellenic usually does a study based on several years worth of statistics, has a meeting where they submit their findings and then the officers and representatives vote whether to open the campus for expansion or not. if they open for expansion, they notify the NPC of their decision to expand and the NPC in turn notifies all of the NPC sororities not represented on that campus that state university is open for expansion. sororities that are interested in colonizing there submit an information packet to the college panhellenic and after much perusal usually 3 sororities are invited to come to campus to give presentations. the sororities accept or regret the invitation and dates are set for the presentations. if one of the sororities regrets the invitation, panhellenic might go to the 4th choice and invite them to present. the sororities bring in national officers & local alumnae to participate in the presentation. the presentations are usually done on separate days. after all the presentations are done, the committee or the panhellenic officers and representatives vote on who will be invited to colonize-they notify the sorority and the sorority either accepts or regrets that invitation. SOMETIMES(but not very often) there is a pre-existing interest group that has a preference, and SOMETIMES that groups wishes are taken into consideration, however sometimes they are not. in addition, there is no guarantee that any or all of the members of the interest group would be invited to be members of the colony. that is a decision that the sorority would make(most often its national officers). the whole process can take as little as a couple of semesters or it an be longer.

that is the reason everyone is saying to look a little closer to home and give the existing groups another chance. the chances are slim to none that everything would work out in her favor-heck, she would probably stand a better chance transferring to a school that has an existing tri delta chapter and taking her chances going thru recruitment-and there is no guarantee in that either.

OP - I would like to reiterate that many of the replies that you have received on this board are not intended to be negative, just realistic. If you read old posts about people trying to start new chapters on their campuses, you will see that it requires a campus open to expansion, national sororities also open to expanding on that campus (which may or may not include Tri Delt), often much work convincing campus administrators of the benefits of expansion, and much time (usually years). The reality is that unless your campus opens for expansion very soon, it will likely be so long for all of those things to occur that you will have graduated.

I suggest that you heavily consider whether you really, really want to be in a sorority or not. If you do, then reconsider membership in the groups already on campus. Otherwise, you are taking a big chance that you will never be in a sorority. Only you know if it's worth it to you.

Incidentally, I love my sorority and was very involved as a collegian and still am, as an alumna. If I were choosing between all of the philanthropies in the world in which to invest my time, I wouldn't necessarily choose those that my national organization supports. But I do support them, because they're worthy causes. The friendships and relationships with my sisters is what I really love about my sorority.

Can't Identify with THESE Philanthropies?
 

33girl-thanks. I wasn't sure. Well then, let me point out that all the NPCs at St. John's are great!

St. John's University has 2 NPCs (from what I saw on their webpage): Tri-Sigma and Theta Phi Alpha.

Theta Phi Alpha: The House That Theta Phi Alpha Built is Theta Phi Alpha's newest philanthropic cause, established in 1993. The common goal through The House is to improve the plight of the homeless in any way. The chapter can seek to provide assistance to organizations that help the homeless, shelters, home building or neighborhood revitalization projects.

Sigma Sigma Sigma: The Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation centers its latter philanthropic efforts around the theme “Sigma Serves Children,” specifically through the Robbie Page Memorial (RPM)-which provides play therapy for terminally ill children.

Nope! I don't know HOW anyone would want to join an organization which helps the homeless or sick kids! It seems like it would be really hard to "identify" with such philanthropies and missions as Theta Phi Alpha and Tri-Sigma seem to have. You're right-maybe we should just bring another sorority on campus to fulfill that need to HELP people because CLEARLY these organizations are NOT doing that-right? :confused:

For the Record, even if this girl wanted to bring Phi Mu on her campus (and I LOVE my sorority) I would feel the same way. How can you NOT feel that each and every one of the 26 NPCs has something of value to offer?

This whole discussion reminded me of the Recruitment thread about expansion at UCSC. As the thread author went through the colonization process, she fell in love with several different sororities, only to learn they were not open for colonization, could not colonize on her campus etc. I encourage the OP to take a look at this and many of the other threads on colonization here on GC. It's a real eye-opener...I never quite understood just how labor-intensive expansion can be until I read this thread! http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=10264

There is nothing negative about explaining the process of NPC extension. Campus Panhellenics add chapters for two main reasons:

1. A growing trend in Panhellenic membership.
2. An established local/interest group that wishes to affiliate with an NPC group.

The only thing she can do is ask the Greek Life Office if her school is open for extension. If it is not, she's not going to be able to convince them to open for extension. She can't fudge membership data. She can't whine and complain her way into making Panhellenic open for extension because she is infatuated with Tri Delta.

No NPC group would dare colonize at a school not open to extension because it violates an NPC unanimous agreement. So she can't beg Tri Delta National to come if her university says no.

Her only hope would be to put together an interest group comprable to the size of the other chapters on campus. Even if she were to succeed in building an interest group, who is to say that her university would open for extension? Tri Delta may not even be interested colonizing at her school. Her school's Campus Panhellenic may not choose Tri Delta even if they were interested. And if the school did choose Tri Delta, they would likely choose more members for the colony, and who is to say that you'd like them?

NPCs on a national level have a lot more in common than you think. They all value friendship, scholarship, philanthropy/service, and leadership. Every NPC has chapters that are "top tier" at their respective campuses, and every NPC has chapters that are "bottom tier" at their respective campuses. Being my alumnae chapter's Panhellenic Delegate has made me realize how similar we are on a National level. I realize some NPCs are stronger locally than others (ie. presence of alumnae chapters). I realize that some cater to a certain niche, mainly religion, even though you don't have to be Jewish to join AEPhi or SDT and you don't have to be Catholic to join Theta Phi Alpha. But really, all NPCs have noble causes and the same basic values. The history may have been different in the beginnings, but all the NPCs have much more in common today.

If you are so into St. Jude's, volunteer for/donate to St. Jude's! You don't have to be a member of Tri Delta to do so. If I chose a sorority solely for its philanthropy, I wouldn't be a Sigma Kappa. I realize Alzheimer's Disease isn't the "sexiest" philanthropy. It doesn't deal with cute kids or women specifically. It's still important to cure because it will further bankrupt our healthcare system and it will touch so many people's lives.

There are NPCs other than Sigma Kappa that I really admire and "connect with" based on their philanthropy, history, motto, purpose, etc. but they were not a fit for me at my campus! Although I found a great fit for me in Sigma Kappa, if I had gone to another school (even one with a Sigma Kappa chapter), I might not have ended up a Sigma Kappa.

There are plenty of things I love about my sorority. I love that we were founded by the first 5 women to attend Colby. I love how our symbols/colors/flowers/jewel are all tied together in our ritual and mean something more than just looking pretty. I love our values, both outward and in ritual. But the thing is, I could find things to love about every NPC.

There are admirable things about every NPC. The NPCs wouldn't have lasted as long as they have if they did not have solid values and purpose.

OP, I think I get what your saying - you admire Tri Delta and would like the possiblity of becoming one. The reality of your posts have come across a little like you putting down the other groups on your campus - which I don't think you ment, but thats how people have taken them. From what you have said, you looked at them already and decided the groups on your campus aren't for you - and thats totally fine, its just the way you said it that people took offense to.

As for expansion, I come from a school in the south where greek life is exploding. We've had 4 greek organizations come to campus in 10 years. All have been extremely successful - but it takes time, money (both the school and the NPC), support and most importantly - need. Does your campus need another sorority? And if there is a need, does your campus have the money, time, and support to have a new group come to campus? These are the things that your Panhellenic and school have to determine. They will not bring a group on campus because you want them too. And for arguments sake - even if they do open for expansion, it doesn't mean Tri Delta will submit a proposal or even if they do - it doesn't mean that they will be chosen to colonize there.

If the OP attends St. Joe's in PA - I'm pretty sure they aren't opening for expansion. I have a friend (greek from another school) who is adjunct there and she has told me that St. Joe's administration generally is not very fond of greek life, likes to keep it contained, and only really has it to attract and keep students from going to other catholic university's who don't have greek life.

Ok kids, this thread is being closed for awhile. The OP asked a question, received some advice, and now we are beating a dead horse and speculating, none of which is helpful.