The 40 year old in me likes this. Heck the 25 year old in me would have loved this. But having grown up in Texas, which much like the rest of the south, I can assure you that 18 year olds just want the traditional experience. They want the house that looks like all the others. Different is simply not seen as a positive, and the PNM pool doesn't have enough "non-traditional" types to make it a success. AZ, while not in the south, may fit this situation too.

These girls grow up in communities where friends, older sisters, moms and grandmoms lived in a certain style of building. These girls have grown up visiting those buildings. The style may vary somewhat from campus to campus, but the key is the style does't vary within a campus. They have formed an image of what a sorority house looks like, especially on their campus, and they arrive to college wanting that same image.

I am not saying it is right, or even that it is logical. It's probably not unfair to even say it's superficial. But it is how it is. Trying to put that square peg into a round hole just won't work.

Back to me? The second we downsize our house I am looking for a high rise with everything in it. It sounds perfect, but I've come a long way since 18.

Your reasoning is why I would never suggest this at any traditional southern schools. But the Arizona schools draw a lot from California and may be more open to an "urban sophisticate" type setting. I could also see it at some of the urban campuses around the country, like DePaul or NYU where housing is otherwise a complete non-starter.

But no, I didn't know there was ever a plan floated. I guess I'm just psychic that way :)

The holdup at Arizona is definitely housing. There is no room on the row with the other sororities and the plan for a high rise which was floated last year didn't get passed the talking stage. Still hoping that the university will release a parking lot or two. With quota at over 100 and chapter total ~300 I'd think that at least 2 and maybe 3 more chapters could be supported.

Yes, it was very well received by the women on campus but the I/NPs stopped it because the money just didn't work. Fees would have been way higher than currently even though the complex would have been competitive with other off campus housing (and this was also off campus and it was sorority driven, not ASU)

Huh. Interesting. I wonder what could be adapted to make it work.

I suppose if the land had been ASU or sorority owned but it was owned by a developer. They want to make a certain amount on a project. They could have just as easily built it as a total apartment complex and made more money - which is what I would guess they will do. So there wasn't an infinite amount of land available and they had to stay within the codes for number of stories or get a variance...and most cities are not enamoured of Greeks and aren't up for variances as a result...it's a very complex issue....

I'm not sure where else to post this, but the 2015-2016 colonies board is not showing up for me. Does anyone know if it got taken down for some reason?

Believe it or not, many of the California girls coming to the U of Alabama are eager for that "traditional" style of sorority house, too.

I totally get that. But these aren't California girls who chose to go to Bama. I would never suggest anything other than traditional, down to the wraparound porch and pillars at Bama.

And of course my opinion means neither jack nor squat at either school :D

Missouri State University has formed an exploratory committee for possible expansion. They are supposed to have a presentation soon. So there is the possibility of extensions at both the University of Missouri and Missouri State University.

The following schools from the list are now open:

Georgia Tech
Missouri State
Texas A&M
Arizona
Arkansas

CSU - East Bay (Q 48, QLY 44, T 80, 2 NPC, last colony AP 1987)

Both chapters have over 100 members. They SO need to expand

I'm really interested to see what's going to happen

Does Georgia Tech have the numbers to open up? I assume they do if they've opened but it surprises me.

Quota was 62 this year. Up from 50 last year.

Yes. Total at GT is around 200. 7 sororities currently. Chapter size has outpaced facility capabilities and growth has been happening for some years. Quota has gone from low 40s to low 60s within 5 years. Total in 2005/2006 was 90ish. The numbers aren't why I'm surprised they finally voted to open. It's a combo of housing and that certain groups don't want to disturb the status quo. It's exciting regardless and will be interesting to see how things go, especially since the last time Tech opened, a local was getting absorbed. So this is a different process.

When did RFM start?
I remember in the mid 1990's (during the time I lived in ATL), where HUNDREDS of girls who went to Pref at GA Tech -- either 2 or 1 parties -- were getting NO BIDS. A number I heard thrown out was between 200 & 300 (cannot confirm these #s) going to Pref and bidless the next day. Panhellenic would bring up the possibility of expansion, but it kept getting voted down. So sad for the women who wanted to be Greek but couldn't. And the crazy thing, it that there are about 30+ IFC chapters vs. 7 NPC sororities, with avg. fraternity size 60-100 and avg. sorority size 150+ (at the time).

I think RFM was piloted in 2004? Though obviously at Tech, like most campuses, it's made a difference in the number of girls getting bids. But there's also been a pretty large increase in the female population at Tech.

It's still a 2 pref party system.

There was definitely a long period of time between Phi Mu 1989 and Alpha Phi 2009. Alpha Phi's former local started looking to nationalize in 2004, I believe, it was voted down, and then pursued the process in 2006 and it took from 2006-2008 to achieve absorption. And they were installed in 2009. The thread I believe is still on here. I'll be interested to see if the same groups who submitted interest packets/final presenters will be interested/make it to that stage again.

I don't know exactly about numbers but the grade/membership reports on the greek website go back to 1999.

There are 32 IFC fraternities, 3 of which are unhoused, of varying sizes.

The last Ga Tech extension process involved Pi Phi, Alpha Phi, and KD. I don't know if we would be involved this time because we're colonizing at nearby Emory U. in a couple of months.

I feel like expansion has really increased and there are a lot of groups that have so many ongoing and upcoming colonies, that's part of why I'm interested to see what's going to happen with all the schools that are open.

I think it is going to come down to $$$$$ as to who is interested. Several of these openings are going to require housing and some of these with no University support for housing (A&M comes to mind).

While Pittsburg State Un., Kansas is not a flagship school, there is a need.

There are six Fraternities, (LXA,SX, PKA,PSK, SPE, and STG), there are only three Sororities,(ASA,AGD, and SSS). At one time, there was ADP which closed along with DR (LOCAL) that had a chance to go with PM, and DZ that lasted for two years. Because of member quota that the current Sororities placed upon them selves, none can meet the numbers. The past National of AGD an Alum tried to get that changed but couldn't! So, if any ladies have the nerve, give PSU a chance. Great school with six Fraternities and only three sororities!! Go for it ladies! Almost virgin ground. What is needed is one with Local chapters who can help them!!!

That's not how it works (cue the commercial with the little old ladies and the Facebook wall and unfriending).

That's not how any of this works! Lol

Has Clemson made a decision yet to open or not?

I'm thinking West Georgia needs to open with the departure of Tri Delta? That would be way against their culture though.....

I don't personally know anything but I heard they were trying to get the suspension repealed.

Plus total is only like 96 there, and all the groups COB every spring. I think they need a few more years before they're a contender for expansion, but that's just my thoughts.

Paging clemsongirl!

(although no announcement shows on Clemson's Greek Life twitter page)

I feel like I remember her saying they had formed an exploratory committee, so that's why I was wondering

Yes, CG posted in lanesig's thread about the exploratory committee.

For those who can't/won't look-up twitter: Clemson's Greek Life twitter also stated Panhellenic Elections finished November 19, with most individual chapters electing new exec boards by November 22. Then came Thanksgiving break, which means we most likely will find out something in January as final exams begin December 7.

Just because a group appeals a suspension, does not mean anything will come of it. Nothing will come of an appeal in this situation. The system has shown growth and the houses can not accommodate the number of women going through recruitment. I'm not saying that they are a top 5 school needing expansion, however, they expanded before a top tier sorority left, and now there is that void that needs to be filled. It wouldn't be out of the question to expand there.

I'm just looking in comparison to other nearby schools. GCSU has 6 groups, total 220, and yes they just stacked two new groups, Tech has 7 groups, total 200+ and they're open for the first time since 2008, Southern has 7 groups, total 220, with a new group colonizing, KSU has 7 groups, 2 newly colonized, total over 180. West Georgia has 7 groups without TriDelt and total is less than half of the others. Just looking at those numbers, the fact that they have all COBed several springs in a row, and most usually add more girls following primary recruitment to stay at that total, plus if you look back through the NPC Recruitment/Chapter listing threads, growth hasn't been that significant. It just doesn't make sense to me at this point in time. Of course, I could be wrong, I'm no expert, just looking at the data.

Y: Q/T
2011: 25/73
2012: 25/73
2013: 31/73
2014: 28/101
2015: 26/96

There is no way that THEY ALL COB, as you have stated. They set total as average chapter size, thus there's shouldn't be more than 3 or 4 chapters COBing max, which is the same as any other school. If there is a retention issue, perhaps they should look at a 2 tiered total, but your arguments don't make sense for the campus in question.

I'm not trying to argue with you. I'm just saying that I personally don't see them as a viable candidate for extension at this point in time, especially considering comparable nearby schools have the same number of groups and significantly larger totals.

And looking at IP's thread from last year, every single group at West Georgia took spring new members, which is the non-primary recruitment period, so, every group did COB, leading me to think that total was too high....so....?

They set total after fall recruitment so some will be below and some above. However, December graduations, departures, etc will give groups opportunities for COB in the spring. Keep that in mind.

If every single group is COBing in the spring, its a retention issue, not a total issue. Total is set to ACS. Total isn't being set "too high" when it is the average chapter size.

Okay, fine, if it's a retention issue with every single group, then the system needs to grow and strengthen for a few years before bringing another group.

Can't total be determined in a few ways? Perhaps average chapter size -5% would be a better option for them. I don't know.

I think they could be a good contender, just not now, in a few years. After the dust settles, after DZ has had more time to establish themselves, after retention settles and growth is more than +6NMs on quota (at the largest in the last 5 years). I just think it's a situation where it would be more beneficial to let it ride and see what happens, before bringing another group just because one closed, and watching them struggle.

Though again, that's just my opinion.

Man, you leave for a few minutes and everyone clamors for you! Yes, Clemson is forming an exploratory committee and eventually an extension committee to look at bringing a new sorority on campus after fall formal recruitment in 2016. This is what I was told by our now-former Panhellenic Delegate. We just installed chapter officers and Panhellenic officers so I imagine that we'll hear more about this from me and from Clemson next semester.

I can't wait for Texas State to finally expand for a new colony! There were over 800 ladies that participated in recruitment last year and because our sororities are so selective about who they want not all the girls got matched to a sorority that they fit into! We need another sorority on campus to balance out the amount of girls that want to join. Texas State University is a rapidly growing campus that needs to accommodate to it's rapidly growing community!

That's not really how it works.

But has Texas State officially opened? I know they voted to form an exploratory committee in October