Just to let you know, I hear that you're doing awesome at FSU. A high school acquaintence joined your new chapter so she occasionally tells me how you're doing. My best friend goes there and she is not affiliated and even she's noticed their presence on campus.

As far as I know, all of the sororities require the girls to know the Letters, nickname(s), colors, mascots, mottos, and presidents of all of the sororities and fraternities on our campus. As far as I know,none include the NPHC city wide chapters we have (we have quite a few AKA's and Alpha Phi Alphas and a growing number of DST's and Zeta Phi Beta's). If I'm chosen for new member ed this year, I want to include this because these groups are making an increasingly larger contribution to our campus and they deserve recognition that is given the others.

But the other side of that coin is if you put ALL your resources towards one big colonization effort instead of spreading them out among smaller schools, you have a greater chance of being successful - and if you are, you will recoup your investment much more quickly. DZ's chapter at UF (using them again) is under 5 years old, and I would wager they've already had TWICE the amount of sisters join than the last 5 chapters we've colonized at small schools combined.

If you continually say "we can't compete at big schools, our niche is smaller schools" it is a self fulfilling prophecy. Your "niche" turns into a box that you can't get out of, even when you want to.

Personally, I think having some knowledge of all NPC sororities is part of being a well rounded greek woman. I don't like it when people look at my letters and ask if we are local because they have never heard of us. I don't expect everyone to know the history and logistics of all the NPC orgs, but I do believe that everyone at least know they exist.

This is a great discussion. My two cents: the best way to grow a reputation is for more members to stay actively involved beyond college. Take your passion to the national organization. Get on the expansion committee, start an alumnae chapter and get those alumnae out in the community helping to sponsor and support local events in the university areas and in big cities-- build your name.

I feel that as a whole Greek Life is slowly starting to fall behind the great expansion and recruitment numbers of just 10 years ago-- and partly because we have this amazing large base of members-- our alumnae-- and absolutely no expectations for what they are capable of doing to serve the organization and help it grow.

Can anyone clarify if the "problem" is that "smaller" NPCs are not given the opportunity to colonize, or they are passing on the opportunity due to lack of funds, alumnae, etc? I think there is a big difference.

If they are trying for these larger types of colonizations and are not given the opportunity, (Read: The panhel votes them down due to lack of recognition) I would say the problem lies primarily with the entire NPC, and groups should be better educated on other orgs. (They should be anyway, of course.)

If the smaller NPCs are not accepting the invitations to apply for these colonizations, perhaps the membership at large needs to communicate that they want these expansions to the HQ. Maybe the goals of the HQ are consistent with being successful in a smaller market.

I think a lot of groups keep their expansion policies under their hats, so it may be hard to say.

I agree with you on this point...it's something that is still important to me to make sure the NMs know even though I'm now alum....

I would wager that sometimes it's just a timing issue - if you have 5 colonies going you're not going to apply for a 6th at a huge school unless they're putting it on a deferred timetable (i.e. we are looking to add a new sorority per year for the next 3 years).

I'm betting that your second paragraph is the most likely explanation, overall.

Phi Sigma Sigma, Delta Phi Epsilon, and Theta Phi Alpha all came to our school around the same time. Only my sorority and Phi Sigma Sigma are left. :( I think if our Greek community would have been more willing to work together like we did in the mid-90s every organization on campus have had great growth potential.

Oddly, DphiE, SDT, and TPA were the only 3 sororities on my campus when I pledged....Tri Sig came later.

Every NPC has the opportunity to throw their hat in the ring for all published NPC opportunities. This past month has been a frienzy of opportunities - the NPC extension person who just took over is in shock at how many campuses are open this Fall.

Speaking for DPhiE, I personally look at alumnae support in an area as well as campus recruitment stats and nearby chapter support. You won't be seeing any DPhiE chapters in arkansas anytime soon :)

I don't think anyone should be segragating big from small. All of the under 100 chapter groups have their own goals for expansion for their own group. Just because someone never heard of your group, doesn't mean a thing.

I have reviewed all of the campuses which expanded in 2004-2005 academic year and most NPC groups took at least one colony that year. Some may take 2 or 3 this year based on the plethroa of activity but this is great news for the system - more women are getting involved in greek life on campuses which had seen downturns in recent history.

One more thing - to address someone comment that the smaller groups are not at BIG University. Let's think chronologically for a minute - when Pi Phi, ADPi, Kappa, Theta Etc were establishing their 50th chapters, five or so of us were just being founded. They just happened to be at U of Big State 10-40 years before some of us were founded. Some NPC groups had 10 chapters before my founders were born!. That doesn't mean some of the under 100 chapter groups aren't at BIG U but it shows you when some of those chapters were formed - pre-1910.

Please PM me if you have specific questions.

Denise
Director of Expansion

I agree with everything that you have said. There are so many variables that go into a group's decision about where and when to expand. Biggest on my list is the number of area alumnae willing to work with a colony. 33girl brought up some really good points too.

Denise - I am excited about the new bulletin! Some really good schools are open.

Not to start an uproar, but NIC Fraternitys seem to have a Growth picture much stronger than NPCs.

I know, that NPCs will not go on a Campus where Chapters do not make Numbers.

But, I always wonder if Sororitys dont grow is for that very same reason.

If You as a Female Student do not want to Join the ones We have on Campus, then You will not join any.:(

So, what do they do? Not Join any. Who does that help?

NIC Fraternitys will not go on where We are not welcome, but have a chance.

Yes, there are more Male Groups than Female, but if there is No Choice then what? I Wont Join! Period! If no option then they do not join and We all lose!

Sad but true. :(

Sorry I can't agree with what Tom is saying. What #s is he referring to? Men start chapters with 10 men. Sorry, we can't do that.

All NPC have a minimum # they need to sustain a chapter - this is based on financials as well as # of positions needed to be filled in an ideal chapter leadership structure. Each NPC has group has (at least one) small chapter which are under this number but in order to be competititive on a campus, you must be in the same average # of members as the rest or you will suffer dearly. You could win every greek award, have the homecoming queen and have 3.7 GPA but if you are seen as the "small" chapter, then you will always lose the good PNMs to the "strong" chapters.

This minimum # might be 25 or it might be 75. It is up to the group.

I think everyone will be pleased to know that greeks are growning on many GREAT campuses (not neccessarilly BIG U but big enough!!!) with wonderful reputations. This fall, NPC has published at least 10 great campuses which are expanding already existing and thriving greek systems.

We are doing something right!!!!

APPLAUSE PLEASE!

Denise

So, what are the open campuses, or is that information not for public consumption?

I was thinking the same thing ;) I'm curious!

I know sometimes discussing expansion can get messy on here, with all the speculation, etc. So if anyone wants to PM me, i'll keep it quite.

I would think it's a matter of public knowledge though, that information is published in a newsletter that is widely distributed.

Just curious, which campuses are open for expansion?

In addition to which ones are open for expansion, some may have already chosen a NPC to colonize already. I know AZD announced they were selected for a university a few weeks ago (Monmouth Univ in NJ if you were curious). I assume that was on that list as well.

Latest announcement per Bulletin 98 – Nov. 15

Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA – A local seeking NPC affiliation.
Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia – Ground up. Opening to NPC for the first time. Already has six NPHCs, two NPHC colonies and one NIC colony, Sigma Pi.
Coastal Carolina University, Conway, South Carolina – Ground up
Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire – There is an NPC interest group.
De Paul University, Chicago, Illinois – Ground up
University of LaVerne, LaVerne, California - Ground up
University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Wise, Virginia - Two locals seeking NPC affiliation.
University of Wisconsin, Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin - There is an interest group. Opening to NPC for the first time. Already has several multicultural sororities and fraternities.

Just a question, by ground up - you mean that there are no NPC organizations? There is a Phi Sigma Sigma chapter at LaVerne.

Opening to NPC for the first time? Again does this mean that there is no NPC chapters there? There IS a Phi Sigma Sigma chapter at Wise.

Ground up means no interest group or local sorority - no membership to start off with.

Wise has no Panhellenic - there is 1 NPC and 2 locals.

Denise

I'll be watching with interest as to who presents and ends up at Carnegie Mellon, since it's up the street. It's a great school academicallly, and VERY diverse. I'll have to ask my friend who is a KAT advisor what she knows.

Sorry that's what I get for not proofreading...errors.

Thanks Denise for clarifying.

Would there be any crossover with chapters at Pitt/Duquesne?

Duquesne:
Alpha Phi
AST
DZ
GPhiB
ZTA

Pitt:
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Epsilon Phi
Chi Omega
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Zeta
Delta Phi Epsilon
Kappa Delta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Sigma Delta Tau
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Theta Phi Alpha

Carnegie Mellon:
Delta Delta Delta
Delta Gamma
Kappa Alpha Theta
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Zeta Psi Sigma (the local going NPC)

Suprising that these three schools have some of the smaller organizations...AST, Theta Phi Alpha, SDT, DPhiE. I'm really interested to see who Zeta Psi Sigma brings to CMU...there's a lot of organizations double represented here in Pittsburgh, do you think a third chapter would be too much or will those orgs not even present due to the 2 established chapters? AOPi and ADPi aren't anywhere, Phi Sigma Sigma isn't either (they have a couple other chapters in PA).

(also, 4 sororities and 13 (!) fraternities at CMU? Perhaps it's the gender gap.

I'd love to get involved in helping out greek life at CMU if I get accepted to grad school there!

I would think that it would be a group that has another chapter in the area and an established alumnae group. I would highly doubt KD would present, because our AA is nearly nonexistant.

My friend Lisa heard about this several months ago but hasn't heard anything else yet. There is also rumor of another group wanting to come onto Duquesne's campus.

I clicked on the website for the local that is looking to go national at CMU. They were founded by members of Chi Omega who were initiated and then their chapter was closed. They left Chi O and started the local.

It looks like a lot of NPCs have dormant chapters at these institutions, so maybe they will have a shot at re-opening.

CMU - AEPhi (1944-1971), Chi O (1944-1992), and SK (1945-1967)

Dartmouth - SK(1977-1986), AXO(1980-?), KAT(1982-1992), DPE(1984-1990), DG(1987-?)

DePaul - TPA(1960-1995)

LaVerne - ADPi(1988-1993)

There may be others, and I am not sure that my info is 100% reliable. I like seeing dormant chapters brought back to life.

I have heard not so positive rumors about the local at CMU, but things may have changed since then. I hope so!

CMU used to let their greeks get away with a lot, but have REALLY cracked down in recent years.

Out of curiousity- does Theta Nu Xi have a chapter at CMU?

I heard this as well.

My best friend is a Phi Sig from UVA-Wise. From what I hear, the locals there are very rough and are into a lot of hazing. I'd sure hope whoever opens there has a large enough well-trained staff to make sure the old "traditions" of hazing aren't passed on when/if they become NPC.

Just to clarify, AOII has 6 collegiate chapters in PA. I think you were saying that we don't have any in Pitt, which is true. I think these are mostly (or maybe entirely) in eastern PA.

East Stroudsburg
Lehigh
Penn State
St. Joseph's
Shippensburg
Slippery Rock

:)

woops, right you are. I knew there are chapters in PA, just not at any of the Pgh schools. That'll teach me to make posts post-workout.

Duquesne's opening was actually announced in Bulletin 96 in August. Presentations were for October and November. It will be interesting to see who will colonize.

You might be surprised. Sometimes alumnae pop out of the woodworks to assist a new colony. When we were selected to colonize at USC Aiken, we didn't even have an established AC but more than 25 women volunteered to be advisers.

Duquesne is a great campus. We were there for our summer Officer Academy and the school was very friendly to us. They gave us a great welcome, whoever colonizes there will be lucky. The school said they are very open to greek life.

I do have to admit, I'd love to see another PA AST chapter. :)

edited for clarity

We also have a chapter at Duquesne and we have 9 chapters in PA total. It is tied with Michigan for most Alpha Gam chapters in a state.

Denise_DPhiE


I think You will find that that most NIC require at least a 25 person group to even think about a group for Colonization.

A lot of course will depend on the size of the School. Un. Incarnet Word in San Antonio became a Colony of LXA and were Chartered within the minimul time frame.

NC A&T (HBC School) was Colonized by LXA. I was on the Committee to say Yea or Nay whether to keep in Colony Status for one more year. They had 3 Members at Gen. Assem. Last Year. Actually, a New Associate and two Young Men who paid their way to come and plead their case.

They have since been Chartered and doing very will in such a diverse situation.

I cannot speak for other NIC Groups, but We do have a minimum and requirments that have to be ment for Chartering.

While I can speak only of My Un. ADPi, D Rho, and D Z or K Ds closed. D Rho hada chance to affiliate with Phi Mu and turned them down. ADPi had been there for some time and the other one was there for two years.:(

The Three still on Campus are: AGD, ASA, and SSS. 6 Fraternitys, LXA, PKA, STG, SPE, PSK and SX.

4 th Largest Un. in Ks.

Like irishpipes said about AOPi, Phi Sig has a TON of chapters in PA... seventeen to be exact. We have closed chapters in PA too, such as Iota at Pitt. Id love to see that one re-opened. (I did see your reply to irishpipes about the wording of your post...)

Beta Eta at PSU, Gamma Alpha at IUP...

Nationally Id like to see Gamma at NYU (wishful thinking), Zeta at UCLA, Eta University of Michigan, Mu at Berkley, Omicron at Loiusiana State, Rho at OSU...

I can go on and on. We have 110 chapters - not to shabby, BUT we are at a lot of smaller schools - state schools and branch campuses...

BUT I am a dork and listed our chapters by state: right here

That's cool. PA also has the most AST chapters (23 I think...)
:)

I think expansion is great, but honestly, I think that it is more important to have a strong alumnae base to help support the chapters and org. We do spend more time as alumnae than actives...
I think something does need to be done to help struggling orgs, but I also think that we have to be careful thinking that everyone wants to have 200 chapters. My frustration with NPC is that while equality is great (obviously) I also feel like it is just as vital to promote diversity. I wonder if NPC embraced the idea that all orgs don't have to be very similar if more would flourish. The financial aspect is hugely important, but women who are looking for sororities all have different objectives in mind.

(I really don’t intend to sound like NPC is the sorority Gestapo making us all uniform.)